Grammar Nazi's Ahoy

Quite right, Bart. Those are out-dated words, but they are still words.

Here's one rule for commas. I won't outline all the rules for commas because they are annoying, but I'll outline one. This is the rule for coordinating conjunctions.

When you have two complete sentences, you have a few options for how to complete them. For example:

I am tired.

I am going to bed.

Those are your two sentences. They are each complete because they both have a subject, a verb, and they make sense alone (these can also be called Independent Clauses because they can stand alone or Independently). Anyhow, back to it: there are three ways of connecting those two sentences.

1.) Separate them with a period: "I am tired. I am going to bed."

2.) Separate them with a comma and a coordinating conjunction (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So AKA FANBOYS): "I am tired, so I am going to bed."

3.) Separate them with a semi-colon and a transition word followed by a comma. (however, therefore, thus, or any word that helps to connect two thoughts together): "I am tired; therefore, I am going to bed."

There, now you have two examples of when you MUST use a comma to be grammatically correct. The only really tricky part is figuring out whether or not you have two independent clauses. An independent clause is one that has a subject, a verb, and makes sense on its own. For example: "I am tired" is an independent clause because it has a subject (I), a verb (tired with helping verb am), and it makes sense because it communicates some bit of information. So, what are some example of a dependent clause?

1.) Wants to go play.

2.) Joe and Jack.

3.) Because Joe and Jack want to go play.

Example 1 has no subject and is therefore not an independent clause. Example 2 has no verb and doesn't really communicate anything on its own: i.e. Joe and Jack did what? Example 3, you notice, has both a subject(s) (in this case "Joe and Jack") and a verb, but it doesn't communicate any real information on its own. The sentence would make sense with more information: "Because Joe and Jack want to go play, they are not getting into trouble." Or alternatively: "Joe and Jack are not getting into trouble because they want to go play." The clause now communicates something on its own.

That last example is a little awkward, but that does not change the fact that those are the grammar rules. Questions?

The shortest and easiest rule of commas for dummies is to speak it out loud. If at any point you pause, put a comma there.

Yeah, but that is not a true rule, Dragon. True, it works sometimes, but there are also times when that rule is relatively bogus.

What was the point of that, aqua?



Aqua just went from a grammar nazi to a grammar hitler xD (for the random, sort've unnecessary, grammer lesson)



I believe shant is shan't, not sure if it is real, but if anything, it would be "shall+not."

No, if I were a grammar Hitler, then I'd be forcing you to obey my lesson and exterminate Jewish people. As it stands, I have done neither of those. The lesson was a "if you want to actually know *why* grammar works this way, then listen to my lesson" sort of a suggested reading thing. No one actually has to follow the rules if they don't want to, but I felt that I should explain them just in case anyone wanted to know.

If it sounded authoritative or pedantic, I apologize because I had not intended to be.

I really enjoyed that lesson. I think it would be boring in a class room setting, but for some reason I enjoyed the read....Odd.

Jay.J wrote:

I really enjoyed that lesson. I think it would be boring in a class room setting, but for some reason I enjoyed the read reading it....Odd.

Mmkay, I'm done.

I was just pointing out a much simpler version for the tl;dr crowd. I know it's not accurate all the time, but it's better than nothing.

Actually, Angel, Jay's version is grammatically acceptable as well. They both function as a direct object in the sentence and work.

@Dragon: What does tl;dr mean? I seriously have no idea and don't want to use time to try to figure it out. A little help?

Too long; Didn't read.

HAH, mines right Angel. It sounds right & we got a guy with a bachelors of English (Or are you still in school Aqua?) saying it is

I'm still in school.

Only caveat is that I haven't taken an actual grammar class in a long time, but I'll be taking an advanced grammar class this coming semester. Should be fun.

Thanks, now I can understand that acronym.

Never be afraid to google the acronym or the urban dictionary.