Punctuation, Parts of Speech, and Sentence Structure

Comprehensive flashcards covering punctuation rules, parts of speech, and sentence structure based on the lecture notes.

Period/full stop

A punctuation mark used to end a sentence, indicate abbreviations (such as Mr., Dr., or Prof.), or represent a middle name initial (as in Addox D. Daters).

Colon

A punctuation mark used to provide explanation or extra details, introduce a list, or precede a quote from another person.

Semicolon

A punctuation mark used instead of a full stop to join two independent clauses when their meanings are closely related.

FANBOYS

An acronym representing the seven common conjunctions used with a comma to connect full sentences: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.

WABITS

An acronym for conjunctions that can start a sentence: When/Where/While, After, Before/Because, If, Though (including Although/Even though), and Since.

Noun

A part of speech that represents a person, place, thing, or idea (e.g., dog, fence, stranger, apple).

Pronoun

A word that replaces a noun, such as he, she, it, they, his, or her.

Verb

A word describing an action or state of being, such as barked, chased, is, or am.

Adjective

A word that describes or modifies a noun (e.g., red, happy, energetic).

Adverb

A word that describes how or when an action occurs by modifying a verb or adjective (e.g., quickly, loudly, very).

Conjunction

A word used to glue words, clauses, or sentences together (e.g., and, but, because, although).

Preposition

A word showing the relationship of time, location, or direction (e.g., in, on, under, after, at night, over a fence).

Interjection

A word expressing sudden emotion, such as "Wow!" or "Ouch!"

Independent Clause (IC)

A group of words that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

Dependent Clause (DC)

A clause that begins with a marker word (like Because, If, When), creating a "cliffhanger" that requires an independent clause to finish the thought.

Simple Sentence

A sentence structure consisting of exactly one independent clause.

Compound Sentence

A sentence structure consisting of two independent clauses joined by a conjunction.

Complex Sentence

A sentence structure consisting of one independent clause and one dependent clause.

Compound-Complex Sentence

A sentence structure that contains a mix of both independent and dependent clauses.

Non-Essential Clause

A clause that adds extra details about a specific noun we already recognize; it is wrapped in commas and can be removed without changing the sentence's core meaning.

Essential Clause

A clause absolutely necessary to identify the noun; it is not enclosed in commas because the sentence loses its core meaning if the clause is deleted.

The "Which" vs. "That" Trick

The rule that "Which" is used for extra info and always gets a comma, while "That" is used for required (essential) info and never gets a comma.

Singular Ownership

A possessive form where the apostrophe is placed before the "s" (e.g., the student's project).

Plural Ownership

A possessive form where the apostrophe is placed after the "s" (e.g., all the students' projects).