teas english 5 - sentence structure · correct. b)the cat likes milk, so she drinks it as often as...

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ATI TEAS ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE USAGE REVIEW

SENTENCE STRUCTURE

ATI TEAS ENGLISH AND LANGUAGE USAGE SENTENCE STRUCTURE

Sentence Structure questions address clarity ofexpression, subordinating conjunctions, and how tocombine sentences into a single sentence. You must alsobe able to distinguish between simple sentences, complexsentences, compound sentences, and sentence fragments.

UNDERSTANDING SIMPLE SENTENCES

A simple sentence has one independent clause and expressesa complete thought.

Ezra went into the store.

This sentence is considered simple because it expresses acomplete thought and contains only one independent clauseand no dependent clauses. The following sentence is longer,but it is also a simple sentence.

Ezra went to the store and bought some chocolate milk for hissister.

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UNDERSTANDING SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS

In the review on punctuation, we will review the use ofcoordinating conjunctions. These are connecting words,such as and, but, so, and for, which may be used to jointwo independent clauses.

Ezra went to the store, and he bought some milk.

When a coordinating conjunction is used to join twoindependent clauses, as we saw earlier, the conjunctionmust always be preceded by a comma.

Ezra went to the store and she bought some milk.Incorrect.

Ezra went to the store, and he bought some milk. Correct.



Independent clauses are considered independent becausethey can stand as complete sentences on their own. Whenwe join two independent clauses with a coordinatingconjunction, we are joining two clauses of equal weight.Neither is dependent on the other.

Dependent clauses, on the other hand, do not formcomplete sentences on their own. They start withconnecting words known as subordinating conjunctions.

Dependent Clauses

• Because she left early• Although the package was heavy• While Mr. Galloway waited• When the game was over• After the crowd dispersed

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Subordinating conjunctions are connecting words used to startdependent clauses. They include the words because, although,while, when, after, before, until, since, as, if, and once, amongothers. Subordinating conjunctions can be used to join twoclauses in a way that places emphasis on one of the clauses overthe other.

Because its batteries had run low, the alarm clock suddenlystopped working.

In the example above, the underlined clause is an independentclause. It is placed at the end of the sentence, after thedependent clause Because its batteries had run low. Thiscombination and ordering of clauses emphasizes theinformation at the end of the sentence. Here are a few moreexamples.

Although pizza is high in calories, it’s my favorite food.

While the teacher was away, the students talked loudly.

Until it started to snow, the weather had been gorgeous.


UNDERSTANDING COMPLEX SENTENCES

Complex sentences contain an independent clause and one ormore dependent clauses.

When Ezra went to the store, he bought some milk.

In this example, the underline clause is an independent clause.The dependent clause is at the beginning of the sentence: WhenEzra went to the store.

The following examples are all complex sentences, too.

Although pizza is high in calories, it’s my favorite food.

While the teacher was away, the students talked loudly.

Until it started to snow, the weather had been gorgeous.

Each of these examples contains an independent clause(underlined) plus a dependent clause with a subordinatingconjunction.

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UNDERSTANDING COMPOUND SENTENCES

Compound sentences contain two or more independent clauses. They can be joined by a semicolon or by a comma and a coordinating conjunction.

The professor gave a great lecture today; we thoroughly enjoyed it.

The professor gave a great lecture today, we thoroughly enjoyed it.


UNDERSTANDING SENTENCE FRAGMENTS

A sentence fragment is a group of words that cannotstand on its own as a complete sentence. Sentencefragments often consist of solitary dependent clauses.

After Martin thought it over. Fragment

This example is a fragment, because the clause AfterMartin Thought it over doesn’t provide enoughinformation to stand on its own. We can change thisfragment into a simple or complex sentence.

Martin thought it over. Simple sentence

After Martin thought it over, he decided to attend.Complex sentence

Sentence fragments can also be created if a sentence ismissing its subject or its verb.

Thinking it over in the middle of the afternoon. Fragment

Martin, who spent a lot of time thinking it over. Fragment

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UNDERSTANDING SENTENCE FRAGMENTS

As with the earlier sentence fragment, these examples donot stand as complete sentences on their own. One way tocorrect these examples would be to add a subject to thefirst sentence and a main verb to the second.

Martin was thinking it over in the middle of the afternoon.Simple sentence

Martin, who spent a lot of time thinking it over, eventuallydecided to attend. Simple sentence


UNDERSTANDING RUN-ON SENTENCES

A run-on sentence is a sentence in which two or more independent clauses are joined without an appropriate conjunction or punctuation. There are two types of run-on sentences: fused sentences and comma splices. A fused sentence has two independent clauses joined together with no conjunction or punctuation.

The cat likes milk she drinks it as often as she can. Incorrect.

A comma splice incorrectly joins two independent clauses with a comma.

The cat likes milk, she drinks it as often as she can. Incorrect.

To correct a run-on sentence, you have four options:1. Separate the two independent clauses into two sentences.

a) The cat likes milk. She drinks it as often as she can.Correct.

2. Correctly join the two independent clauses with a semicolon or with a comma and coordinating conjunction.

a) The cat likes milk; she drinks it as often as she can. Correct.

b) The cat likes milk, so she drinks it as often as she can. Correct.

3. Subordinate one of the two independent clauses so that you have a complex sentence.

a) Because the cat likes milk, she drinks it as often as she can. Correct.

4. Change the sentence into a simple sentence with only one independent clause.

a) The cat likes to drink milk as often as she can. Correct.

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UNDERSTANDING DICTION

Diction refers to the choice and use of words. In the reading section of my review, you learned about how writers choose words to achieve a certain tone in their writing. Writers also vary their diction according to their purpose and audience. Formal diction is used in formal situations such as business writing and scholarly works. Informal diction is used in informal situations such as writing to our friends. Colloquial diction uses words common in the everyday speech of a time and region. Slang is the use of words that are newly coined, very informal, or impolite.

You will need to be able to distinguish between formal and informal modes of writing and identify slang.

teas english 5 - sentence structure · correct. b)the cat likes milk, so she drinks it as often as...

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