Common Surface Errors
The biggest problem I see with student grammar is the use of the comma. Comma splices, fragments, and fused sentences are a big problem, but they can be solved relatively easily.
Here are some comma rules:
Sentences must be complete.
Complete sentences must have a subject (noun phrase) and a predicate (verb phrase).
Noun phrase: the blue man
Verb phrase: was running quickly
Complete Sentence: The blue man was running quickly.
A complete sentence like that above is a simple, independent clause.
When you have a fragment, you don't have a complete sentence. There are a few ways to have an incomplete sentence:
You can just have a phrase all by itself, like a noun phrase, or a verb phrase. Phrases only have a subject (noun), OR a predicate (verb), not both.
You can sometimes spot a phrase when it begins with a preposition (before, about, except, regarding, unlike, without, etc.). Here are some prepositions:
| about above across after against along among around as at before behind below beneath beside besides between beyond |
by concerning considering despite down during except for from in inside instead of into like near next of off on |
onto opposite out outside over past plus regarding respecting round since than through throughout till to toward under underneath |
unlike until unto up upon with within without |
You can have an independent clause, with both noun and verb, that is turned into a dependent clause with a subordinating conjunction, a relative pronoun, or a coordinating conjuction. Here are some lists of words/phrases that make sentences dependent:
subordinate conjunctions: ...even if I let you go to the store...
| after although as as far as as soon as as if as though because before |
even if even though for how if in as much as in case that in order that in so far as |
lest no matter now now that once provided that since so that supposing that |
though till unless until when whenever where wherever whether |
relative pronouns: ...whoever goes to the library...
| that whom who whoever |
which what whomever |
coordinating conjunctions: Is this correct? ...and we went to use the Internet...
| and so nor |
but or yet |
A dependent clause, a clause containing the above words, must always go with an independent clause.
The first comma rule for sentences with subordinate conjuctions: if the sentence begins with the subordinate clause, it is separated from the independent clause with a comma.
Although many believe in the power of persuasion, most people do not take the time necessary to learn how to be more persuasive.
The second comma rule for sentences with subordinate conjuctions: if the sentence begins with the independent clause, which is then followed by the subordinate clause, there is no comma.
Most people do not take the necessary time to learn how to be persuasive although most people believe persuasion is important.
The first comma rule for relative pronouns: if the sentence has a proper noun, the relative pronoun clause (which is dependent) is surrounded by commas.
Sigmund Freud, who is considered the father of psychotherapy, had many controversial opinions.
The second comma rule for relative pronouns: if the sentence has a generic noun, the relative pronoun clause has no commas no matter where it is in the sentence.
The boy who looks like the front end of a Corvet likes to drive everywhere.
Whoever wants to go to the library must make sure they have ID first.
The first comma rule for coordinating conjuctions: usually these combine two independent clauses by making one dependent. The punctuation always precedes the conjunction, and must be a comma (the comma-but rule).
Two kinds of poisonous fish exists in Utah, but few people have ever encountered them.
Telephones are always ringing, and their noise makes me feel crazy
The only other way to combine two independent clauses is with a semi-colon.
Telephones are always ringing; their noise makes me feel crazy.