Grammar Final

clause

has a subject and a verb

clause standing on its own

independent

clause not standing on its own

dependent

simple sentence

one independent clause

compound sentence

2 independent clauses with a comma and FANBOY

complex sentence

one independent and one dependent with a comma between

compound-complex sentence

at least 2 independent clauses and at least 1 dependent clause

adjective

describes nouns

noun

person, place, thing, proper nouns: names that start with capital letter, common nouns: not names with no capital letter

adverb

modifies verbs, adjectives or other adverbs

conjunction

Connecting words bring together words, phrases or clauses (ex: FANBOYS; coordinating conjunction)

interjection

shows emotion and exclamation

preposition

“little” words that provide info in direction, location or relationship (ex: in, on, at, from, next to, across, behind, under, over, through, with, without, to)

pronouns

take the place of nouns; change depending on how you use them

verb

action or state of being

complete sentences

Must have a subject (noun or pronoun) AND verb (action or state of being)

Must express a complete thought

fragment

an incomplete sentence (missing subject/verb or doesn’t express complete thought)

run-on

two or more sentences jammed together as if they were one

comma splice

type of run-on where comma is misused (comma is put where there should be a period)

homophones

words that sounds similar but have different meanings

There = pronoun/adverb– provides info on location 

Their  possessive pronoun

They’re = contraction for “they are”

Apostrophes ( ‘ )

indicates possession (ownership) or contraction (shortened words)

Contraction

use apostrophes to represent missing letter in a shortened from of words

Possession

add an apostrophe and s to show that something/someone owns/has something else (default rule)

To show possession for nouns that end in “S”

add apostrophe after the S

Plural nouns that don’t end with S

Mouse (singular), Mice (plural), mice’s tails

Semicolons

1) Use in a list to separate items when items include commas (Ex: I have lived in Boston, Massachusetts; New York, New York; and Scranton, Pennsylvania). 

2) Use a semicolon to bring together two independent clauses in a compound sentence instead of a comma & FANBOYS to show clauses are related (Ex: Jasmine is fabulous; she knows everything).

Colon ( : )

–Tells the reader to pay attention to what comes next. 

–Use colons to draw attention to a particular word or phrase.

Comma ( , )

pause

comma S

series/list (use commas between items on a list)

comma P

Parenthetical information (information that is extra or unnecessary for a sentence to be complete)

comma I

Introductory words, phrases or clauses

comma C

coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS). Use a comma between two independent clauses with FANBOYS

comma E

Extra, specific situations where we need commas

(Ex: Addresses: Needham, Massachusetts. Dates: June 6, 2025. The high school is at 609 Webster Street, Needham, MA). 

Put a comma after the name of the person you are speaking with when addressing them (Ex: Jasmine, how are you?)