Eight Basic Sentence Patterns for Proper Punctuation

The Four Basic Sentences
Fix all your sentences in eight simple patterns
© 2017 LISA M. RUSSELL

Basic Sentences FS
Pattern 1 [F,S]
Basic Sentences SF
Pattern 2 [SF]
Pattern 3 [S,F]
Basic Sentence SFS
Pattern 4 (SFS)
Pattern 5 (S,F,S)

How Can Just Eight Patterns
Punctuate All Possible
Sentences?
Keep reading.

After an introductory fragment, use the comma.
Because Andrea was sick, I stayed home.
(fragment = dependent clause)
In the first fifty days, the new administration accomplished a great deal.
(fragment = phase)
PUNCTUATIONTIP:
When the introductory fragment
is no more than a three or four
short words, some writers and
publications leave out the
comma. This is a matter of style
and preference.To be safe (and
correct), you can always use the
comma. Using the comma will
give your writing clarity and
consistency.

Don't use the comma before an essential fragment.
“Essential" means that you can't get rid of the fragment. It's needed to
provide essential information about the rest of the sentence. Without that
information the reader is left hanging.
Basic Sentences SF
Pattern 2 [SF]

Basic Sentences SF
Pattern 2 [SF]
I had to book my hotel online because I was trying to save money.
(Why did you have to book your hotel online? The essential fragment
gives the reason. fragment = dependent clause)
I had to book my hotel online to save money.
(Why did you have to book your hotel online? The essential fragment
gives the reason. fragment = infinitive phrase)

Use the comma before a nonessential fragment.
"Nonessential" means that you can get rid of the fragment.
It provides nonessential information about the rest of the sentence.
Basic Sentences SF
Pattern 3 [S,F]

I called my brother, although I had a lot to do at work.
This sentence doesn't need nonessential information provided by the
fragment. The information is perhaps interesting, but in no way essential to
explain why you called your brother. (fragment = dependent clause)
Basic Sentences SF
Pattern 3 [S,F]

I called my brother.
(The sentence is a complete thought. It does not require more information to complete it.)
I called my brother, with real regret.
(fragment = prepositional phrase)
I called my brother, to speak of real regret.
(fragment = infinitive phrase)
I called my brother, having real regret.
(fragment = participial phrase)
I called my brother.
(The sentence doesn't need nonessential information provided by the fragments.)
Basic Sentences SF
Pattern 3 [S,F]

KNOW the WORDS
Some words start essential fragments and some start only nonessential,
but some can start both
Basic Sentences SF
Pattern 3 [S,F]

Essential
• as . . . as
• for
• so . . . that
• than
• that
• until
Nonessential
• all of which
• although
• even though
• no matter
• how
• what
• why
• none of which/whom
• some of which/whom
• where as
• which
Both
• After
• As
• Asif
• As though
• At/by/for which
• Because
• Before
• If
• In order that
• Unless
• What
• When
• Where
• While
• Who
• whom
• whose

ALWAYS ESSENTIAL: The girl danced as dramatically as she always had.
ALWAYS NONESSENTIAL: The noisy Cub Scouts sang loudly, which annoyed their
scoutmaster.
BOTH: I saw the man who was training for the Olympics. (essential)
I saw Kenyon, who was training for the Olympics. (nonessential)
Basic Sentences SF
Pattern 3 [S,F]

Don’t use commas for an essential fragment inside a sentence.
(The fragment identifies the subject and thus is essential.)
The man who sells fish also sells aquariums.
(The essential fragment identifies which man also sells aquariums- the man who sells fish.
Leaving out the fragment will cause confusion: Which man do you mean? fragment =
dependent clause)
The woman wearing the red shirt also sells aquariums .
(The essential fragment identifies which woman also sells aquariums-the woman wearing the
red shirt. Leaving out the fragment will cause confusion: Which woman do you mean?
fragment = participial phrase)
Basic Sentence SFS
Pattern 4 (SFS)

My brother Bob also sells aquariums.
(The essential fragment identifies which brother also sells aquariums. Here we can
assume you have more than one brother and need the fragment to distinguish your
brother Bob from your brother Tom and your brother Bill. Leaving out the necessary
fragment will cause confusion: Which brother do you mean?
fragment = appositive, a word or phrase renaming a noun)
Basic Sentence SFS
Pattern 4 (SFS)

Use commas for a nonessential fragment inside a sentence.
(The fragment isn’t needed since the subject is already identified.)
Mr. Mason, who sells fish, also sells aquariums.
(The nonessential fragment isn’t needed to identify the subject. He’s already identified by
name: Mr. Mason. Leaving out the fragment won’t cause confusion. fragment = dependent
clause)
FriedaWilson, wearing the red shirt, also sell aquariums.
(The nonessential fragment isn’t needed to identify the subject. She’s already identified by
name: FriedaWilson. Leaving out the fragment won’t cause confusion. fragment =
participial phrase)
Basic Sentence SFS
Pattern 5 (S,F,S)

Use the comma Before the coordinating conjunctions for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so
(the FANBOYS) to separate two sentences.
I went to the store, for I needed some bread.
Bob went to the store, and be bought some bread.
The girl went to the store, yet she forgot to buy some bread.

Use the period to separate two unrelated sentences; use the period or semicolon to
separate two related sentences.
Marilyn Monroe was a famous movie blonde “ bombshell.” GeorgeW. Bush moved to
Texas. (unrelated sentences = period)
Marilyn Monroe was a famous movie blonde “ bombshell.” Movies’ first blonde bombshell
was Jean Harlow. (related sentences = period or semicolon)
Marilyn Monroe was a famous movie blonde “ bombshell”; movies’ first blonde bombshell
was Jean Harlow. (related sentences = period or semicolon)

Use the period or semicolon to separate two unrelated sentences linked with a transition;
Use the comma after the transition.*
*Excluding one-word transitions: hence, next, now, then, thus, etc.
Marilyn Monroe was a famous movie blonde “ bombshell.” However, movies’ first blonde
bombshell was Jean Harlow.
Marilyn Monroe was a famous movie blonde “ bombshell”; however, movies’ first blonde
bombshell was Jean Harlow.

Just Eight Patterns Punctuate
All Possible Sentences
Let’s Practice

Source
Edgerton, Larry. "Easy Punctuation." The Less-Is-More Handbook: A Guide to CollegeWriting, Kendall Hunt Pub. Co,
2012, pp. 101-113.

Eight Basic Sentence Patterns for Proper Punctuation

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