Patterns for Sentence Punctuation

Patterns for Sentence Punctuation

Directions for context clue vocabulary sentences:

1. The sentence should contain enough context clues so that the meaning of the vocabulary word is clear.
2. The grammatical form and the use of singular or plural spelling must be correct within the sentence. Therefore you may add endings and change the tense of the verbs.
3. Sample sentences:

Acceptable: It is a misnomer to call the man Tiny Tim, for he is actually seven

feet tall.

Unacceptable: That misnomer is odd for him.

Pattern 1

Compound Sentence: Use a comma and a conjunction to join two independent clauses.

I C, and I C.orS V, and S V.

*You may use any conjunction, not just and, in the above examples. Remember the mnemonic device, FANBOYS, to recall the conjunctions.

Example: In the 1800’s children with scarlet fever were quarantined, so my

grandmother was isolated in the attic bedroom for a month when she came

down with the sickness.

• Beware of using the conjunction so; this word can also be a subordinating conjunction that introduces a dependent clause. If you can substitute so that for so, then you are not using it as a conjunction to join two independent clauses.

Pattern 2

Compound Verb: DO NOT use a comma if one subject has two verbs.

S V and V. orS V but V.

Example: The desperado leapt onto his horse and fled from the sheriff.

Compound Verb: DO use commas if one subject has a series of three or more verbs.

S V, V, and V.

Example: The desperado leapt onto his horse, spurred its foamy flanks, and fled from the

sheriff.

Pattern 3

Use a semicolon to connect two independent clauses.

I C; CA, I C.orI C; however, I C.or I C; therefore, I C.

S V; CA, S V.orS V; however, S V.orS V; therefore, S V.

Example:The classroom was pandemonium; the students stood on desks and

shouted.

Example:The criminal spoke about his crime with candor; however, the parole

board was suspicious because he had lied often before.

Pattern 4

Use a comma to set off appositives. An appositive is a noun that gives additional information about a noun that precedes it.

Example: My daughter, an agile gymnast, climbed up the drainpipe and rescued the

terrified cat.

Example: The leader of the coup d’etat, a hard-lined Communist Party official, was

arrested two days after he had seized power from the elected leader.

Pattern 5

Use a comma after an introductory dependent clause.

D C, I C. or Because

When

If

Although+ S V, S V.

While

Since

Even though

Examples: Because our house is secluded behind a high hedge, we tie balloons to our

gate to help guests find it.

Although the bank teller had verified my dad’s signature by calling him,

she refused to cash the check for me.

• Memorize subordinating conjunctions (words that make a clause dependent when you put them in front of a subject and a verb).
• Beware of because, after, and before. These words can introduce dependent clauses but can also introduce prepositional phrases. Make sure you include a subject and a verb after the coordinating conjunction for pattern 5.

Pattern 6

No comma when an independent clause is followed by a dependent clause.

I C D C.or S V because S V.

when

if

although

while

since

even though

Examples:Norm uses foul language and has terrible manners even though he grew up

in a very well-mannered family.

Jim received detention because he played a prank on the principal.

Patterns for Perfect Tenses

Pattern 7

Present Perfect Tense:

Use present perfect tense (1) to describe an action begun in the past and continuing into the present or (2) to describe an action that happened in the past at an indefinite time. Use the helping verb has or have plus the past participle form of the verb.

Examples: Ted has waited all day for the repairman to arrive.

I have seenStar Wars seventeen times.

Pattern 8

Past Perfect Tense:

Of two past actions, use past perfect tense to indicate which action happened first. Use the helping verb had plus the past participle form of the verb with the action that happened first.

Examples: Since Thomas had explained the directions clearly, we knew exactly

where to go.

Had he taken more time to study, he would have made an A on the test.

If he had taken more time to study, he would have made an A on the test.

** These sheets have been adapted from instructional materials created by Martha Dill.