Writing Effective Sentences Flashcards
What is a simple sentence/independent clause?
A complete sentence with a subject and a verb.
E.g. Elaine (subject) typed (verb) up her notes.
What is a verb?
The verb is the word that tells what action the subject is doing or links the subject to a modifier.
E.g. of an action verb: Elaine (subject) took (verb) notes on the meeting.
E.g. of a linking verb: They (subject) were (verb) long (modifier).
What is a compound sentence?
A compound sentence is made by conjoining two independent clauses.
E.g. of two independent clauses: Sam saw a design flaw. He wrote a memo.
E.g. of a compound sentence: Sam saw a design flaw, so he wrote a memo.
What is a coordinating conjunction?
A coordinating conjunction is a conjunction placed between words, phrases, clauses, or sentences of equal rank. A comma should be inserted before a coordinating conjunction.
E.g. of coordinating conjunction: “Sam asked his boss, and his boss decided it was time to go.”
“And” is the coordinating conjunction.
Should you put a comma before a coordinating conjunction?
Yes.
E.g. Sam’s boss was busy, so she asked Sam to write the memo.
Should you put a comma between just two subjects or two verbs being joined?
No.
INCORRECT: The designers, and the builders got the memo.
CORRECT: The designers and the builders got the memo.
What is a complex sentence?
A complex sentence is a sentence made up of a independent clause and a subordinate clause.
E.g. Teachers went on strike because their pay was too low.
Independent clause -> Teachers went on strike
Subordinating conjunction -> because
Subordinate clause -> their pay was too low.
Whole sentence = complex sentence.
When should you use a comma in the case of complex sentences?
If the subordinate clause comes at the start of the sentence, use a comma. If the subordinate clause comes at the end of a sentence, do not use a comma EXCEPT in the cases where the subordinating conjunction is “although, even though, though”.
Correct uses of comma:
While teachers were on the picket line, kids stayed home.
Kids stayed home while teachers were on the picket line.
A school board did not concede to teachers’ demands, even though the public supported the teachers.
What is a noun?
A noun names a person (e.g. woman or Anne), a place (e.g. drugstore or Florida, a thing (e.g. car or Titanic), or an idea (e.g. truth or Buddhism).
What is a proper noun?
A proper noun refers to a specific person, place, thing, or idea.
E.g. “Anne went to the market.”
“Anne” is the proper noun.
What is a common noun?
A common noun is a more general noun.
E.g. “That woman is dangerous.”
“Woman” is a common noun.
What is a pronoun?
A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun (when being replaced this noun is referred to as the antecedent). There are three types of pronouns: subject, object, and possessive.
E.g. Steven lost his address book. It held many important phone numbers.
“It” is a pronoun, “Steven” is the noun being replaced, also known as the “antecedent”.
What is a subject pronoun?
A subject pronoun is one of three types of pronouns; it replaces the subject of a sentence..
E.g. Steven called home. He was very worried.
“Steven” is the subject. “He” is the subject pronoun.
List of subject pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, they
What is an object pronoun?
An object pronoun is one of three types of pronouns; it replaces the object of a verb or of a preposition.
E.g. “His wife called Steven. She asked him what the problem was.
“Him” is the object pronoun, the object of a verb.
E.g. She and Steven looked for it.
“it” is an object pronoun, the object of a preposition.
List of object pronouns: me, you, him, her, it, us, them
What is a possessive pronoun?
A possessive pronoun replaces a possessive noun.
E.g. “Steven needed Kelly’s number. He called 411 to get her number.”
“Kelly’s” is a possessive noun. “Her” is a possessive pronoun.
List of possessive pronouns: my, mine, your, yours, his, her, hers, its, ours, their, theirs