Grammar Flashcards

Front 1

What is a complete sentence?

Back 1

A complete sentence is a group of words that contains a subject, a verb, and a complete thought.

Front 2

What is the grammatical term for a complete sentence?

Back 2

The grammatical term for a complete sentence is independent clause.

Front 3

What is an incomplete sentence?

Back 3

If a group of words does not contain a subject, a verb, or a complete thought it is an incomplete sentence.

Front 4

What is the grammatical term for an incomplete sentence?

Back 4

The grammatical term for an incomplete sentence is Fragment.

Front 5

Occasionally what types of words do you find at the beginning of a fragment?

Back 5

Incomplete sentences begin with one of the following types of words: after, although, because, before, if, unless, until, and when.

Front 6

What are some examples of subordinating conjunctions?

Back 6

Beginning a sentence with After, although, because, etc.

the sentences that they begin with require extra information to be complete.

Front 7

What are three ways to correct Fragments?

Back 7

1. Complete the sentence by combining word groups.

2. Remove subordinating conjunctions.

3. Rewrite the fragment.

Front 8

What is a comma splice?

Back 8

If two independent clauses are joined with a comma that is not followed by a coordinating conjunction, the sentence is called a comma splice.

You may place a comma between independent clauses as long as the comma is followed by a coordinating conjunction.

F.A.N.B.O.Y.S

Front 9

What is a sentence Fuse?

Back 9

Two independent clauses are joined with neither punctuation nor a coordinating conjunction, the sentence is called a sentence fuse.

Front 10

What are the seven coordinating conjunctions in the English language?

Back 10

The seven coordinating conjunctions are: and, or, nor, but, for, so, yet.

Front 11

How do you use a coordinating conjunction to join two independent clauses?

Back 11

Use a comma with a coordinating conjunction to join together two independent clauses.

Front 12

When do you use a semicolon to join together two independent clause?

Back 12

Join together independent clauses with a semicolon if the independent clauses are closely related.

Ex. My wife and I work in the yard every evening; the work releases the days stress.

Front 13

When do you use a colon to join together two independent clauses?

Back 13

Join together independent clauses with a colon if the second indepent clause summarizes or explains the first independent clause.

Ex. During the summer months, the dogs dig holes under the sequoias and fall asleep: the cold dirt soothes their panting hearts throughout the afternoon.

Front 14

When do you use a dash to join together two independent clauses?

Back 14

Join together independent clauses with a dash to add emphasis to the second independent clause of it contains emotional significance or makes an especially important point.

Ex. The blackberry vines are bursting with blossoms- the fruit on our breakfast table will be sweet and plentiful.

Front 15

What is rule one for using a comma?

Back 15

Use the comma after introductory word groups, such as subordinate clauses, prepositional phrases, and participle phrases that are followed by independent clauses.

Front 16

What is a subordinate clause?

Back 16

Subordinate clauses begin with subordinating conjunctions like although, because, if, unless, until, and when and contain a subject and verb.

Front 17

What is a prepositional phrase?

Back 17

Prepositional phrases begin with prepositions, such as but not limited to, above, after,before, from, in, on, out, over, through, and under and end with a noun or noun equivalent (a noun equivalent is a word or group of words functioning as a noun)

Front 18

What is a participle phrase?

Back 18

Participle phrases begin with a present or past tense verbal that describes a noun or pronoun in the main part of the sentences,which is an independent clause.

Ex. Stuck (past tense) is a snowstorm in the middle of a grapevine,my brother couldn’t make it to Thanksgiving dinner.

Front 19

What is rule two for using the comma?

Back 19

Use the comma with a coordinating conjunction (fanboys) to join independent clauses.

Ex. After school, I drove home and took a nap, for I was exhausted.

Front 20

What is rule three for using a comma?

Back 20

Use the comma to join items in a series. A series includes at least three items. Place the comma between all items to prevent confusion.

Ex. After school, I drove home, took a nap, and ate dinner.

Front 21

How many items make a series?

Back 21

A series includes at least three items.

Front 22

What is rule four for using a comma?

Back 22

Use commas between coordinate adjectives but not cumulative adjectives. Coordinate adjectives describe a noun or pronoun separately from one another. You know the adjectives are coordinate if you can place the word “and” between each one and rearrange them while maintaining fluidity and clarity.

Front 23

What are coordinate adjectives?

Back 23

Coordinate adjectives describe a noun or pronoun separately from one another. You know the adjectives are coordinate if you can place “and” between each one and rearrange them while maintaining fluidity and clarity.

Front 24

What are cumulative adjectives?

Back 24

Cumulative adjectives, on the other hand, will not make sense with the word “and” between them and cannot be rearranged.

Front 25

What is comma rule five?

Back 25

Use commas to set off parenthetical information. Parenthetical informations appears in the middle of a sentence.

Front 26

What is parenthetical information?

Back 26

Parenthetical information appears in the middle of a sentence. The information is parenthetical if it can be removed without changing the meaning of the sentence. If removing the information changes the sentences main point or the sentence just doesn’t make sense, the information is not parenthetical, so do not use commas.

Front 27

What is rule six for using a comma?

Back 27

Use the comma to set off nonessential information that begins with “especially”, “who,” “whom” and “whose. Nonessential information may appear in the middle or at the end of an independent clause.

Front 28

What words set off nonessential information?

Back 28

“Especially,” “such as,” “which,” “who,” “whom,” and “whose.”

Front 29

What is rule seven for using a comma?

Back 29

Use the comma to set off separate sharply contrasting elements.

Front 30

What words separate sharply contrasting elements?

Back 30

Sharply contrasting elements are often defined by the words “not” and “unlike”

Ex. I want to go home and study, not sleep.

Front 31

What is rule eight for using a comma?

Back 31

Use commas after or around conjunctive adverbs or transitional phrases.

Front 32

What are some examples of conjunctive adverbs?

Back 32

Conjunctive adverbs include also, finally, however, Instead, next, still, and thus.

Front 33

What are some examples of transitional phrases?

Back 33

Transitional phrases include “as a matter of fact” “as a result” “ in addition” “in fact” “ in other words” and “in the first place”

Front 34

What is rule nine for using a comma?

Back 34

Use a comma after a signal phrase introducing a short direct quotation.

Front 35

What makes a short quotation of prose?

Back 35

It is considered a short quotation of prose if it contains four lines or less.

Front 36

What makes a short quotation of poetry?

Back 36

If the quotation contains poetry, it is considered short of it contains three lines or less.

Front 37

What musta signal phrase contain?

Back 37

Signal phrases contain the name of the author or speaker and a signal word such as said, says, believed, thinks, or thought.