Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Grammar Notes
Coordination shows that two or more ideas in a sentence are equally important in
meaning. You signal coordination with conjunctions such as and, but and or.
Example:
Equally important
Some commonly used signs are 'thumbs-up' (all the best) or 'V' for (victory or peace).
(Two main ideas are joined by the use of “or”.)
Subordination shows that some ideas in a sentence are less important than other
ideas for your meaning. Usually, the main idea appears in the main clause, and
supporting or additional information appears in the subordinate clauses.
Example 1:
p.1
Example 2:
Although people are generally not aware of it, many of them send and receive non-
verbal signals all the time.
Use a subordinate clause beginning with a relative pronoun: who, whoever, which,
that.
Body language forms part of the category of paralanguage which describes all forms
of human communication that are not verbal language.
Use a phrase
Having studied extensively on courtship behaviour, Desmond Morris has written
several books on this topic.
p.2
Like Desmond Morris, Michael Argyle has also written a book called Bodily
Communication.
Use an appositive
Body language, part of the category of paralanguage, describes all forms of human
communication that are not verbal language.
Linking
words Usage Examples
F=for to give reasons She stopped eating, for she knew the
teacher was staring at her.
A=and to give additional There are four major food groups, and
information it is important to eat something from
each one every day.
N=nor to give another We can’t go out, nor can we stay home.
negative
B=but to give Junk food is usually delicious, but they
contrasting are harmful to our health.
information
O=or to give another I could cook some supper, or we could
option order a pizza.
p.3
Example:
coordinating conjunction
comma
Notes:
1. No comma is used if the part after the coordinating conjunction is
not a complete sentence.
Example:
(subj.) (v.) (v.)
Annie got up late and forgot to call her mother on
Mother’s Day.
Examples:
p.4
adapted from Writing to Communicate by Cynthia A. Boardman & Jia Ftrydenberg
Notes:
1. No comma is used if the part after the coordinating conjunction is
not a complete sentence.
Example:
p.5
*However, in modern usage, a sentence beginning with and or but
is acceptable and can be used to draw a reader’s attention.
C. Subordination
Subordinate (dependent) clauses cannot stand alone as sentences. They must be
connected to independent (main) clauses. If a subordinate clause is written alone, it is
called a fragment. A fragment is an incomplete sentence and should be avoided in formal
written English.
D. Adverbial Clauses
Adverbial clauses are clauses beginning with subordinating conjunctions such as:
Because… / Since… / If… / Unless… / Although… / While … / When… / In case…, etc.
comma
When the adverbial clause is not put in the beginning, no comma is used.
Example:
p.6
adverbial clause
no comma
5. While it is a wonderful proposal, We don’t have the budget to carry out the
we don’t have the budget to carry proposal while it is wonderful.
it out.
6. In case he gives me a call, tell Tell him to leave a message in case he gives
him to leave a message. me a call.
p.7