Adverb Phrases / Run-Ons & Comma Splices

Week 7, Mon 10/5/15

Todd Windisch, Fall 2015

Today’s Agenda

• Any Extra Credit (Writing Packet #1)?• Last day to turn it in is 10/14

• Make sure to get your peer edits back for final draft on Wed

• NO QUIZ TODAY!

• Coordinating conjunctions (run-ons and comma splices)

• Adverb phrases

Coordinating Conjunctions

• What is an example of a coordinating conjunction?

• What does it do?

• Coordinating Conjunctions serve two main purposes:• To link together words with the same grammatical function (lists)

• To link together independent clauses to create a compound sentence

Lists

• Steve and his friend are coming to dinner.• What’s the coordinating conjunction in this sentence?

• What words is it linking together?

• What grammatical function do they serve?

• These shoes are old but uncomfortable.• What’s the coordinating conjunction in this sentence?

• What words is it linking together?

• What grammatical function do they serve?

Parallel Structure

• We use and, but, or, and nor when we are making lists

• When we make lists, we must use parallel structure

• That means all of the things in the list must have the same word form and follow the same pattern• He is waving his arms and (is) shouting at us.

• Steve, Joe, Rita, and Doris are coming to the party.

• Remember that when we make lists of three or more things we must use commas!

Commas

• Do we place a comma before the coordinating conjunction in a list of three or more?• I had to buy milk, eggs, cheese, and cookies at the store.

• It’s optional, but I always include it because it can occasionally interfere with meaning

Parallel Structure Practice

• Is there parallel structure in these lists? How can we fix them?1. My home offers me a feeling of security, warm, and love.

2. The pioneers hoped to clear away the forest and planting crops.

3. When Nadia moved, she had to rent an apartment, make new friends, and to find a new job.

4. Slowly and being cautious, the firefighter climbed the burned staircase and water spray.

5. With their keen sight, fine hearing, and they have a refined sense of smell, wolves hunt elk, deer, moose, and caribou.

Paired Conjunctions

• We also have paired conjunctions:• Both… and…

• Not only… but also…

• Either… or…

• Neither… nor…

• Paired conjunctions are used for emphasis; they draw attention to both parts of the parallel structure

• You must follow parallel structure as well with paired conjunctions

Examples

• Not only my mother but also my sister is here.

• The research project will take both time and money.

• I’ll take either chemistry, biology, or physics next semester.

• That book is neither interesting nor accurate.

• Sue saw not only a fox in the woods but also a bear, a wolf, and an owl!

• Notice the punctuation

Coordinating Conjunctions

• Coordinating conjunctions also connect two independent clauses• What is an independent clause?• I have always loved sandcastles. I want to learn how to make them.• I have always loved sandcastles, and I want to learn how to make them.

• The most common coordinating conjunctions are: and, but, and so• Nor, yet, and for are also coordinating conjunctions• Every coordinating conjunction has a meaning (function)

• Put a comma before the coordinating conjunction when you join two independent clauses

What are the Coordinating Conjunctions?

• F – for

• A – and

• N – nor

• B – but

• O – or

• Y – yet

• S – so

Functions of Connectors

Starting a Sentence

• Can I begin a sentence with a coordinating conjunction?• It was raining hard. And there was a strong wind.

• According to our textbook, “In informal writing, a writer might choose to begin a sentence with a conjunction.”• Is the writing in this class informal?

• I recommend never beginning a sentence with a conjunction.

• It was raining hard, and there was a strong wind.

Practice

• Join these two sentence together with a coordinating conjunction:1. The boys walked. The girls ran.

2. I fell asleep early. I was really tired.

3. The teacher said we would use the textbook a lot. I bought it.

4. I have trouble with adjective clauses and noun clauses. Adverb clauses are easy.

5. We might have to take a test on Tuesday. We might have to take it on Friday.

What’s Wrong with this Sentence?

• My family went to Australia then they immigrated to Canada.

• Problem: It’s a run-on sentence!• A run-on sentence is two independent clauses that come right after each

other

Run-on Sentences

• A run-on sentence is when two sentences are joined together without punctuation (or with incorrect punctuation)• EXAMPLE: I like cars trucks are my favorite.

• How do we fix it?

• There are three ways:1. I like cars. Trucks are my favorite.

2. I like cars; trucks are my favorite.

3. I like cars, and trucks are my favorite.

What’s Wrong with this Sentence?

• I can’t believe you didn’t watch “The Walking Dead” last night, it was so good!

• Problem: it’s a comma splice!

• A comma splice is a type of run-on sentence• Don’t join two independent clauses with only a comma!

Comma Splice

• A comma splice is when you join two sentences together by a comma• EXAMPLE: I live in California, I love the weather.

• How do we fix it?

• There are three ways:• I live in California. I love the weather.

• I live in California; I love the weather.

• I live in California, and/for I love the weather.

Practice

• Edit the sentences on the worksheet provided by the teacher

• Remember that we can fix these in several ways; do not always use the same method of correction!

HOMEWORK

• When I assign homework from English Grammar, there is a specific way I would like you to do your homework:• Complete the homework on a separate sheet of paper (not in your book)

• Correct your own homework using the answer key in the back of the book

• Try to understand why you got the answer wrong; if you cannot find out why, make a note and ask me during class

• Tonight’s homework:• Chapter 16: ex 6, 13, & 20