KNAT Knowledge of Language

Simple Sentences

a group of words that make up a complete thought. To be a complete thought, simple sentences must have one independent clause

run-on

wo or more independent clauses are combined without proper punctuation

fragment

a group of words that looks like a sentence. It starts with a capital letter and has end punctuation, but when you examine it closely you will see it is not a complete thought.

Mondays are the worst they are a drag.	Run-On: These are two independent clauses running into one another without proper punctuation. FIX: Mondays are the worst. They are a drag.
Because I wanted soda.	Fragment: This is a dependent clause and needs more information to make it a complete thought. FIX: I went to the store because I wanted soda.

Compound Sentences

sentence made up of two independent clauses connected with a coordinating conjunction.

• Has two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) or a semicolon.

  Example:

• The dog barks, and the cat meows.

• Joe waited for the bus, but it never arrived.

coordinating conjunctions

For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So

Complex Sentences

• Has one independent clause + one or more dependent clauses (introduced by words like because, although, when, if).

• Example: The dog barks when the mailman arrives.

NOTE: To make a complex sentence, you can either start with the dependent clause or the independent clause. When beginning with the dependent clause, you need a comma after it. When beginning with an independent clause, you do not need a comma after it.

Simple Sentence

• Has one independent clause (a complete thought with subject + verb).

• Example: The dog barks.

independent clause

• A complete sentence (has subject + verb + complete thought).

• Stands alone.

• Example: I like apples.

Two independent clauses can be connected by a semicolon. There are some common words that indicate the beginning of an independent clause such as: moreover, also, nevertheless, however, furthermore, consequently.

• I wanted to go to dinner; however, I had to work late tonight.

• She had a job interview; therefore, she dressed nicely.

dependent clause

• Has subject + verb, but NOT a complete thought.

• Needs another clause to make sense.

• Example: because I was hungry

Subordinate Clauses

• Another name for a dependent clause.

• Starts with a subordinating word (because, although, when, if, since, etc.).

• Example: Although it was raining

• include: that, which, who, whom, whichever, whoever, whomever, and whose.

Coordinate Clauses

sentence or phrase that combines clauses of equal grammatical rank (verbs, nouns, adjectives, phrases, or independent clauses) by using a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor, or so, yet). Coordinating conjunctions cannot connect a dependent or subordinate clause and an independent clause.

• one or more independent clauses joined with a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).

• Example: I was tired, but I finished my homework

Misplaced Modifier

• A modifier is in the wrong spot, so it describes the wrong word.

• ❌ Wrong: She almost drove her kids to school every day.
  (Means she almost drove—but didn’t!)

• ✅ Correct: She drove her kids to school almost every day.

Dangling Modifier

• A modifier has nothing clear to describe (the word it should describe is missing).

• ❌ Wrong: Walking to school, the rain started.
  (The rain wasn’t walking!)

• ✅ Correct: Walking to school, I got caught in the rain.

Direct Object (DO)

• Receives the action of the verb directly.

• Answers “what?” or “whom?” after the verb.

• Example: She kicked the ball.

  • Verb = kicked

  • Direct object = ball (what she kicked)

Indirect Object (IO)

• Tells to whom or for whom the action is done.

• Comes before the direct object.

• Example: She gave him the ball.

  • Verb = gave

  • Direct object = ball (what she gave)

  • Indirect object = him (to whom she gave it)