1.7 SYNTHESIS OF SENTENCES

                          1.7 Synthesis of sentences

            

    Synthesis means the combination of a number of simple sentences into one new sentence: simple, compound or complex.

What Is a Simple Sentence?

            A simple sentence is a simple statement about casual day-to-day matters, facts, information about something and more. Another fact about simple sentences is that it has just one verb constituting a single independent clause.

What are the rules to be followed when forming simple sentences? [refer picture 1 & 2]

When forming and using simple sentences, there are some points you have to keep in mind. They are,

Ø A simple sentence should have at least one subject and one predicate.

Ø A simple sentence can also have a compound subject or a compound predicate.

Ø A simple sentence should contain only one independent clause and should express a complete thought.

Ø A simple sentence can be a declarative sentence, an interrogative sentence or an exclamatory sentence.

 Examples of Simple Sentences

1)     Nancy likes fantasy novels.

¨      Subject : Nancy

¨      Predicate : likes

¨      Adjective Phrase – fantasy novels

2)     The dogs were barking.

¨      Subject : The dogs

¨      Predicate : were barking

3)     Mathan, Keerthi and Mathi work together.

¨      Compound Subject :   Mathan, Keerthi and Mathi

¨      Predicate : work together

4)     He was singing and dancing.

¨      Subject : He

¨      Compound Predicate : was singing and dancing.

5)     I am waiting at the park.

¨      Subject : I

¨      Predicate : am waiting

¨      Prepositional Phrase – at the park

PICTURE :1

PICTURE :2

REFERRENCE VIDEOS

ENGLISH : https://youtu.be/smgyeUomfyA

                     https://youtube.com/shorts/siC_VYrD-WU?feature=shared

TAMIL     : https://youtu.be/kTYz5pOz36Y?feature=shared

1.6 PUNCTUATION [CONTINUATION]

                       1.6 PUNCTUATION

                                                        [CONTINUATION]

8) Hyphen (-)

            Not to be confused with a dash, a hyphen is used in compound words when two or more words are connected. Here are some examples of hyphenated words:

v Step-by-step

v Mother-in-law

v Ex-boyfriend

 9) Brackets ([ ])

            Brackets are used to clarify something or for technical terms or explanations. It can also be used to clarify a subject when quoting another person or text. For example:

v She [Mrs. Ragav] agrees that cats are better than dogs.

v Arjun said that “[summer] is my favorite time of year.”

 10) Braces ({ })

            It’s unlikely you’ll need to use braces very often unless you’re writing a mathematical or technical text. However, it’s still good to know so you don’t accidentally use them instead of brackets or parentheses. Braces are usually used in operations, for example:

v 6{3x+[28+2]}=xy

 11) Parentheses (( ))

            Parentheses are used to supply further details or information or as an aside. Parentheses can often be replaced with commas and the sentence would retain its same meaning. Here’s an example:

v Anitha (who is Raj’s wife) likes to go for walks.

 12) Apostrophe (‘)

            Apostrophes are meant to show that a letter or letters have been omitted and also to indicate the possessive or contractions. It can also be used to pluralize lowercase letters. Here are some examples:

v I’ve been working from home for 6 months and it’s great.

v Rebecca’s dog had surgery yesterday.

v All that’s left to do is dot the i’s and cross the t’s.

 13) Quotation Marks (“)

            Quotation marks are used to denote text, speech, or words spoken by someone else. It is also used to indicate dialogue.  

v “I don’t like this,” said Mark.

v She told him that she “prefers not to think about that.”

 Single quotation marks (‘ ’), not to be confused with apostrophes, are often used for a quote within a quote.

v Jill told her mother “Jack ran up the hill and he said he was going to ‘fetch a pail of water’ before he fell.”

 14) Ellipsis (…)

            An ellipsis is three periods used together to represent an omission of words or letters. They are often used to jump from one sentence or phrase to another while omitting unnecessary or obvious words. It’s also used when quoting someone and unnecessary words are left out. Here are some examples:

v At midnight, she began to count down: “ten, nine, eight…” and then the ball dropped.

v When Martin Luther King said “I have a dream…” he was talking about civil rights and an end to racism.

VIDEO REFERENCE

ENGLISH : https://youtu.be/RPL8iij1X2A?si=H3V4VGZ-ABZhP3Ij

TAMIL : https://youtu.be/ORxc4OXUM6E?si=TwBE7rN1UGC8IN4a

1.6 PUNCTUATION

                         1.6 PUNCTUATION

 What are the Punctuation Marks in English?

            There are 14 punctuation marks that are used in the English language.   If you want to make your writing easier to read and generally look more professional, you should know what each one is and how to use them.

The 14 Punctuation Marks with Examples

The punctuation marks into five categories, as follows:

v Sentence endings: period, question mark, exclamation point

v Comma, colon, and semicolon

v Dash and hyphen

v Brackets, braces, and parentheses

v Apostrophe, quotation marks, and ellipsis

Each category serves its own purpose within a sentence or a text. There are some differences between American and British punctuation styles.

 1) full stop (.)

            This one is probably the most straightforward. Also referred to as a full stop, the period denotes the end of a sentence. A full sentence is considered as one that is complete and declarative.

v Here’s an example of a period at the end of a sentence:

Eg. : The dog ran under the fence.

 

v Periods are also used in abbreviations, such as in names or titles.

Eg.1 : Dr. Smith has read his patient’s chart.

Eg.2 : Mr. H. Kavin opened his front door.

 2) Question Mark (?)

            It is used in interrogative sentence (questioning sentence); however it ends a sentence that is a direct question.

 v Here’s how to use a question mark in a sentence:

Eg.1 : How do you like your eggs?

Eg.2 : Did you like the movie last night?

 3) Exclamation Point (!)

            An exclamation point or exclamation mark is also used at the end of a sentence when that sentence expresses an intense emotion. The expression can be a variety of things, from excitement, disgust, anger, joy, or anything else. Exclamation points are meant to add emphasis to a sentence.

v Here’s how to use one in a sentence:

Eg.1 : “Look out behind you!” she yelled.

Eg.2 : I’m so excited to go to the park tomorrow!

 4) Comma (,)

            Commas are used to insert a pause into a sentence. The purpose of the pause can be for different reasons, such as to separate ideas, phrases, or even alter the structure of a sentence.

 v Commas have a few different uses. Commas are used for a direct address, such as:

Eg. : Joe, it was nice to see you again.

 v They’re also used to separate two complete sentences:

Eg. : He went to the library, and then he went out for lunch.

 v Commas can also be used to list items in a sentence:

Eg. : She went shopping and bought shoes, a dress, two shirts, and a pair of pants.

 v Commas are one of the most misused punctuation points, and its misuse often results in a comma splice. A comma splice is when you join two independent clauses with a comma instead of a conjunction. For example:

Eg. : It’s almost time for dinner, I’m not hungry.

 v Instead of using a comma, the sentence should read:

Eg. : It’s almost time for dinner and I’m not hungry.

 v Oxford commas are often debated within academics and the English language, and using one often comes down to preference. An Oxford comma is when a final comma is placed on the last item of a list. For example:

Eg. : He likes to eat fruits, cake, vegetables, and pasta.

 5) Colon (:)

            A colon has three primary uses. One way to use it is when introducing something, such as a quote, an example, a series, or an explanation.

v She took four classes last semester: history, biology, arts, and economics.

 v A colon can also be used to link two independent clauses if the second clause clarifies or completes the first one. For example:

Eg. : They didn’t have time to waste: it was already late.

 v Finally, a colon can also emphasize a subject in a sentence:

Eg. : I only hate one vegetable: brussel sprouts.

 6) Semicolon (;)

            Similar to a colon, a semicolon links two independent clauses. However, in this case, the clauses are more closely related than when you would use a colon. For example:

v I have a meeting tomorrow morning; I can’t go out tonight.

 v Both clauses are independent enough to be their own sentences, but instead of using a period, it’s possible to use a semicolon to show both clauses are connected.

v Another less common use for semicolons is within a list that uses commas. Have a look:

Eg. : Last summer we traveled to London, England; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; and Athens, Greece.

7) Dash (-)

There are two types of dashes that vary in size and use.

 v En dash: Typically shorter in length, the en dash is used to denote a range, such as between numbers or dates. For example:

Eg. 1: The company was operational from 1990-2000.

Eg. 2: He took the Chicago-New York train last night.

 v Em dash: this dash is longer, and is sometimes used instead of other punctuation marks, like commas, colons, or parentheses. Here’s an example:

Eg. : Her answer was clear — Yes!    

VIDEO REFERENCE (watch the videos by copying below links)

          ENGLISH : https://youtu.be/xBCmEDnWiso?si=LvHfjxEaToO-nlav

           TAMIL  : https://youtu.be/ORxc4OXUM6E?si=Is_8_SmY-31Q7ZoS