Punctuating Conjunctions Review

The acronym FANBOYS stands for

• coordinating conjunctions used to combine dependent and independent clauses
• coordinating conjunctions used to combine items of equal value
• subordinating conjunctions used to combine dependent and independent clauses
• subordinating conjunctions used to combine independent clauses

FANBOYS should never be used for which of the following:

• combining sentences
• combining adjectives
• starting a sentence
• combining objects

When do you NEED a comma with a conjunction (FANBOYS)?

• you want the reader to pause
• what comes before the conjunction is independent
• on both sides of the conjunction are independent clauses
• what follows the conjunction is an independent clause

Which of the following uses a comma INCORRECTLY?

• Authors can write successful books from their own experiences, or they can do research to learn about their topics.
• The scientists knew the dangers of atomic power, yet they continued the research that resulted in the atomic bomb.
• Sally’s doctor explained how to care for her cast, so she would be able to protect her broken arm.
• Alice and Jim looked at many houses on the market, but didn’t like any of them.

Which of the following uses a comma INCORRECTLY?

• We all cheered, for Tom received his driver’s license in the mail.
• Some day you will live on your own, but you are always welcome to come home.
• Mary did not want to live in an apartment, nor in a townhouse.
• The president of the company retired, so he could spend more time with his family.

Which of the following uses a comma INCORRECTLY?

• Children cannot wait till they are adults, yet when they get older, they wish they could be kids again.
• Seniors have attended school for four years, and deserve a daily parking place.
• On our trip we can walk on the beach, or we can gather pine cones in the forest.
• Toys filled the front yard, but no children had lived there for years.

Another name for a sentence is

• complete thought or independent clause
• dependent or subordinate clause
• complete phrase
• an adult

Identify the INDEPENDENT clause in the following:

• when you go shopping
• stop and recognize your blessings
• since my brother is older
• fighting off a cold

The acronym SWABI stands for

• coordinating conjunctions used to combine dependent and independent clauses
• coordinating conjunctions used to combine independent clauses
• subordinating conjunctions used to combine dependent and independent clauses
• subordinating conjunctions used to combine phrases

The definition of a DEPENDENT (Subordinate) clause is

• a sentence part with a subject and verb which CAN stand alone
• a sentence part with a subject and verb which CANNOT stand alone
• a phrase containing a subject and verb
• a sentence part without a verb