Clauses and Punctuation Template

Clauses and Punctuation

by ACT English

Clauses

​What is a Clause?

• A collection of words that contains

  1. ​A subject

     1. ​Performs the action

     2. ​Or is described

  2. ​A verb

     1. ​The action being formed

     2. ​Or "to be" verbs

​Types of Clauses

Independent Clause

• ​Subject + verb

• ​Expresses a complete thought (i.e complete sentence)

​

Dependent Clause

• ​Subject + verb

• ​Does NOT express a complete thought

​Where are the clauses?

1. ​Sierra ran through the woods to find her best friend, but she was stopped by the smell of a witch's brew. ​

2. ​Although Brian was trapped under the haunted house, he was able to find an apple to eat.

​Recognizing Dependent Clauses

• ​Dependent clauses will generally start with a dependent marker word

  • ​Conjunction (ex. Although)

  • ​Preposition (ex. Before)

• ​Or an "ing" verb

  • ​"ing" verbs are too weak to carry a full sentence

  • ​Ex. Anna running to the store

Punctuation

Commas ,

Rules of Usage

• ​Set off non essential information

• ​Join two independent clauses

  • FANBOYs Rule: When joining two independent clauses with a FANBOY conjunction, (1) you absolutely need a comma and (2) the commas goes before the conjunction

  • FANBOYs: For, And, Not, But, Or, Yet

​​Commas are essentially pauses. So take a pause when reading and see if it makes sense.

​More Commas , (There are a lot of comma rules)

Rules of Usage

• ​​List of three or more

  • (Remember: You need commas before the "and" in lists)

• ​Between two adjectives modifying the same noun

  • (Hint: If you can add "and" between the two adjectives, you can replace that "and" with a comma)

​Can You Believe We're Still Talking About Commas

Rules of Usage

• ​Introductory Phrases

  • ​Hint: If a sentence begins with a conjunction (ex. Although) or a preposition (ex. Before), there is a good chance you need a comma

  • ​Example: Our sentence under "Hint" began with "if"--a conjunction--so we used a comma after the end of the full though

Multiple Choice

• F

• G

• H

• J

​Semi Colon ;

Rules of Usage

• ​Requires an independent clause on both sides of punctuation

• ​Period . comma , hybrid

• Separates & connects ideas

• ​Clauses must be closely related

• Complicated lists have commas in them

Multiple Choice

• F

• G

• H

• J

​Colons :

Rules of Usage

• ​A colon requires an independent clause (i.e. a complete thought) before the punctuation

  A colon's primary function is to introduce

• ​Can have an independent OR dependent clause after the colon

Multiple Choice

• F

• G

• H

• J

​Apostrophes '

​Rules of Usage

• ​Shows possession

• ​Replaces letters in a contraction

• ​Its' is not a word!!!

• ​Could of and would of will also ALWAYS be wrong!!!

• ​Correct Usage: "could've" and "would've"

​If the possession is plural (like in multiple brothers) the apostrophe goes outside the s:

bothers'

Multiple Choice

• A

• B

• C

• D

​Em Dash --

Rules of Usage

• Functions a lot like a comma & a colon

  Sets off non-essential information

  • (like a comma)

• ​Introduces list and explanations

  • (like a colon)

• ​Flexible punctuation

​You'll probably only have one (maybe two questions) about em dashes

Multiple Choice

• A

• B

• C

• D