DOL 9.4 Study Guide for Freshmen English Honors

Clause

A group of words that contains a subject and a verb that have a relationship. The relationship conveys information about what that subject is or is doing.

Subject (noun, pronoun, adjective)

The main noun or pronoun of a sentence or clause that commonly indicates (a) what it is about, or (b) who or what performs the action

Predicate (verb/verb phrase, adverb)

the part of the sentence or clause containing a verb and stating something about the subject

Object

a noun or pronoun that receives the action of a verb or is governed by a preposition

Complement

term used for a word or words that are needed to complete the meaning of a thought

Independent clause

A group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. Can be a sentence.

Dependent (subordinate) clause

A clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought.

Phrase

A group of words that stand together as a single grammatical unit, typically as a part of a clause or sentence. Does NOT contain a subject or verb and therefore cannot convey a complete thought.

Prepositional phrase (preposition)

A group of words that consists of a preposition its object and any modifiers (EX: "in time", "from her", "with much passion")

Coordinating conjunction

Are joiners. Can join an adjective with another adjective. Can join a noun with another noun. Can join a clause with another clause. FANBOYS!!

FANBOYS

for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Compound sentence

Two or more separately but correctly joined INDEPENDENT clauses

Subordinating conjunction

Joins an independent and a dependent clause together correctly. This and a dependent clause are used to establish a time, place, reason, condition, concession or a comparison for the main cause.
EX: "although", "because", "if", "since", "before"

Complex sentence

an independent clause (a sentence that can stand on its own) with one or more dependent clauses added

Infinitive phrase

infinitive form of a verb plus any complements and modifiers. Functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

Appositive phrase

a noun or noun phrase that sits next to another noun to rename it or to describe it in another way. Usually offset with commas

Conjunctive adverb

a word (or short phrase) that provides a link to the previous sentence or independent clause. SURROUNDED by punctuation like a semicolon and a comma
EX: also, consequently, furthermore, however, incidentally, indeed, likewise, meanwhile, nevertheless, nonetheless, therefore, as a result, as a consequence, for example, on the contrary

Passive Voice

when the subject of the sentence receives the action of the verb, rather than performing the action. Basically the subject is ACTED ON not the ACTOR of the action.

Essential (restrictive) clause

a clause that identifies the word it modifies. Essential for meaning. NOT offset with commas.

Nonessential (nonrestrictive) clause

a clause that provides additional, non-essential information. NOT needed to identify the word it modifies. (like bonus information)

Parallel structure

when all the verb forms are the same throughout the sentence

"I want to go to the party, but I also want to go to the performance."

Compound sentence

The doctor, "a very intimidating man", declared that the child was making up his injury.

Appositive phrase

"Because you can't sit still, you need to take a break and come back when you can."

Complex sentence

The mother kissed "her child" goodbye.

Object

"Donna's poem" won the competition.

Subject

"In the blink" of an eye, your life can change forever.

Prepositional phrase

"The ball rolled into the street."

Independent clause

I was happy to help; "however", he was not interested in my assistance.

Conjunctive adverb

"Although many people think rock climbing is dangerous", I have never hurt myself when I follow protocols carefully.

Dependent clause

Jack studied diligently, "yet" he couldn't pass the organic chemistry final.

Coordinating conjunction

My brother "reads the New York Times every morning."

Predicate

The dog's coat was "very shiny."

Complement

"To have no regrets in life," you must decide what is important to you and pursue it.

Infinitive phrase

"While" many adults decide to have children, many others decide parenthood is not for them.

Subordinating conjunction

Anthony who won the race became the first one in our class to receive a trophy.

Anthony, who won the race, became the first one in our class to receive a trophy.

The teacher was annoyed when Hillary who lives right across the street from school was late.

The teacher was annoyed when Hillary, who lives right across the street from school, was late.

Anita who has no sense of humor couldn't see what made the joke funny.

Anita, who has no sense of humor, couldn't see what made the joke funny.

Have you heard of Lorraine Hansberry who was a famous playwright?

Have you heard of Lorraine Hansberry, who was a famous playwright?

Capitalization Rules

• Capitalize proper nouns.

• Capitalize titles (first, last and all other words except prepositions and articles).

• Underline or italicize movie titles.

• Underline or italicize titles of larger works (published alone); use quotation marks for shorter works (published with other works)

• Do not capitalize common nouns.

• Capitalize I

• Capitalize the first word of a direct quotation.

• Capitalize proper adjectives (i.e. Shakespearean)

Comma Rules

• Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction to join two independent clauses to create a compound sentence. (Comma should be placed BEFORE the conjunction.)

• Use a comma to separate an introductory subordinate clause from the main clause in a complex sentence.

• Use commas to separate items in a series.

• Use a comma before a direct quotation.

• Use a comma after an introductory infinitive phrase

• Use a comma after an introductory word or phrase (*exception=must have two or more prepositional phrases in a row to require a comma)

• Use a comma to set off a parenthetical expression (an aside)

• Use commas to set off appositive phrases from the main clause

Other Punctuation Rules

• Use an apostrophe in a contraction.

• Use colon to set up a list but only after a complete thought.

• Use a period after an abbreviation

• Use quotation marks around a direct quotation

• Use a hyphen to connect a compound word (i.e. twenty-nine)

• No apostrophes in possessive pronouns (i.e. hers, his, yours, theirs, ours, etc.)

• Colons introduce an element or series of elements that illustrate or amplify the information that preceded the colon. While a semicolon normally joins two independent clauses to signal a close connection between them, a colon can direct the reader to the information following it.

Of vs. Have

have is a helping verb (when it sounds like 'of') and must be followed by a main verb; of is a preposition and must be followed by its object (either a noun or pronoun)

Lay vs. Lie

Lay means "to place something down flat," while lie means "to be in a flat position on a surface." The key difference is that lay is TRANSITIVE and requires an OBJECT to act upon, and lie is intransitive, describing something moving on its own or already in position.

To vs. Too vs. Two

to is a preposition and must be followed by a noun or pronoun; too is an adverb and must be followed by either an adjective or an adverb; two is a number.

Good vs. Well

good is an adjective and well is an adverb. Good modifies a noun; something can be or seem good. Well modifies a verb; an action can be done well

Us vs. We

us = object and we = subject

There vs. Their

there = in that place or position; their = plural possessive pronoun

I vs. Me

I = subject, me = object

Better vs. Best

Better = two things and best = more than two things