English 11

Grammar Snapshot Sheet

Semicolon Uses:
1. Joining two independent clauses without a conjunction word: The dog jumped; I fell.
2. Joining two independent clauses with a conjunctive adverb or transitional expression:
a. The dog jumped; however, I fell.
b. The dog jumped; as a result, I fell.
3. Joining series of items that contain a comma: The dog visited Miami, Fl; Hopewell, Va; and
Atlanta, Ga.
List of Conjunctive Adverbs:
Accordingly
Conversely
Additionally
Finally
Also
Furthermore
Besides
However
Consequently
Indeed

Instead
Likewise
Meanwhile
Moreover
Nevertheless

ListofTransitionalExpressions:
Ontheotherhand
Incontrast
Onthecontrary
Forthatreason
Forexample
Forinstance

Otherwise
Similarly
Still
Subsequently
Then

Atthesametime
Asaresult
Inotherwords

Therefore
Thus

Forthispurpose
Inaddition
Infact

Inparticular

ColonUses:
1. Beforealistthatisintroducedbyaclause:Youneedthefollowingitems:pens,paper,andbooks.
IloveGeneralMillsCereals:LuckyCharms,RiceKrispies,andFrootLoops.
2. Beforeaquotationlongerthan4lines:
Spartacusralliedhistroopsupforbattlewithhisspeech:
Men,youaregreatfighters.Youaregreatcitizens,whodeservemorethan
captivity.Joinmeinthegreatfightagainstourenemy;thisfightforour
freedom.Freedomdoesnotcomeatafreecost,butitisliberating.Inour
liberation,wecanraiseourchildreninacountrythatisourown.
3. Toendthesalutation(greeting)ofabusinessletter:DearMr.Smith:
CommaUses:
1. Betweenitemsinaseries:John,Perry,andTariqslept.
2. Afteranintroductoryprepositionalphrase:Afterthegame,Johnslept.
3. Afteranintroductoryadverbialclause:Whenthegameended,Johnslept.
4. Afterintroductorywords:Yes,Johnslept./However,Johnslept.
5. Afterintroductoryphrases:Snoringloudly,Johnslept.
6. Before/afteradjectiveclause:John,whowenthome,slept.
7. Beforeacoordinatingconjunction:Johnwenthometosleep,buthismomlockedhimout.
8. Before/afterappositivephrase:John,anartist,sleptathome.
9. Afterthedate:OnMarch12,2000,Johnslept.
10. Afteryear:March12,2000,iswhenJohnslept.
11. Beforequotations:Johnsaid,Ineedsleep./Johnsbookstates,Everybodyneedssleep(p.18).
12. Before/Afternonessentialphrases/clauses:John,infact,slept./Twohundred,Ithink,isenough.
13. Betweenadjectives:Johnisadifficult,meansleeper.
14. Betweencityandstate,orcountryandstate:JohnsleptinMiami,FL./JohnsleptinTexas,USA.
List of Prepositions- these are used in PHRASES:
Around
At
But
About
With
Within
Aboard
Before
By

In
Without
Inside

Onto
Unto
Out

Till
Since
To

Above
Across
After

Behind
Below
Between

Despite
Down
During

Into
Off
Near

Outside
Over
Past

Toward
Under
Up

Against

Beside

For

Of

Since

Until

Phrase: Contains a subject or a verb or neither, but NOT BOTH.

- on the phone (prepositional phrase, which cant contain a subject or a verb)
- ran to the phone (verb (run) no subject you dont know who or what ran)
- The phone at the store (subject (phone) no verb- you dont know what the phone did)
Independent Clause: Contains a SUBJECT and a VERB and makes complete sense.
- The phone rang.
- Roland anticipated the arrival of his new pair of shoes.
- After the game, the team celebrated.
List of COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS (these are used to join INDEPENDENT clauses):
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
Dependent Clause: Contains a SUBJECT and a verb, but it DOESNT make complete sense. As a reader,
you sense some information is missing.
Three types of Dependent Clauses:
- Noun Clause: A clause used as a NOUN: Subject, direct object, or complement.
o What I need is my own car to get to work and school.
o The best vacation my family took was when we went to Florida.
List of NOUN CLAUSE BEGINNINGS (noun clause= dependent clause):
How
Where
Whoever
That
What
Whether
Whom
Which
When
Whose
Whomever
Whoever
-

After
Although
As
As far as
As if
-

Adverbial Clause: A clause that describes the VERB- tells how, why, when, where
o The crowd erupted in excitement when Josh scored a goal.
Josh=subject, scored=verb- with the clause alone, you dont fully
understand what happened when Josh scored the goal
o Because Kentucky lost to VCU, they were eliminated from the tournament.
Kentucky= subject, lost=verb- with the clause alone, you
dont fully understand what happened because Kentucky lost
List of ADVERBIAL CLAUSE BEGINNING (adv. clause=dependent clause):
As soon as
Even though
Now that
That
Whenever
As though
If
Once
Though
Where
Because
In order
Provided that
Unless
Wherever
Before
In that
Since
Until
Whether
Even if
Lest
So that
When
While
Adjective Clause: A clause that describes the NOUN- gives a detail about it
o The crowd, which was excited, erupted when Josh scored a goal.
Which= subject, was excited=verb- with the clause alone, you dont fully
understand who was excited
o Before the dog caught the ball, Josh, who chased the dog, tripped over it.
Who= subject, chased= verb- with the clause alone, you dont fully
understand who was chasing the dog.
List of ADJECTIVE CLAUSE BEGINNING (adjective clause= dependent clause):
Who
Whom
Whose
Which
That
Whoever
Whomever
Where
When

List of HELPING VERBS

Are
Be
Being Could Do
Am
Been Can
Did
Does

Is
Has

Had
Have

May
Shall

Should
Was

Were
Would