Problem with a relative clause

Adverb Clauses

Clause, part 2

Dangling modifier

Links:

Dangling Modifiers

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 113

Clause, part 3

Missing clause pronoun

The relative pronoun can be deleted (optionally) if the “pivot” is an object in the relative clause. But do not delete the relative pronoun if the pivot is a subject.

Example 1:

People who don’t eat meat are usually not fond of hunters and hunting.

(Kernel sentence: people don’t eat meat.)

Conclusion: people is a subject in the kernel sentence.

Conclusion: who cannot be deleted in this sentence.

Example 2:

The islanders need every whale that they can get.

(Kernel sentence: they can get every whale.)

Conclusion: every whale is an object in the kernel sentence.

Conclusion: that can be deleted in this sentence.

- Result of optional pronoun-deletion rule:

- The islanders need every whale they can get.

Links:

Adjective Clauses

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 108

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 104, 107-111

In Eye on Editing 2, see pages 55-59

Links:

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 108

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see page 108

Clause, part 4

Missing verb in a dependent clause

Links:

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 108

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see page 104

Clause, part 5

Problem with a noun clause

Links:

Noun Clauses

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 108

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 116-122

In Eye on Editing 2, see pages 80-86

Clause, part 6

Problem with a participial clause

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 111-114

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 116-122

Problem with a relative clause

An adjective clause, also called a relative clause, usually contains a subject and verb and usually begins with a relative pronoun—for example: that, which, who, whom, whose, or where. Because a relative clause most often modifies a noun or pronoun, it is also sometimes called an adjective clause.

The four steps that follow will describe how a pair of simple sentences can be combined using relative clause grammar. You have to do them in order.

Step 1: Find a noun in one sentence that is the same as a noun in the other sentence (linguists call it the “pivot”).

Result of step 1:

Sentence a:	On September 21, 1999, an earthquake killed some 2,500 people in Taiwan.

Sentence b:	The earthquake measured 7.6 on the Richter scale. [1] (Pivot = “earthquake”)

Step 2: Decide which sentence contains the more interesting or more important point (which we will call the “main clause”).

Result of step 2:

More interesting:	On September 21, 1999, an earthquake killed some 2,500 people in Taiwan.

Less interesting:	The earthquake measured 7.6 on the Richter scale. [2]

Step 3: Delete the pivot (the repeated word or phrase) in the clause you did NOT choose to be the main clause. In its place, write a connecting word, who, whom, whose, which, or that (called a “relative pronoun”).

Result of step 3:

Before deleting:	The earthquake measured 7.6 on the Richter scale.

After deleting (changed to a relative clause):	…that measured 7.6 on the Richter scale. [3]

Step 4: Insert the relative clause after the pivot noun in the main clause. (We almost always want a relative clause to be located right next to the pivot noun. Often, that means the clause will be in the middle of the sentence.)

Result of step 4:

Sentences a and b combined:

On September 21, 1999, an earthquake that measured 7.6 on the Richter scale killed some 2,500 people in Taiwan.

The relative pronoun can be deleted (optionally) if the “pivot” is an object in the relative clause. But do not delete the relative pronoun if the pivot is a subject.

Example 1:

People who don’t eat meat are usually not fond of hunters and hunting.

(Kernel sentence: people don’t eat meat.)

Conclusion: people is a subject in the kernel sentence.

Conclusion: who cannot be deleted in this sentence.

Example 2:

The islanders need every whale that they can get.

(Kernel sentence: they can get every whale.)

Conclusion: every whale is an object in the kernel sentence.

Conclusion: that can be deleted in this sentence.

- Result of optional pronoun-deletion rule:

- The islanders need every whale they can get.

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 108

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 107-111

Links:

Relative Pronouns

Clause, part 9

Problem with clause connector word

Use a connector with the correct meaning. Don’t use a preposition where you need a clause connector.

Examples of subordinate clause connectors: [4]

Cause:
because; since; as

Contrast:
although; even though; while; whereas

Condition:
if; when; provided that; in case; assuming that

Negative condition:
unless

Alternative Condition:
whether

Time:
when; whenever; while; once; before; after; since; until; as long as; as soon as

Degree:
inasmuch as; insofar as; to the extent that

Place:
where; wherever

Links:

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 99-107

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 165-176

Clause, part 10

Problem with word order in an indirect question

In a direct question the subject and auxiliary are inverted. An auxiliary verb appears before the subject, and the other verb part or parts appear after the subject.

Incorrect:	I said, “what you were trying to say?”

Correct:	I said, “what were you trying to say?”

In an indirect question, subject and auxiliary are not inverted. The subject appears before the auxiliary and other verbs.

Incorrect:	I asked her what was she trying to say.

Correct:	I asked her what she was trying to say.

Links:

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 99-107

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see page 154

Clause, part 11

Use a clause here instead of a phrase

Less clear (phrase):	We need to prevent weeds, germs, and other pest species from becoming established in non-native places.
Better (clause):	We need to prevent weeds, germs, and other pest species from becoming established in places where they aren't native. [5]

Links:

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 108

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 104-122

Combining Sentences, part 1

Combine these sentences into one

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 99-112

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 276-277

In Eye on Editing 2, see pages 45-49

Combining Sentences, part 2

Look for sentences that you can combine in this passage

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 99-112

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 276-277

In Eye on Editing 2, see pages 45-49

Combining Sentences, part 3

Start a new sentence here

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 99-112

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 276-277

In Eye on Editing 2, see pages 45-49

Combining Sentences, part 4

Some sentences should not be combined

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 99-112

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 276-277

In Eye on Editing 2, see pages 45-49

Combining Sentences, part 5

Comma Splice

Links:

Run-ons – Comma Splices – Fused Sentences

Connector, part 1

Links:

Connector, part 2

A connector is needed

Links:

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 99-107

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 165-176

In Eye on Editing 2, see pages 45-49

Connector, part 3

The connector doesn’t match the grammar of what follows

Links:

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 99-107

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 165-176

In Eye on Editing 2, see pages 45-49

Connector, part 4

The connector has the wrong meaning

Links:

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 99-107

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 165-176

Connector, part 5

Wrong punctuation used with a connector

Links:

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 99-107

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 169-170

In Eye on Editing 2, see pages 45-49

Connector, part 6

Double connector error

In most situations that require a connector word (conjunction or conjunctive adverb) or connecting expression (transition or transitional phrase), only one connector should be used.

Incorrect:	Although the potatoes I would dig come September would be mine to eat or sell, but their genes would remain the intellectual property of Monsanto, protected under several U.S. patents.
Correct:	Although the potatoes I would dig come September would be mine to eat or sell, their genes would remain the intellectual property of Monsanto, protected under several U.S. patents.
Correct:	The potatoes I would dig come September would be mine to eat or sell, but their genes would remain the intellectual property of Monsanto, protected under several U.S. patents. [6]
Incorrect:	When Hollywood produces movies, it creates jobs for directors, actors, and key grips in California. In addition, because of the astounding level of technical innovation required... such a project also germinates whole new companies, and even new nationwide industries.
Correct:	When Hollywood produces movies, it creates jobs for directors, actors, and key grips in California. In addition, because of the astounding level of technical innovation required... such a project germinates whole new companies, and even new nationwide industries.
Correct:	When Hollywood produces movies, it creates jobs for directors, actors, and key grips in California. Because of the astounding level of technical innovation required... such a project also germinates whole new companies, and even new nationwide industries. [7]

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 99-107

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 169-170

In Eye on Editing 2, see pages 45-49

Run-ons – Comma Splices – Fused Sentences

Connector, part 7

Run-on sentence

A run-on sentence consists of clauses that are incorrectly combined.

Incorrect:	The scourge of potatoes has always been the Colorado potato beetle it is a handsome, voracious insect that can pick a plant clean of its leaves virtually overnight. (run-on sentence error)
Correct:	The scourge of potatoes has always been the Colorado potato beetle. It is a handsome, voracious insect that can pick a plant clean of its leaves virtually overnight. (separated with a period)
Correct:	The scourge of potatoes has always been the Colorado potato beetle; it is a handsome, voracious insect that can pick a plant clean of its leaves virtually overnight. (separated with a semicolon)
Correct:	The scourge of potatoes has always been the Colorado potato beetle, which is a handsome, voracious insect that can pick a plant clean of its leaves virtually overnight. (connected as a relative clause)
Correct:	The scourge of potatoes has always been the Colorado potato beetle, a handsome, voracious insect that can pick a plant clean of its leaves virtually overnight. (connected as an appositive phrase) [8]

Links:

Run-Ons

Verbal Phrases/Clauses, part 1

Verb Form

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 115-122

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 29-43

Verbal Phrases/Clauses, part 2

Wrong verb form with a verbal complement or missing verbal complement

Links:

Gerund or Infinitive

Gerund Phrase

Infinitive Phrase

Further Reading:

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 29-43

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 29-43

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 115-122

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 145-147

Verbal Phrases/Clauses, part 3

Wrong verb form with a verbal modifier

A verbal modifier can be an –ing or –ed/-en participle used an adjective, or an infinitive used as an adverb.

Example:

Correct: Spiderman IV was a boring movie. I was really bored when I saw it. (two participles used as adjectives)

Correct: King Kong is a good movie to see with your girlfriend or boyfriend. (infinitive used as an adverb)

An easily-remembered rule that can prevent many participle errors is that –ing comes before people, while –ed comes before things.

Incorrect: Spiderman IV was a bored movie. I was really boring when I saw it.

Correct: Spiderman IV was a boring movie. I was really bored when I saw it.

The details, of course, are more interesting.

Participial modifiers--also called participles--usually look like verbs with the endings -ed or –ing. Traditionally, the –ed participles are called “past” participles, and the –ing participles are called “present” participles. Note that past participles also come in irregular forms, like gone or driven.

However, when they are used as modifiers, the –ed modifiers usually denote a passive meaning, while the –ing modifiers denote an active meaning. In other words, a noun modified by an –ing modifier is probably the actor or cause of a change, while a noun modified by an –ed modifier is probably the thing or person that is changed by the action.

Example: active modifier

Some people find the sound of a ticking clock helps them to fall asleep. (The clock itself causes the sound.)

Example: passive modifier

Few things remind me of summer so much as the smell of a freshly mown lawn. (The lawn did not cause itself to be mown; rather, somebody mowed it.)

Note that the verbs that we make into passive participles are the transitive verbs--those that have both a subject and a direct object in the sentence. Verbs that can appear without a direct object, the intransitive verbs, are made only into –ing participles.

Example:

A gram of water occupies one cubic centimeter (one milliliter) of volume if the water is at the temperature of melting ice. (It does not matter whether or not the ice causes itself to melt; it is enough that “ice melts” is an acceptable intransitive sentence.)

Further Reading:

In Read, Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 115-122

In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 29-43