English Cheat Sheet Flashcards
(27 cards)
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
Who, whom, whose
Who - he, she, they
whom - him, her, them
whose, his, her, their
singular indefinite pronouns
(anybody, anyone, anything, each, either, everybody, everyone, everything, neither, nobody, nothing, no one, one, somebody, someone, something)
get singular verbs and pronouns
plural indefinite pronouns
(both, few, many, several)
get plural verbs and pronouns
indefinite pronouns that depend on context
(all, any, more, most, none, some)
get either a plural or a singular verb and pronoun
faulty modifiers
modifier most be placed next to the word it describes
Incorrect: the torn man’s umbrella did not shield him from the rain
Correct: The man’s torn umbrella did not shield him from the rain
Commonly confused words would have v. would of it's v. its than v. then there v. their v. they're who v. which v. that
would have(correct) v. would of (incorrect)
it’s(it is) v. its (belongs)
than v. then
there (location)v. their (belongs)v. they’re(they are)
who (people)v. which (things)v. that(people and things)
Comma uses
- separate items in a series (Oxford comma not tested)
- separate two or more switchable adjectives
- before a FANBOYS coordinating conjunctions
- after mild exclamation
- after transitional word
- after an intro phrase/clause
- introductory infinitive phrase (if it is not the subject)
- sandwiches any kind of nonessential phrase
- words of direct address e.g. Susan, can you…
- separate items in date e.g.On Saturday August 5, 2017,
Semicolon uses
- between independent clauses not joined by FANBOYS
- between independent clauses joined by a transitional word/expression
Colon uses
- before a clarifying statement. needs more info
- before a list of items
cannot separate a verb or preposition from its object
the left side of the colon must be a complete thought
