Introductory Introductory Phrases and Phrases and ClausesClauses

First, what is a phrase?First, what is a phrase?

A A phrasephrase is a group of words that is a group of words that does notdoes not have a subject or a verb.have a subject or a verb.

For example:For example: Eating a peachEating a peach Under the teacher’s deskUnder the teacher’s desk After seeing the Taj MahalAfter seeing the Taj Mahal To buy a new phoneTo buy a new phone

What is a clause?What is a clause?

A A clauseclause is a group of words that is a group of words that doesdoes have have both a subject and a verb.both a subject and a verb.

For example:For example: After the rain stoppedAfter the rain stopped They studied for the testThey studied for the test I decided to go homeI decided to go home Since the children are sleepingSince the children are sleeping The cage door was openThe cage door was open

Identify these as either Identify these as either phrases or clauses:phrases or clauses:

1.1. Before baking a pieBefore baking a pie

2.2. Picking some applesPicking some apples

3.3. Before he lit the candleBefore he lit the candle

4.4. Alice wants to be an astronautAlice wants to be an astronaut

5.5. Although Alice wants to be an astronautAlthough Alice wants to be an astronaut

6.6. Behind the couchBehind the couch

7.7. When I return from schoolWhen I return from school

8.8. While juggling avocadosWhile juggling avocados

Introductory PhrasesIntroductory Phrases

After using an After using an introductory phraseintroductory phrase to to begin a sentence, you may or may not begin a sentence, you may or may not need to add a comma.need to add a comma.

If the introductory phrase is a short and If the introductory phrase is a short and simple prepositional phrase, you probably simple prepositional phrase, you probably do not need a comma.do not need a comma.

For example:For example: Under the bridge I met a kindly troll.Under the bridge I met a kindly troll. After dinner we went for a walk.After dinner we went for a walk. In France the students toured museums.In France the students toured museums.

However, if the introductory phrase is a However, if the introductory phrase is a longer prepositional phrase, or if a comma longer prepositional phrase, or if a comma will make the sentence clearer, use a will make the sentence clearer, use a comma.comma.

After getting stung by a bee, Janice cried After getting stung by a bee, Janice cried for hours.for hours.

Above the door of his bedroom, Alex’s little Above the door of his bedroom, Alex’s little brother had placed a bucket of water.brother had placed a bucket of water.

In fact, facts provide useful information for In fact, facts provide useful information for research papers.research papers.

If the introductory phrase is any other type of If the introductory phrase is any other type of phrase, use a comma.phrase, use a comma.

For example:For example: Eating a peach, Caroline walked down the Eating a peach, Caroline walked down the

street.street. To buy a new phone, David first needed to To buy a new phone, David first needed to

get a job.get a job. Preparing to ride the giant rollercoaster, I Preparing to ride the giant rollercoaster, I

took a deep breath.took a deep breath.

Introductory ClausesIntroductory Clauses

After using an After using an introductory clauseintroductory clause to to begin a sentence, you must add either a begin a sentence, you must add either a comma, a semicolon, a comma with a comma, a semicolon, a comma with a conjunction, or a period.conjunction, or a period.

If the clause can act as a full sentence (for If the clause can act as a full sentence (for example, “I decided to go home”), you must example, “I decided to go home”), you must follow it with either a semicolon, a period, or a follow it with either a semicolon, a period, or a comma with a conjunction (and, but, for, so, comma with a conjunction (and, but, for, so, or, etc.)or, etc.)

For example, any of these constructions are For example, any of these constructions are grammatically correct:grammatically correct:

I decided to go home; I was tired of the zoo.I decided to go home; I was tired of the zoo. I decided to go home. I was tired of the zoo.I decided to go home. I was tired of the zoo. I decided to go home, for I wasI decided to go home, for I was

tired of the zoo.tired of the zoo.

If the clause cannot act as a full sentence If the clause cannot act as a full sentence (for example, “After the rain stopped”), you (for example, “After the rain stopped”), you must follow it with a comma.must follow it with a comma.

For example:For example: After the rain stopped, the chickens After the rain stopped, the chickens

emerged from their coop.emerged from their coop. After the rain stopped, I splashed in the After the rain stopped, I splashed in the

puddles.puddles. After the rain stopped, the threat of a flood After the rain stopped, the threat of a flood

significantly decreased.significantly decreased.

QUIZ TIME!QUIZ TIME!

Identify the introductory parts of these Identify the introductory parts of these sentences as either phrases or clauses:sentences as either phrases or clauses:

1.1. Before he lit the candles, he made sure Before he lit the candles, he made sure his fire extinguisher was close at hand.his fire extinguisher was close at hand.

2.2. While juggling avocados, the amateur While juggling avocados, the amateur clown inadvertently made guacamole.clown inadvertently made guacamole.

3.3. Alyssa’s party was cancelled, so I went Alyssa’s party was cancelled, so I went to Josh’s instead.to Josh’s instead.

4.4. After learning to play guitar, Frank joined After learning to play guitar, Frank joined a band.a band.

5.5. After he learned to play guitar, Frank After he learned to play guitar, Frank wrote a new song every day.wrote a new song every day.

6.6. To gather more volunteers, Meg offered To gather more volunteers, Meg offered free food.free food.

7.7. Hiking through the woods, John fell and Hiking through the woods, John fell and broke his leg.broke his leg.

Now, identify these sentences as correct or Now, identify these sentences as correct or incorrect:incorrect:

1.1. Under the teacher’s desk, the students Under the teacher’s desk, the students found a chinchilla.found a chinchilla.

2.2. Picking some apples Jeremy delighted in Picking some apples Jeremy delighted in the fresh spring air.the fresh spring air.

3.3. When I return from school in the When I return from school in the afternoon I usually eat a snack.afternoon I usually eat a snack.

4.4. To be an astronaut, you need to undergo To be an astronaut, you need to undergo intense training.intense training.

5.5. To start a fire the Boy Scouts had to find To start a fire the Boy Scouts had to find dry wood.dry wood.

Two forms of Run-On Two forms of Run-On SentencesSentences

AA fused fused sentence is a sentence that has sentence is a sentence that has two or more complete sentences without two or more complete sentences without the correct punctuation between them. the correct punctuation between them.

Bob went to the store he bought some apples.

Run On SentencesRun On Sentences

AA comma splice comma splice is two or more complete is two or more complete sentences held together by only a sentences held together by only a comma. comma.

Bob went to the store, he bought some apples.

Now your turn to be Fix-It Now your turn to be Fix-It

How do you fix these run-on errors? How do you fix these run-on errors?

Bob went to the store he bought some Bob went to the store he bought some apples.apples.

Bob went to the store, he bought some Bob went to the store, he bought some apples.apples.

1.1. Adding a period makes two complete Adding a period makes two complete sentences. sentences.

2.2. Adding a semicolon or a colon makes one Adding a semicolon or a colon makes one complete sentence. complete sentence.

3. Adding a comma and coordinating 3. Adding a comma and coordinating conjunction will make one complete conjunction will make one complete sentence.sentence.

ONCE MORE…ONCE MORE…

Coordinating Conjunctions For And Nor But Or Yet So = FANBOYS

Use the FANBOYS formula to combine independent clauses:

Subject + Predicate, {FANBOYS} Subject + Predicate