Category: Class

Punctuating a sentence correctly may sometimes seem difficult and discretionary. But with informed choices, you can get rid of assumptions in proper punctuation of sentence.

Here are the eight punctuation patterns.

Pattern 1: Simple Sentence

Use a period to punctuate one independent clause that is consist of a subject and a verb.

Example:

Pattern 2: Compound Sentence

Use a comma after the first independent clause that is before a coordinating conjunction ( and, but, for, or, nor, yet, so ) and then followed by another independent clause.

Example:

Pattern 3: Compound Sentence

Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses that are not joined by coordinating conjunctions: and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet.

Example:

Pattern 4: Compound Sentence

Use semicolon and independent marker/conjunctive adverb with the compound sentence. Examples of independent markers: therefore, finally, consequently, moreover, thus, likewise, consequently, however, also.

Example:

Pattern 5: Complex Sentence

Start the complex sentence with a dependent marker. Examples of dependent markers: because, before, since, while, even though, although, if, unless, until, when, after, as, as if

Example:

Pattern 6: Complex Sentence

The complex sentence end with a fragment clause.

Example:

Pattern 7:

This uses an additional, non-essential clause or phrase after the independent clause. Removing the non-essential clause should not alter the context of the sentence.

These embedded phrases are used to enhance the clause but are not required to make the clause to stand alone.

Example:

Pattern 8:

This uses an additional, essential clause or phrase after the first independent clause. Removing the non-essential clause can alter the context of the sentence.

Example:

A prefix is one or more letters added before a base word to change its meaning. Prefixes have different functions. They may make the word negative (-un, in), by showing repetition (-re), or by showing support (-pro).

Prefixes are mostly used to shorten phrases. For example, if you want to say that someone is “eating too much“, you can simply say that they are “overeating“.

Here is a list of prefixes from a-z and their meaning and examples.

Tips:

When to use hyphens with prefixes:

a. Prefix with a proper noun except for the word “transatlantic“, the only word that does not follow this rule on proper nouns.

b. If the word with the prefix already exists, use a hyphen.

c. all-, ex– (former), and self–

Note:

The prefix “extra” does not need a hyphen if it means “outside of“.

A suffix is one or more letters added at the end of a base word to make a new word.

The new word formed usually becomes a different word class from the original base word. For example, with the use of a suffix, a verb can be changed to an adjective or a noun. Similarly, an adjective or a noun can be changed to an adverb by the use of a suffix.

Common Suffixes in English

Noun Suffixes

Verb Suffixes

Adverb Suffixes

Adjective Suffixes

Tips:

The spelling of the new word may be changed when adding a suffix.

a. For words with only one consonant and a short vowel sound, double the last consonant before the suffix.

b. For words ending in two consonants, the suffix is usually added as is.

c. For words ending in a consonant followed by a ‘y‘, we remove the ‘y‘ and replace it with an ‘i‘ before adding the suffix.

Noun clause is a type of subordinate clause that serves as a noun in a sentence. It is fairly easy to spot them since they usually begin with certain subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns.

A noun clause has multiple functions too. One of these functions is to act as a subject by constituting the action in a sentence. A noun clause as a subject usually comes immediately before the verb and at the beginning of a sentence.

Structure:

noun clause + verb [+ object/phrase/clause]

Tips:

a. Noun clause as a subject should not be separated from the verb with punctuation.

b. When a noun clause functions as a subject, it always takes a singular verb.

c. That–clause

A noun clause as a subject that starts with “that” is totally acceptable. However, it doesn’t sound natural. In written English, many writers opt for “The fact that”.

Noun clause is a dependent clause that functions as a noun in a sentence. These noun clauses can serve as the direct object of the verb.

Noun clause as a direct object implies that it is the direct recipient of the action of the verb. In this structure, transitive verbs are used.

Normally, noun clauses start with subordinating conjunctions such as that, how, what, whatever, when, where, whether, which, who, whoever, whom and why.

Structure:

subject + verb + noun clause

Tips:
Object noun clause is not separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma.

In interrogative sentences, do not place the verb before the subject in a noun clause.