PUNCTUATION PUZZLE: The shepherd led them to the brook....

PUNCTUATION PUZZLE---plus a couple of other errors for you to find!

The shepherd lead them to the brook and they drank alot, because they were very, hot, and thirsty.

Here is the answer with an explanation for each aspectbelow: The shepherd led them to the brook, and they drank a lot because they were very hot and thirsty.

 LED vs LEAD: The shepherd LED them to the brook......

      1.  LEAD (pronounced ledd with as short e) is only pronounced ledd when it refers to a metal or pencil graphite.           2. Otherwise LEAD is pronounced leed (long e) and is the current tense of the verb lead (LEED).                                     3. LED is the past tense of the verb LEAD (pronounced LEED, with a long e).

CS ,cc CS--Do you remember these rules for compound sentences? 

1. CS stands for complete sentence; cc stands for coordinating conjunction. 

2. You can join one CS (complete sentence) with another CS by using a comma-cc (,For/ ,And/ ,Nor/ ,But/ ,Or/ ,Yet/ ,So). 

3. You may not combine two complete sentences into one with a cc only--you must put a comma before it: The shepherd led them to the brook, AND they drank....

 ALOT vs A LOT:  ALOT is not one word; it should be two words--A LOT---meaning a bunch or a large amount: The shepherd led them to the brook, and they drank a lot....

No comma before a subordinator at the end of a sentence unless it is a WHICH clause-

1. You do not need a comma before the BECAUSE. 

2. You do not hear a pause (like you would if it were a WHICH clause): The shepherd led them to the brook, and they drank a lot because they were very hot and thirsty.

No Comma Between an adverb and the adjective it describes---

1. Or more clearly put, no comma between a qualifier and a describer: VERY hot and thirsty (not VERY, hot, and thirsty).

2.  Very is an adverb telling how hot (an adverb describing an adjective or qualifying it). 

3. Tip for this: 

     a. If you can put an AND where you are trying to put the comma, then a comma is needed (in place of the and): they were muddy, hot, and thirsty (muddy AND hot AND thirsty). 

     b. If you cannot put an AND, do not put a comma: very AND hot---NO!). 

     c.  Also, do not use a comma when you have only two adjectives and you are placing an AND in between them--either use a comma (hot, thirsty) OR place an AND (hot and thirsty) but not both.

Compound Sentence Quiz!

Are you ready for your quiz? Can you create compound sentences with the sentence pairs given below? Use either of the following:

1. A semicolon (with a complete sentence on the left and a complete sentence on the right)

2. A comma-coordinating conjunction between two complete sentences (,for/,and/,nor/,but/,or/,yet/,so---FANBOYS)

a. Writing with compound sentences is important. It is a skill that many people do not have.

b. A compound sentence is formed when two complete sentences are joined as one sentence. You have to combine them properly.

c. For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so are all coordinating conjunctions. The acronym FANBOYS stands for all seven coordinating conjunctions.

d. A semicolon should never be used in place of a comma. A semicolon alone can join two complete sentences.

e. A comma indicates a pause. A semicolon indicates a small stop.




Here are some suggested answers for the quiz:

a. Writing with compound sentences is important; it is a skill that many people do not have.

a. Writing with compound sentences is important, yet it is a skill that many people do not have.

b. A compound sentence is formed when two complete sentences are joined as one sentence, but you have to combine them properly.

b. A compound sentence is formed when two complete sentences are joined as one sentence, yet you have to combine them properly.

b. A compound sentence is formed when two complete sentences are joined as one sentence; you have to combine them properly.

c. For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so are all coordinating conjunctions, and the acronym FANBOYS stands for all seven coordinating conjunctions.

c. For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so are all coordinating conjunctions; the acronym FANBOYS stands for all seven coordinating conjunctions.


d. A semicolon should never be used in place of a comma, but a semicolon alone can join two complete sentences.

d. A semicolon should never be used in place of a comma, yet a semicolon alone can join two complete sentences.

d. A semicolon should never be used in place of a comma; a semicolon alone can join two complete sentences.

e. A comma indicates a pause, but a semicolon indicates a small stop.

e. A comma indicates a pause, and a semicolon indicates a small stop.

e. A comma indicates a pause; a semicolon indicates a small stop.

Comma Clues #1: Creating a Compound Sentence With a Comma-Coordinating Conjunction (,cc)

   I promised you a series of comma clues, and since I am in the middle of an article about fifty sentence types, it is a good time to start that series here! Commas are a mystery to many people--and rightly so! They are extremely subjective at times across the board. And then, different handbooks and authorities stress different rules for them, making them even more elusive.

I hope to demystify them at least a little bit in this series--and give you the confidence you need to write using commas correctly.*


Note: If you are in test taking situations or contest writing situations, it is more important than ever for you to master comma, semicolon, colon, and quotation use. As a matter of fact, we have an entire unit in our upcoming SAT Essay book just focusing on these skills because when they are done correctly, it is impressive. When they are done incorrectly, it is obvious to graders. Work hard to learn these skills, students! Smile....that was my mom/teacher voice!




 Comma Clue #1: Creating a Compound Sentence With a Comma-Coordinating Conjunction (,cc)+
 

          

CS ,cc CS+



1. The spider's victims seldom escape, for they are caught in a sticky web.  

2. The victims are stuck, and they become "dinner."

3. They can not free themselves, nor can they be freed.

4. They sit in the web and wait, but they do not wait for long.

5. The spider lets the victim sit in the sticky mess for a while, or it carries the victim away to eat it right away.

6. The spider is ruthless, yet it is also known for its special "web designs."

7. The spider has special skills, so it puts these skills to good use.     


             

Why/How: 

-Coordinating conjunctions (cc's) include the following with the acronym FANBOYS: For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
-A comma must be used with the cc when combining two complete sentences into one.
-With a comma only (no cc), you would be creating a comma splice, also known as a run-on sentence--two sentences joined together incorrectly.
-Each side of the compound sentence must be able to stand alone in order to be combined with a comma-cc. 
-Complete sentence on the left: The spider's prey seldom escapes & a complete sentence on the right: it is caught in a sticky web.
-If a CS is not on one side or the other of the cc, no comma is used: The spider's prey seldom escapes and oftentimes gets eaten (no CS after and, so no comma. 



+This series, as well as upcoming series' will use the following abbreviations to teach:

   a. CS--complete sentence
   b. cc--coordinating conjunction (think FANBOYS--For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So)
   c.   CA--conjunctive adverb
   d. Sub--subordinator
   e. Prep--preposition
   f. PP--prepositional phrase
   g. sub clause--subordinate clause (or dependent clause--group of words with a subject and a verb/verb phrase that cannot stand alone)
   h. phr--phrase (group of words that does not contain both a subject and a verb that cannot stand along