Sentence Structure and Punctuation

Introduction

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In today's lesson we continue our unit, Punctuation.  

To view the previous lesson, What Is Punctuation, Part 2, click here.

A Unique Relationship

 

In writing, we indicate that a sentence has ended by using either a period, an exclamation mark, or a question mark, depending on the type of sentence it is.

Many punctuation errors occur because the writer has used a comma instead of a sentence-ending punctuation mark.  The sentence has ended, and yet the punctuation does not match up.

Every sentence in English must have a main (or independent) clause.  This is a clause that can stand alone and form its own complete sentence.  The main subject and main verb are part of the main clause.  A simple sentence has only one main clause.  While every sentence has a main (or independent) clause, many other sentences, called complex sentences, also contain a dependent clause (or subordinate clause).  Many serious and annoying punctuation errors occur when the writer has not attached the dependent (or subordinate) clause to a main (or independent) clause. They have allowed the subordinate clause to stand alone.

The sentence has not yet ended, and yet the punctuation falsely indicates that it has.

In both cases, modifying the punctuation will correct the sentence structure.

 We hope that in this chapter we will eliminate punctuation errors from your writing caused by not knowing, or not being sure, whether a sentence has or hasn't ended.

 

Is This a Sentence?

 

The following are from ESL students' writing.

Is each one a sentence, or not?  Check your answers when you are done.

1.  When I need to make an important decision.
2.  I go to the track and start to run.
3.  When I need to make an important decision, I go to the track and start to run.
4.  Many people want to live near the ocean.
5.  Where it is quiet and clean.
6.  Many people want to live near the ocean, where it is quiet and clean.
7.  When I was seven years old.
8.  My family moved to a different city.
9.  When I was seven years old, my family moved to a different city.
10. We were very happy.
11. Our children were very happy, too.
12. We were very happy and our children were very happy, too.
13. We and our children were very happy.
14. Even though they left.
15. They weren't happy.
16. Even though they left, they weren't happy.

Check your answers here.

If you have errors, check the chapters on Sentence Structure: Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences.

Next...

Subsequent Chapters

In the next few chapters, we will discuss the proper use of commas and periods.

NEXT LESSON:  Commas in Compound Sentences

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