Structure Master Guide – Punctuation,
Transitions, and Syntax Essentials
How can you separate two complete sentences? - 1. A period- Go to them. They
need you.
2. A semicolon- Go to them; they need you.
3. ", and" ", but" ", as" - They were winning, but we took the lead.
4- A colon : (only use if 1st sentence causes 2nd or if 2nd one is an example)
5- a Hypen✅✅✅
Subject - Noun that performs the action✅✅✅
Verb - action word that the subject performs✅✅✅
Adjective - word that describes a noun✅✅✅Adverb - Word that describes an
adjective, a verb, or another adverb.
(Usually end in -ly)
ex. Slowly
ex. "I did bad on that test." WRONG
ex. "I did badly on that test." GOOD✅✅✅Preposition - Small connecting word
that shows relationship
above
below
in
of
outside of
inside of
to
from✅✅✅
What are the 3 types of Objects? - 1- Direct Object
2- Indirect Object
3- Object of the preposition✅✅✅
Direct Object
e.g. John passed the puck to Elizabeth. - Answers the question "Who?" or
"What?"✅✅✅
Indirect Object
e.g. John passed the puck to Elizabeth. - Answers the question "To Whom?" or "For
Whom?"
Indirect object is Elizabeth.✅✅✅
Object of the preposition - The noun that comes after the preposition
"to the store"
, "above the floor"
"Below the attic"
"around the corner, up the street, down the road"✅✅✅
Can the subject of a sentence exist as an object of the preposition? - NO✅✅✅
Can the subject of a sentence exist as direct object? - NO✅✅✅
Can the subject of a sentence exist as an indirect object? - NO✅✅✅
What do you do when more than 1 answer is grammatically correct?
(as in, they don't violate any rules of grammar) - You pick the shortest one!
Match the TONE (formal or informal)✅✅✅
What does the colon : do?
(The hyphen - does the same things) - 1. It introduces a list.
ex. We need three things: crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows.
2. It introduces a list with only 1 item.
ex. Yesterday I survived on one food: almonds.
3. Separate 2 complete sentences✅✅✅
Can you use the phrase":such as" - NO
"such as" and the colon (:) do the same thing!✅✅✅
Can you use "such as:" - NO✅✅✅
Can you use "such as," - NO✅✅✅
What does the semicolon ; do? - Separates two complete sentences✅✅✅
What is the rule and 1 exception for making nouns possessive? - Rule: Add 's
Exception: Add only ' if you have already added an "s" to make the word
plural✅✅✅
Make this possessive (singular)
dog - dog's✅✅✅
Make this possessive (singular)
class - class's✅✅✅
Make this word possessive:
bikes - bikes'✅✅✅
Make possessive (plural)
oxen - oxen's✅✅✅
What is the point of a transition word? - To connect the meaning of 1 sentence to the
next one.✅✅✅
Transition words fall into 4 main groups. What are they? - SAME
OPPOSITE