business english 2e by mary chapter 02

Use techniques to avoid three basic sentence faults: fragments, comma splices, and run-on sentences... Sentence Elements Simple subject: a noun or a pronoun that tells who or what the

MARY ELLEN GUFFEY AND CAROLYN M SEEFER

BUSINESS

ENGLISH

2

Sentences

L E A R N I N G O U T C O M E S

▶ Recognize basic sentence elements including subjects and predicates.

▶ Differentiate among phrases, dependent clauses, and independent

clauses.

▶ Understand how to use simple, compound, complex, and

compound-complex sentences.

▶ Identify four basic sentence patterns.

▶ Punctuate statements, questions, commands, and exclamations.

▶ Use techniques to avoid three basic sentence faults: fragments,

comma splices, and run-on sentences.

Sentence Elements

Subject Predicate

Sentence Elements

Sentence Elements

Simple subject: a noun or a pronoun that tells who or what the sentence is about

Complete subject: includes all modifiers

Four Tips for Locating Subjects

 To locate a sentence subject, ask Who or what is being discussed?

The manager hires all new employees

Who is being discussed?

Training programs educate new employees.

What is being discussed?

 Ignore prepositional phrases.

The manager of the program for all new hires in our division called a meeting

Who is being discussed?

 Sentences may have multiple subjects.

The president, controller, and supervisor gave their approval

Four Tips for Locating Subjects

 Reword inverted sentences to locate the subject.

Sitting in the front row is Rachel.

Who is being discussed?

Reword: Rachel is sitting in the front row.

Did any other candidates qualify?

Who is being discussed?

Four Tips for Locating Subjects

Sentence Elements

Simple predicate: a verb or verb phrase that tells or asks what the subject is doing or what is being done to the subject

Complete predicate: includes modifiers, objects, and complements

TRY YOUR SKILL

manager ( simple subject )

A manager from ComStar ( complete subject )

has been calling ( simple predicate ) has been calling you ( complete

Sentence Elements

In addition to having subjects and predicates, sentences must be complete

Recognizing Phrases and Clauses

 Phrase: a group of related words WITHOUT a subject and a verb

Kim came to the interview in the morning She had been told to arrive at 10 a.m (These sentences have five different phrases Can you find them?)

Complete

Recognizing Phrases and Clauses

 Clause: a group of related words WITH a subject and a verb

clauses for their meaning Cannot stand alone.

When she arrived, she introduced herself If she was afraid, she didn’t show it (Which clauses are independent?

Dependent?)

Complete

Sentence Varieties

Four Sentence Varieties

 Simple sentence: has one independent clause―that is, one

clause that can stand alone

 Compound sentence: has two or more independent clauses

Each interviewee sent a résumé

Kim spent many hours preparing her résumé, and she practiced her answers to typical interview questions

Four Sentence Varieties

 Complex sentence: has one independent clause and one

dependent clause

When Kim arrived for the interview, she introduced herself to the receptionist.

 Compound-complex sentence: has two or more

independent clauses and one dependent clause

Because she had prepared well, Kim felt confident; she answered all questions fully and enthusiastically

Sentence Patterns

 The subject is followed by an action verb and

its direct object.

 The object usually answers the questions

What? and Whom?

Pattern No 2:

Subject-Action Verb-Object

EXAMPLES

ComStar created an Instagram account.

A law office hired her.

 The subject is followed by a linking verb

and its complement.

Pattern No 3:

Subject-Linking

Verb-Complement

Complement

 Noun, pronoun, or adjective that renames

or describes the subject

 Completes the meaning of the subject

Complement Examples

Our receptionist is Patricia (Noun complement)

The winner of the award is he (Pronoun complement)

Their website is attractive (Adjective complement)

Pattern No 3:

Subject-Linking Verb-Complement

 Verbs may occasionally precede subjects.

Pattern No 4:

Inverted Order

EXAMPLES

Chairing the committee is Renee Cornell.

There are three items we should discuss.

Here is my business card.

TRY YOUR SKILL

1 Serving on the task force is Cathy Formusa.

2 There are two candidates we are considering

for the position.

3 Here is your authorization form

Rearrange these inverted sentences to

place them in normal subject-verb order.

1 Cathy Formusa is serving on the task

Sentence Punctuation

Punctuating

Statements: make assertions and end with periods

Many companies now use social media for marketing and communication

Punctuating

Questions: concluded by question marks

Can you avoid social media while on vacation?

Punctuating

Exclamations: show surprise, disbelief, or strong feelings

Oh, no! I made a huge mistake!

TRY YOUR SKILL

One of my friends and I are preparing for job

.

TRY YOUR SKILL

Wow! What a presentation

What is this group of words?

TRY YOUR SKILL

Why do you want to

work for our organization

What is this group of words?

TRY YOUR SKILL

Prepare for your interview by practicing success

TRY YOUR SKILL

I wonder about the validity of the proposal

What is this group of words?

Sentence Faults

Run-on Sentence

Comma Splice

Three Sentence Faults

Sentence Faults

Comma Splice

Sentence Faults

Comma Splice: when two complete sentences are incorrectly joined with a comma

Run-on Sentence

Sentence Faults

Run-on Sentence: when two complete thoughts are run together

Comma Splice

Text messaging is popular, it’s even used in offices

Remedies

Text messaging is popular It’s even used in offices

Text messaging is popular; it’s even used in offices

Text messaging is popular, and it’s even used in offices

Comma Splice

Fixing Sentence

Faults

Text messaging was once used by teenagers now it’s also used by business professionals

Remedies

Text messaging was once used by teenagers; now it’s also used by business professionals.

Text messaging was once used by teenagers Now it’s also used by business professionals.

Text messaging was once used by teenagers, but now it’s also used by business professionals.

Run-on Sentence

Fixing Sentence Faults

TRY YOUR SKILL

Unless I hear from you to the contrary I’ll assume

you agree with me.

Identify any faults in this sentence and

TRY YOUR SKILL

No stock market prices were available, the market

was closed for the holiday.

Identify any faults in this sentence and

TRY YOUR SKILL

The report you said you would finish by yesterday

It’s still lying on your desk.

Identify any faults in this sentence and

The report you said you would finish

by yesterday is still lying on your desk.

TRY YOUR SKILL

Some employees work Sunday other employees

come in early Monday.

Identify any faults in this sentence and

“Of all the arts in which the wise excel, nature’s chief masterpiece is writing well.”

(1896-1966)