This document discusses different types of sentences and common sentence errors. It describes simple, compound, and complex sentences. Compound-complex sentences contain both independent and dependent clauses joined with coordinating and subordinating conjunctions. The document also outlines sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and comma splices as common errors and provides solutions, such as adding subjects/verbs, punctuation, or conjunctions. Overall, the key lessons are how to identify different sentence structures and fix common grammatical mistakes.

1. Business Communication
Writing Effective Sentences
Adapted from NETA PowerPoint for Essentials of Business Communication by Lisa
Jamieson

2. Types of Sentences

3. Compound-Complex Sentences
Simple sentence: I got angry.
+
Simple sentence: So I quit.
=
Compound Sentence: I got angry, so I quit.

4. Compound-Complex Sentences
Dependent clause: When my boss yelled at me
+
Compound Sentence: I got angry, so I quit.
=
Compound-Complex Sentence:
When my boss yelled at me, I got angry, so I quit.

5. Consider Short Sentences

6. For more engaging
paragraphs, vary
your sentence
structure and length.

7. • Sentence fragment
• Run-on sentence
• Comma splice
Common Sentence Faults

8. Sentence Fragments

9. Sentences
• Sentences contain 3 things:
1. A subject (the person/thing performing the action)
2. A verb ( the action being done)
3. A complete thought
Joffrey died.
Subject Verb

10. Dependent
Clause
Fragment
Has a subject and
verb but doesn’t
express a complete
thought.
Needs an
independent clause
to make sense.

11. Because Joffrey died.
Dependent clause fragment
Because Joffrey died, Tommen became King.
Dependent clause Independent clause

12. Dependent
clause
fragments
are caused
by
beginning
with a:
Subordinate
conjunction
Relative pronoun
(who/which/that)
Relative adverb
(where/when/why

13. Common Subordinate Conjunctions
after once until
although provided that when
as rather than whenever
because since where
before so that whereas
even if than wherever
even though that whether
if though while
in order that unless why

14. Solutions
• To fix a subordinate clause fragment, remove
the subordinating word.
• Because Joffrey died.
• Since Joffrey died.
• Although Joffrey died.

15. • You can also attach the subordinate fragment
to an independent clause.
• Because Joffrey died, Tommen became King.
• Everyone is much happier since Joffrey died.
• Although Joffrey died, Sansa is still miserable.

16. Afterthought
Fragment
Provide additional details,
but do not form an
independent clause.

17. • Many nineteenth-century horror stories have
been made into films. Such as Dracula and
Frankenstein.
• Independent clause
• Afterthought fragment

18. These fragments tend to begin with:
especially for example like
except for instance such as
excluding including

19. Solutions
Insert the missing subject and verb
– Many nineteenth-century horror stories have
been made into films. These films include Dracula
and Frankenstein.

20. Attach the afterthought to the end of the main
clause.
– Main clause + comma + afterthought fragment
– Many nineteenth-century horror stories have
been made into films, such as Dracula and
Frankenstein.

21. Run-on Sentences
&
Comma Splices

22. Run-On Sentence
• Also called a fused sentence.
• Caused by joining two independent clauses
without any punctuation.
You keep using that word I do not think it
means what you think it means.

23. Comma Splice
• Caused by joining two independent clauses
with a comma.
You keep using that word, I do not think it
means what you think it means.

24. Solution #1
• Make two complete sentences by adding a
period.
You keep using that word. I do not think it
means what you think it means.

25. Solution #2
• Use a semicolon to join the two independent
clauses.
You keep using that word; I do not think it
means what you think it means.

26. Solution #3
• Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction.
You keep using that word, but I do not
think it means what you think it means.

27. Coordinating
Conjunctions
=
FANBOYS
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So

28. Solution #4
• Use a subordinate conjunction to turn one
independent clause into a dependent clause.
You keep using that word even though I do not
think it means what you think it means.
Although you keep using that word, I do not think
it means what you think it means.

29. Common Subordinate Conjunctions
after once until
although provided that when
as rather than whenever
because since where
before so that whereas
even if than wherever
even though that whether
if though while
in order that unless why

30. Summary
• Learned about the 4 types of sentences.
• Learned how to identify and fix the 3 major
grammatical errors.

31. References
EasyTeaching. (2018, November 16). Simple, compound, complex sentences | Learning
English. YouTube. https://youtu.be/smgyeUomfyA