Major Errors Review

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Major Errors Review

• For English 1301 Students
• Central Texas College
• Prepared by Dr. Brenda Cornell

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Arrghh! English!

• Writing and reading are ok, but the grammar. .
  .!
• English was my worst subject in school.
• Why doesnt somebody program a computer to do
  that for us?

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It Doesnt Go Away

• Here it is again! The grammar demons have
  followed us to CTC!!

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Here are a few tips that may help you to avoid
those bad grammar habits you have acquired
through the years!

• Experience has taught us (The Communications
  Department at CTC) that the major weaknesses of
  student writers include the following areas
• 1. Major sentence errors (fragment, run-on
  sentence, and comma splice)
• 2. Errors in agreement (subjects and verbs
  pronouns and antecedents)
• 3. Pronoun case and pronoun reference
• 4. Spelling
• 5. Use of the semicolon

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Major Sentence Errors

• Sentence Fragment
• These fragments are pieces of a puzzlenot the
  whole thing.
• When I got home.
• This phrase looks like a sentence but is only a
  piece (fragment) of one.

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Fixing Sentence Fragments

• Re-write the sentence so that it makes sense with
  a subject and a verb.
• Sometimes a sentence fragment goes with the
  sentence just before it or the one just after it.
• Examples
• Sally went to work. Although she felt sick.
• Nobody wants to study. Because it is too hot
  today.

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Fragment Repair

• Although she felt sick, Sally went to work.
• Nobody wants to study because it is too hot
  today.
• In each example, the dependent clause (beginning
  with although or because) may be placed at
  the beginning or the end of the sentence.

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Run-on (or fused) sentences

• Just as their name suggests, the run-on or
  fused sentence joins 2 or more independent
  clauses by simply placing them side by side WITH
  NO PUNCTUATION to separate them.
• Ex. Laura failed to set her alarm so she was
  late for work.

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Comma Splices

• A comma splice is the first cousin of a run-on
  sentence. It occurs when only a comma separates
  2 complete ideas (independent clauses)showing no
  emphasis or connection between the two.
• Example Violets are blooming now, my lawn is
  covered with them.
• A spliced wire may not be 100 effective, but a
  spliced comma does not do the job at all!

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Run-on and Comma Splice Remedies

• Use exactly the same remedies for both run-ons
  and comma splices
• 1. Create 2 sentences.
• Ex Laura failed to set her alarm. She was late
  for work.
• Violets are blooming now. My lawn is covered
  with them.

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Run-on and Comma Splice Remedy 2

• Join the sentences with a semicolon ().
• Ex.
• Laura failed to set the alarm she was late for
  work.
• Violets are blooming now my yard is covered with
  them.

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Run-on and Comma Splice Remedy 3

• Join the independent clauses with a comma a
  coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or,
  yet, so).
• Ex
• Laura failed to set her alarm, so she was late
  for work.
• Violets are blooming now, and my lawn is covered
  with them.

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Run-on and Comma Splice Remedy 4

• Join the independent clauses with a semicolon a
  conjunctive adverb.
• Ex.
• Laura failed to set her alarm consequently, she
  was late for work.
• Violets are blooming now in fact, my yard is
  covered with them.

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Run-on and Comma Splice Remedy 5

• Introduce one of the sentences with a
  subordinating conjunction
• Ex
• Because Laura failed to set her alarm, she was
  late for work.
• Since violets are blooming now, my yard is
  covered with them.

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Agreement

• When subjects and verbs agree, they match in
  person (1, 2, or 3) and number (singular or
  plural)
• When a pronoun and its antecedent (word pronoun
  refers to) agree, they match in number.

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Subjects and Verbs (1)

• Singular verb forms should have singular
  subjects plural verb forms, plural subjects.
• My boss is a grouch.
• The apartments have two bedrooms.

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Subjects and Verbs (2)separated by a word group

• When a word group of one or more nouns appears
  between the subject and verb, match the verb with
  its subject.
• Ex.
• Our basket of sandwiches is missing.
• Several references required for my paper are not
  in the library.

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Subjects and Verbs (3)Two singular subjects

• Most compound subjects (joined by and) take a
  plural verb.
• Ex
• The couch and chair were upholstered in blue
  velvet.
• Restoring cars and racing motorcycles consume
  most of Franks time.

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Subjects and Verbs (4)one singular and one
plural subject

• When one singular and one plural subject are
  joined by or, eitheror, OR neithernor, match
  the verb with the closer subject.
• Ex.
• Neither John nor his parents were at home.
• Neither his parents nor John was at home.

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Subjects and Verbs (5)collective nouns as
subjects

• Collective nouns are singular in form but stand
  for groups of people or things. Most collective
  nouns are singular and take singular verbs.
• Ex
• The class is taking an exam.
• The herd was clustered around the water hole.

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An Important Exception

• Sometimes a subject may be plural in form but
  treated as a single unit.
• Examples
• Mathematics is my worst subject.
• Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is one of my
  favorite movies.
• Red beans and rice is a Cajun dish that is
  popular all over the world.

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Pronouns and Antecedents

• Pronouns must agree with the words they refer to
  (antecedents) in person (1st, 2nd, or 3rd) and
  number (singular or plural).

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???Indefinite Pronouns are regarded as singular
antecedents, so the pronouns that refer to them
are singular also. Believe it or not!!

• Heres the list
• Each Every
• Either Any
• Neither Somebody
• Anybody Everybody
• Nobody

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Two Singular Antecedents

• Two or more antecedents joined by and usually
  call for a plural pronoun.
• Example
• Her briefcase and umbrella were missing from
  their usual place on the hall table.

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Singular and Plural Antecedents

• If one singular and one plural antecedent are
  joined by or, eitheror, or neither-nor, the
  pronoun agrees with the one antecedent closer to
  it.
• Example Either Terrence James or the
  Parkinsons will let us use their lawn mower.
  OR
• Either the Parkinsons or Terrence James will let
  us use his lawn mower.

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Collective Nouns as Antecedents

• When a collective noun is considered to be a
  single unit, the pronoun that refers to it should
  be singular.
• Ex The troop of scouts made its way slowly
  through the woods.
• When the collective noun refers to separate
  individuals in the group, use a plural pronoun.
• Ex The staff lost their jobs when the factory
  closed.

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Spelling

• There are great spellers, and there are spelling
  klutzes! If you are a klutz, take heart! You
  have
• Spell-checker
• Dictionary
• Thesaurus
• Your handbook (Chapter 22).
• If you are a klutz, dont leave home
• without at least one of these tools!

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Using Semicolons

• What is it?
• When do I use it?

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Definition

• A semicolon is a punctuation mark that
• Gives the reader a partial pause between 2
  related independent clauses (which could be
  complete sentences!)
• Joins complex sentence structures that already
  contain one or more commas
• Clarifies certain lists

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Rule 1 Between 2 Independent Clauses

• Sometimes a semicolon shows that 2 independent
  clauses are related. Of course, you could use
  periods between 2 independent clauses, but the
  connection would not necessarily be clear.
• Example This is my husbands second marriage
  its the first for me.

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Rule 2 Use before a conjunctive adverb when
joining 2 independent clauses

• When you want to make definite the connection or
  relationship between 2 independent clauses, use
  this formula
• IC CA/TE (conjunctive adverb or transitional
  expression), IC. (Note the punctuation!)
• Conjunctive adverbs (including therefore,
  nevertheless, moreover, and others) are
  useful in showing how the independent clauses are
  related.

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Rule 2 examples

• The average annual rainfall in Death Valley is
  about two inches nevertheless, hundreds of plant
  and animal species survive and even some people
  thrive there. (CA)
• Photographers have spent years recording desert
  life cycles as a result, we can watch bare sand
  flower after a spring storm. (TE)

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Rule 3 Use semicolons to link independent
clauses that already contain 1commas (3
combinations)

• ICcomma CC(and, or, but)IC
• When the peacock has presented his back, the
  spectator will walk around him to get a front
  view but the peacock will continue to turn so
  that no front view is possible.
• Flannery OConnor, The King of the Birds.

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Rule 3, Combination 2

• IC CCIC, ICcomma
• Our Constitution is in actual operation
  everything appears to promise that it will last
  but in this world, nothing is certain but death
  and taxes.
• Benjamin Franklin, 1789.

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Rule 3, Combination 3

• IC, ICcomma, CCICcomma
• For anything worth having, one must pay the
  price and the price is always work, patience,
  love, self-sacrifice.
• John Burroughs

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Rule 4 Semicolon between items in a series

• Use a semicolon to separate a long series of
  items or one that already contains one or more
  commas. This arrangement creates related groups
  or units.
• Pattern IC (with series of itemscomma)
  another item in the series another item in the
  series.

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Rule 4 Example

• The assistant chefs chopped onions, green
  peppers, and parsley sliced chicken and duck
  breasts into strips started a broth simmering
  and filled a large, shallow copper pan with oil.
• Hint The chefs did 4 things chopped, sliced,
  started, and filled.

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An added benefit

• A semicolon is a great way to fix a comma
  splice or run-on sentence. This quality is its
  greatest strength and most frequent use.

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Conclusion

• View this presentation as often as you like while
  you are studying for your Major Errors Test or
  after you have your test results. If you think
  this program helps you, please tell me! Id like
  to know!

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Works Cited

• Reinking, James A., Andrew W. Hart, and Robert
  von der Osten. Strategies for Successful
  Writing. 6th edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ
  Prentice-Hall, 2000.
• Troyka, Lynn W. The Simon Schuster Handbook
  for Writers. 7th edition. Upper Saddle River,
  NJ Prentice-Hall, 2004.