CORRECTIONS & EXPLANATIONS - November 6, 2009

Here are the corrections and explanations for the week's entries.

NOTE: check the announcement at the end of this blog.

Monday

SENTENCES

PRINCIPAL CLAUSE

A principal clause is a group of words with a subject and a predicate which can stand alone because it expresses a complete thought.
“He wrote a simple sentence.”

SUBORDINATE CLAUSE

A subordinate clause is a group of words with a subject and a predicate which cannot stand on its own because it does not express a complete thought.
“Because I like girls...”

SIMPLE SENTENCES

A simple sentence is a group of words containing one subject and one predicate and having a complete thought.
“The cat sat on a mat.”

INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES

An interrogative sentence is a group of words which poses a question.
“When will the cat finish her meal?”


Tuesday

COMPOUND SENTENCES

A compound sentence is a group of words containing two or more statements (clauses) which are joined by a coordinate conjunction.
“The cat sat on the mat and it licked its paws.” (Each clause can stand independently.)


Wednesday

COMPLEX SENTENCES

A complex sentence is a group of words containing one principal clause and one or more subordinate clauses.
“I worked during the holidays because I needed the money.” (The first clause can stand on its own; the second one cannot.)


Thursday

COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCES

A compound-complex sentence contains two or more principal clauses and one or more subordinate clauses.
“He says that I should study medicine because doctors do so much good, but I know that I want to be an actor.” (There are two principal clauses and three subordinate clauses.)


Friday

SURPRISE! TEST TIME!

Label each of the following sentences as simple, complex, compound or compound-complex.

1. The horse ran the race in record time.
This is a simple sentence having one principal clause.

2. I raised the window, and a bat flew into the room.
This is a compound sentence because there are two principal clauses.

3. He arrived home early and went directly to his room.
This is a compound sentence because there are two principal clauses.

4. I worked during the holidays because I needed the money.
This is a complex sentence because there are one principal clause and one subordinate clause.

5. The man who sent you is my friend.
This is a complex sentence because there are one principal clause and one subordinate clause.

6. He asked why you were absent, and I replied that I did not know.
This is a compound-complex sentence because there are two principal clauses and two subordinate clauses.

7. I know that you have given me good advice and I promise that I will not disappoint you.
This is a compound-complex sentence because there are two principal clauses and two subordinate clauses.

8. A wise man is one who never tells all that he knows.
This is a complex sentence because there are one principal clause and two subordinate clauses.

9. Great dykes hold back the water in Holland.
This is a simple sentence because there is one principal clause.

10. I did not sleep well because I was excited over the game.
This is a complex sentence because there are one principal clause and one subordinate clause.


HOW TRUE!

“Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.”
Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882 - 1945) penned this statement.


THIS WEEK'S WORDS

“Inquisitiveness” (n.) refers to curiosity or wonder.

“Quiescence” (n.) refers to inaction, dormancy or sleep. To Shakespeare, it refers to the stillness of death.

“Harbinger”, as a noun means a forerunner, a herald or an omen. As a verb, it means to announce or foretell.

“Whimsical” (adj.) means capricious, impulsive or determined by chance or whim.

“Languid” (adj.) means lazy, sluggish, lacking in energy or enthusiasm.


ANNOUNCEMENT

There will be no postings next week, November 9- 13, 2009.
Posts will resume November 16, 2009.
If you need a grammar fix, check the archives; there are over 700 postings you can review.