English Cheat Sheet Flashcards
Independent Clause
(simple sentence) expresses a complete thought
- subject + verb
Dependent Clause
subordinate clause
- doesn’t express a complete thought
- usually introduced by a subordinate conjunction
compound sentence
- 2 or more independent clauses
- 0 dependent clauses
- connected by a coordinating conjunction
FANBOYS
coordinating conjunctions
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
Complex sentence
- 1 independent clause AND
- 1 or more dependent clauses
(I.C)Mary played the piano( )while Tom played the violin.
(D.C.)While Tom played the violin(, )Mary played the piano.
Sentence Fragment
No independent clause
e.g. The boy, sitting in the tree, throwing paper airplanes
Run-on sentence
2 independent clauses not separated by punctuation or FANBOYS
Comma splice
2 independent clauses separated by a comma
Fix:
1) Period
2) Semicolon
3) Comma and FANBOYS
4) make one a participle phrase (-ing phrase)
Prepositional phrase
Includes a preposition, a (pro)noun, and any modifiers
- LONG prep. phrases or multiple prep phrases at beginning of sentence = 1 comma
e. g. In the room under the stairs, Harry slept. - Prep. phrases in the middle or at the end of a sentence = 0 comma
Participle phrase
a participle (-ing, -ed) + modifiers. Serves as an adjective
- Introductory phrase or nonessential phrase = comma(s)
- Essential phrase = 0 commas
Appositive phrase
Appositive (renames the noun) + modifiers
Introductory phrase or nonessential phrase = comma(s)
Essential phrase = no comma
Verb Tenses
to walk
Past: he walked Past Perfect: had walked
Present: walk, walks Present Perfect: has walked
Future: will walk Future Perfect: will have walked
Past Progressive: was, were walking
Present Progressive: am, is, are walking
Future Progressive: will be walking
Irregular Verb Tenses begin do eat lay lead rise swim wear
Past Tense: began, did, ate, laid, led, rose, swam, wore
Past Participle: begun, done, eaten, laid, led, risen, swum, worn
subject-verb agreement
must agree in number
compound subjects joined by or/nor
both singular
one singular, one plural
two singular subjects take a singular verb
the verb agrees with the closest subject