Grammar Flashcards
Clauses
- Independent Clause
- Subordinate Clause
A group of words that contains a subject and predicate
- can stand by itself
- cannot stand alone (doesn’t express a complete thought)
Simple Sentence
Has one independent clause, and expresses a complete thought
Complex Sentence
Consists of one independent clause and one or more subordinate clauses
Compound Sentence
Two or more independent clauses that are joined by conjunctions (and, so, for, but, yet, or)
Run-on Sentence
When two or more independent clauses are joined together without a co-ordinating conjunction or correct punctuation (E.g. The trip was terrible the car broke down twice and we had to have it towed)
Comma Splice
Error that occurs when two sentences are separated only by a comma (E.g. The trio was terrible, the car broke down twice and we had to have it towed)
Sentence Fragment
A word, group of words, phrase, or subordinate clause that is punctuated as a complete sentence. (E.g. Try to exercise. Walking, running, or swimming.)
Subject-Verb Agreement
The verb must agree with it’s subject (e.g. the dog is barking, NOT the dog are barking)
- watch out for: collective nouns (family), indefinite pronouns (everyone), compound subjects connected by ‘and’, ‘or’ or ‘nor’
Misplaced modifier
A word or phrase that appears to modify the wrong word
E.g. safe and sound, the firefighter carried the baby out of the smoky apartment
Dangling modifier
Modifies a word that is implied but not actually stated in the sentence (e.g. holding my nose, the smelly cheese went straight to the garbage)
Parallel Structure
Using the same pattern of words, phrases, or clauses to show that they have the same level of importance (e.g. I am fond of books, movies, and films. OR I am fond of reding books, listening to music, and watching films)
