Combining Clauses

1
Combining Clauses

• Related clauses can be linked
• with semicolons.

2
How else are related clauses linked?

• Writers usually join related clauses with a comma
  plus a conjunction
• ? Pythons are huge, but anacondas are even
  bigger.
• Another way to combine related clauses is with a
  semicolon.
• ? Nurses check patient blood pressure they also
  take blood samples.
• Semicolons dont replace commas they replace a
  comma and a conjunction.

3
Can we sub commas for semicolons?

• Do not combine clauses with semicolons if the
  ideas are not closely related.
• Which sentence is correct?
• __ 1. The surgeon raised his scalpel the price
  of gas went up.
• __ 2. The patient felt terrible she wore a green
  surgical gown.
• __ 3. The surgical team prepared the patient the
  patient worried about the procedure.

Is surgery pricey and dicey?
4
Can you connect related clauses?

• __1. Last spring, most local gas stations added
  10 ethanol
• __2. The Mobil station downtown went with
  ethanol
• __3. The downtown Mobil station dropped the
  ethanol
• __4. Other local gas stations continue to add
  ethanol

a. management found out that older cars couldnt
run on the new gas. b. the managers do not care
if cars run well on it or not. c. Chevron
stations did not add the biofuel. d. management
did not want to cause old cars to stop running.
5
What then is a semicolon?

• A semicolon is a mark of punctuation to link
  independent clauses.
• It indicates a closer relationship between the
  clauses than a period does.
• A semicolon is stronger than a comma in fact, it
  is on the level of a full period.

The semicolon is as common in writing as a
bicycle is in auto traffic.
6
Do commas work like semicolons?

• __1. So which major error do the commas below
  make?
• a. run-on, b. comma splice, c.
  fragment, d. s-v misfit.
• Grandma stays up too late, Shes afraid shes
  going to miss something, Of course, the poor, old
  lady does miss something her precious hours of
  sleep, In the mornings, grandma wakes up feeling
  pretty grumpy.

What did this grandma missthe toilet?
7
Are commas less than semicolons?

• Which conjunction covers up the comma splices?
• a. and, b. but, c. yet, d. so
• Grandmas afraid that shes going to miss
  something, __ she stays up too late. Of course,
  the poor, old lady does miss something her
  precious hours of sleep, __ in the mornings, she
  wakes up feeling pretty grumpy.

Do we really want to trust grandmas?
8
Can semicolons separate statements?

• Just as periods do, so can semicolons separate
  related statements.
• Grandma stays up too late Shes afraid shes
  going to miss something. Of course, the poor, old
  lady does miss something her precious hours of
  sleep in the mornings, grandma wakes up feeling
  pretty grumpy.

Are check lists the same as checklists?
9
Which words help semicolons?

• Which transition word should fill each blank?
• a. however, b. moreover, c. therefore, d.
  consequently
• Many college students have big dreams __, they
  do not always work hard enough to make them come
  true. They may waste too much time __, their
  learning suffers. Their grades decline __, they
  lose their valuable financial aid programs.

Can the roads support drivers over 85?
10
Which words accompany semicolons?

• Which conjunctive adverbs fill the blank after
  the semicolon?
• a. moreover, b. however, c.
  therefore, d. henceforth
• College students who work part-time are likely to
  graduate __, students who work full-time usually
  lag behind in college. The many hours of work
  leave too little time to study __, hard-working
  college students often must cut back on their
  heavy work schedules in order to succeed in
  college.

Whats the formula for grandmas success?
11
When do we use semicolons and colons?

• Which needs a semicolon for related clauses and
  which a colon to introduce
• It is the end of the semester __ we are finishing
  the course.
• There is only one thing to do __ review
  everything that we have learned.
• The TV was on Serena watched it for an hour.

Can we replace the dash above with a colon?
12
Can you use semicolons and colons?

• I bring all I need to class every day ___ my
  pens, my books and my dictionary.
• So Young failed her English test ___
  nevertheless, she was able to get a good job.
• This is what I told him ___ "Buy yourself a
  bicycle, so that you don't have to borrow mine!"

• There are two things about him that drive me
  crazy ___ his music and his cooking.
• I had lamb for lunch ___ Fred had steak.
• I took my umbrella ___ it looked like it was
  going to rain.
• Java ___ a popular programming language for the
  web.

Insert a semicolon or a colon in each blank space.
13
Here are the semicolons and colons

• I bring all I need to class every day my pens,
  my books and my dictionary.
• So Young failed her English test nevertheless,
  she was able to get a good job.
• This is what I told him "Buy yourself a bicycle
  so that you don't have to borrow mine!"

• There are two things about him that drive me
  crazy his music and his cooking.
• I had lamb for lunch Fred had steak.
• I took my umbrella it looked like rain.
• Java a popular programming language for the web.

A semicolon or a colon marks each sentence.
14
Can you use conjunctive adverbs?

• It is only 11 oclock __, lets eat lunch.
• It is only 11 oclock __, lets not eat yet.
• You are hungry __, so am I.
• I want to relax __, I need to study.
• You have to work __, you wont have enough
  money.
• You need money __, you work.

• Fill these adverbs into the correct blank at the
  right
• however (contrast)
• moreover (addition)
• otherwise (contrast)
• therefore (consequence)

15
Here are the conjunctive answers

• It is only 11 oclock however, lets eat lunch
  anyway.
• It is only 11 oclock therefore, lets not eat
  yet.
• You are hungry moreover, so am I.

4. I want to relax however, I need to
study. 5. You have to work otherwise, you wont
have enough money. 6. You need money therefore,
you work.
16
Can you use conjunctive adverbs?

• You can buy the book here __ its cheaper other
  places.
• Its good to write carefully __, careful study
  boosts grades.
• Take your dictionary to the exit essay __, you
  may need it.
• Clara passed __, her sister did, too.
• Youre ready __, you will pass easily.

• Fill these adverbs into the correct blank at the
  right
• furthermore (addition)
• likewise (comparison)
• although (contrast)
• in fact (emphasis)
• after all (example)

17
Here are the conjunctive answers

• You can buy the book here although its cheaper
  other places.
• Its good to write carefully in fact, careful
  study boosts grades.
• Take your dictionary to the exit essay after
  all, you may need it.
• 4. Clara passed likewise, her sister did, too.
• 5. Youre ready furthermore, you will pass
  easily.

How often do you think this drop happens?
18
Can you use conjunctive adverbs?

• Its OK to repeat a class __, its better to
  pass at the first.
• Students must pass the exit essay __, they must
  also pass Compass English.
• Compass English is a formal test __, it includes
  lots of punctuation.
• Dont mess up __, win your own success.

• Fill these adverbs into the correct blank at the
  right
• still (addition)
• of course (concession)
• instead (contrast)
• indeed (emphasis)
• finally (summary)

19
Here are the conjunctive answers

• Its OK to repeat a class of course, its better
  to pass at the first.
• Students must pass the exit essay still, they
  must also pass Compass English.

3. Compass English is a formal test indeed, it
includes lots of punctuation. 4. Dont mess up
instead, win your own success.