We gathered notes about writing and sentence structure from your Edmentum lessons (and some extra basics) here, so you can find them all in one place!
If you saw something related to grammar in your Tutorial and aren't sure what it means, you can find info about it below!
If you're behind and trying to catch up, there are OTHER grammar notes on the websites for the other courses - Head to the front page to check those out!
Parallel structure allows you to grammatically link two or more ideas in the same sentence without having to repeat certain words. For example, if you wanted to connect multiple pieces of evidence to a single
inference, you could write the following sentences:
The scientist’s shaking hands indicated that he was nervous. The scientist’s nervous laugh suggested that he was nervous. The scientist’s darting eyes indicated that he was nervous.
However, instead of writing three separate sentences, you can easily combine them:
The scientist’s shaking hands, nervous laugh, and darting eyes indicated that he was nervous.
Since all of these pieces of evidence indicate nervousness and belong to the scientist, there is no reason to repeat “The scientist’s” and “indicated that he was nervous.”
Active voice focuses on the subject, or doer, performing the action in a sentence. Active voice also uses action verbs. Writing in active voice helps readers grasp the main ideas easily, which builds clarity in your paper. Here is an example:
The class instructor responds to student emails within 24 hours.
In this sentence, we clearly understand that the subject, the class instructor, is the doing the action, responds to student emails.
Passive voice focuses on the object receiving the doer’s action in a sentence. These sentences make the object the subject of the sentence. Sometimes sentences written in passive voice are wordier and more difficult to understand. Here is an example:
Student emails are responded to by the class instructor within 24 hours.
In this sentence, the subject of the sentence, emails, is receiving the action and not doing it.
A phrase is a group of words that acts as a single part of speech.
noun phrase: a group of words that includes the noun and all its modifiers.
The young, agile boy sprained his ankle performing a backflip.
verb phrase: a group of words that includes a verb and all its modifiers.
My pet Husky has been howling all night.
adjectival phrase: a group of words that describes a noun or pronoun; answers the questions which one, what kind, how many, how much, and whose.
The omelet with the mushrooms and olives is mine.
adverbial phrase: a group of words that describes a verb, adjective, or adverb; answers the questions where, when, why, how, and to what extent.
My best friend lives at the end of Bedford Lane.
prepositional phrase: begins with a preposition and ends with the object of the preposition; can function as both an adjective and an adverb.
The lady in the tie dye jacket is my mother. (adjectival)
My cat chased the iguana up the tree. (adverbial)
infinitive phrase: begins with the word to and a verb; can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
Danisha wants to graduate college with a high GPA. (noun)
The only way to become better at singing is practice. (adjectival)
I am training to compete in a triathlon. (adverbial)
participial phrase: begins with a past or present participle; functions as an adjective.
Edward spotted his pet bulldog lying in the shade.
Framed by the moonlight, my father’s grey locks looked like a silver waterfall.
Independent clauses:
has a subject and a verb and forms a complete sentence or makes sense by itself.
Streton and Ryan are going biking along the bayou this afternoon.
Sylvester forgot his helmet at home.
Dependent Clauses:
has a subject and a verb but does not make sense by itself or form a complete sentence; may begin with a subordinating conjunction such as when, until, although, while, that, since, and before. (note: there is no period at the end of these examples because dependent clauses are not complete sentences.)
Although he ran
When Dawn is finished reading her book
For other notes on Phrases and Clauses from ENG 9B, click here!