How's It Punctuated
Sally asked a question but Cletus did not know the answer.
Sally asked a question, but Cletus did not know the answer.
Fran planned on eating cake.
O.P.--Gerund
But
Coordinate Conjunction
Alex studied hard for the test, yet he only got a C.
Two independent clauses joined by a coordinate conjunction.
Hank ordered a plate of food and he did not finish it because he felt sick.
Run-on sentence
Steve did not see the movie instead he went to the dance.
Steve did not see the movie; instead, he went to the dance.
Doing taxes if boring.
Sub--Gerund
When
Subordinate Conjuntion
Even though the parade came to town, nobody went to see it.
Following an introductory element (subordinate clause).
After we saw the spaceship launch and visited the museum a few miles from the launch sight.
Fragment
My father gave me advice always love what you do.
My father gave me advice: always love what you do.
Trapped by the hunter, the fox ran onto the hole.
Participle
For
Coordinate Conjunction
My oldest sister, Jessie, is a Capricorn.
Surrounding non-essential elements.
Nate ran into George at the mall, he had not seen George in years.
Comma splice
Gary the protagonist in the novel fought the KGB.
Gary the protagonist in the novel: fought the KGB.
Stan wanted to surprise his wife.
Infinitive
Not only...but also
Correlative
Maxine took a ride to the country; she needed the fresh air.
Two independent clause NOT joined by coordinate conjunction.
Swimming on the water, the boat almost hit two snorkelers.
Misplaced modifier
The driver who won the race is Deon.
The driver who won the race is Deon.
Gina stopped smoking cigarettes.
DO--Gerund
Moreover
Conjunctive Adverb
When I went to the market to buy milk, eggs, and cheese; I ran into an old friend, Eddie, who told me that his mother was in the hospital; and I felt badly because I remember when she would take Eddie and his two brothers, Sam and Eric, and me to the beach every year.
To separate larger elements of a sentence that already have commas within them.
Running from the robot, the machine armed its lasers.
Dangling modifier.