CONNECTING IDEAS

SUMMARY OF CONNECTING IDEAS

·         Connecting ideas with And

When and connects only two words within a sentence, no comma is used. While, when and connects three or more items within a sentence, commas are used.

·         Connecting two sentences

When and connects two complete sentences (also called independent clauses), a comma is usually used. While, without and, two complete sentences are separated by a period, as in (d), NOT a comma. A complete sentence begins with a capital letter. In the sentences we can use more than one connecting ideas.

·         Connecting ideas with But and Or

And, but, and or are called "conjunctions." Like and, but and or can connect items within a sentence. And a comma is usually used when but/ or combines two complete (independent) sentences into one sentence.

·         Connecting ideas with So

So can be used as a conjunction. It is preceded by a comma. It connects the ideas in two independent clauses. And But often expresses an unexpected result.

·         Using auxiliary verbs after But and And

·         After but and and, often only an auxiliary verb is used. It has the same tense or modal as the main verb.

Patterns of But:

Negative + but + affirmative

Affirmative + but + negative

Patterns of And:

Negative + and + negative

Affirmative + and + affirmative

·         Using And + Too, So, Either, and Neither

Patterns:

Subject + auxiliary + too

So + auxiliary + subject

Subject + auxiliary + either

Neither + auxiliary + subject

In negative Neither use don’t and Either use doesn’t.

·         Connecting ideas with Because

A main clause is a complete sentence. An adverb clause is NOT a complete sentence. An adverb clause is connected to a main clause. Because cannot stand alone as a sentence that starts with a capital letter and ends with a period. It has to be connected to a main clause.

·         Connecting ideas with Even Though/ Although

·         Even though and although introduce an adverb clause. Because expresses an expected result. Even though/although expresses an unexpected or opposite result. And only in the form of past tense.