SYNTAX

1. SYNTAX Sentence Structure The sequence and connection of the words, phrases, and clauses that constitute sentences.

2. Syntax Terms • Subject • Predicate • Simple Subject • Simple Predicate • Independent Clause • Dependent (Sub) Clause • Phrase • Fragment • Appositive • Simple Sentence • Compound Sentence • Complex Sentence • Coordinating Conjunction • Subordinating Conjunction

3. A Sentence • Contains a subject and a predicate • Can stand alone as a grammatical unit • Also called an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE • The boy drove to the store.

4. Subject • Tells who or what the sentence is about • Consists of the simple subject and all of its modifiers. • The boy drove to the store.

5. Predicate • The part of the sentence performed by or describes the subject. • Consists of the verb and all of its modifiers, objects, and complements. • The boy drove to the store.

6. Simple Subject • A noun or pronoun completing or receiving the action. • Theboydrove to the store.

7. Simple Predicate • Only the verb completed by the simple subject • The boy droveto the store.

8. Independent Clause • Another word for COMPLETE SENTENCE • Consists of a SUBJECT and PREDICATE • Contains a complete thought • The boy drove to the store.

9. Dependent (Subordinate) Clause • A group of words that contains a subject and a predicate, but cannot stand alone. • It does not make sense on its own. • Whenever hedrove the car

10. Phrase • A group of words that lacks a subject, a predicate or both. • Screaming like a banshee – missing a subject • The tallest man – missing a predicate • After midnight – missing both

11. Fragment • A sentence that lacks a subject, a predicate or both and is punctuated at its end. • Screaming like a banshee. – missing a subject • The tallest man. – missing a predicate • After midnight. – missing both

12. Appositive • A noun or noun phrase that describes a nearby noun or pronoun. • Set off by commas. • Mark, the smartest kid in the class, attended Harvard after high school. • The smartest kid in the class, Mark, attended Harvard after high school. • The only student to attend Harvard was Mark, the smartest kid in the class.

13. Simple Sentence • Consists of ONE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE • Can have phrases • The boy drove to the store. • The woman walked along the beach. • Over the rainbow and through the woods to grandmother’s house we go.

14. Coordinating Conjunction • Coordinating conjunctions join • single words • groups of words • always join similar elements • subject+subject • verb phrase+verb phrase • sentence+sentence. • When a coordinating conjunction is used to join elements, the element becomes a compound element. • FANBOYS – For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

15. Subordinating Conjunction • The largest class of conjunctions • Connect subordinate clauses to a main clause. • These conjunctions are adverbs used as conjunctions. • After,how, till, although,if, unless, as, inasmuch,  until, • as if, in order, when,as long as, lest, whenever, • as much as, now that, where,as soon as, wherever, • as though, since,while, because, so that,before, than, • even if, that, even though, though

16. Correlative Conjunction • Correlative conjunctions also connect sentence elements of the same kind (like Coordinating Conjunctions) • Unlike coordinating conjunctions, correlative conjunctions are always used in pairs. • both...and • not only...but also • either...or • neither...nor • whether...or

17. Compound Sentence • Contains MORE THAN ONE INDEPENDENT CLAUSE • Contains NO DEPENDENT (SUBORDINATE) CLAUSES • May be linked together with • A SEMI-COLON ; • A FANBOYS Coordinating Conjunction • FOR, AND, NOR, BUT, OR, YET, SO • The boy drove to the store, and his brother stayed at home. • The woman walked along the beach, but Lilly drove her dune buggy. • She always completes her homework, so she always gets the highest grades in class.

18. Complex Sentence • Contains an INDEPENDENT CLAUSE and one or more DEPENDENT (SUBORDINATE) CLAUSES • Can occur in the following order: • IND CLAUSE then DEP CLAUSE • Or • DEP CLAUSE then IND CLAUSE • Joined together by either a COORDINATING CONJUNCTION, SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION or CORRELATIVE CONJUNCTION

19. Complex Sentence Continued • Dependent (Sub) Clause first = USE COMMA • Independent Clause first = NO COMMA • After the boy drove to the store, he watched the football game. • The boy watched the football game after he drove to the store. • Whenever the woman walked along beach, her dog would bark uncontrollably. • Her dog would bark uncontrollably whenever the woman walked along the beach.