Page 115 - Grammar for Great Writing B

Common Errors

Common Error 8.1 Is there a comma missing?
,
When babies are first born they cry without shedding tears.

^
RemembeR: If the adverb clause begins the sentence, use a comma.

ACTIVITY 4 Common Error 8.1

Some of the following sentences are missing commas. Underline the subordinating conjunctions. Then
write C if the sentence is correct and X if it is missing a comma. Finally, add commas where needed.

1. Although meditating for 15 minutes or longer is better even a few minutes of meditation can
reduce stress.

2. In Nepal, communities are working with wildlife authorities so that they can eliminate the

killing of tigers.

3. Because it has a strict outdoor lighting policy Flagstaff, Arizona, was declared the first
International Dark Sky Community in 2001.

4. Though many people thought it was too dangerous Laura Dekker sailed around the world
alone at the age of 16.

5. In 2012, over 75 percent of the world’s population was already using cell phones even though
they only came into common use in the late 1990s.

6. Because the monsoon rains in India started late farmers are concerned that they may have
fewer crops this year.

7. In many cultures, parents pick up their babies as soon as they start to cry.

8. Once the Titanic hit the iceberg it only took two hours and forty minutes to sink.

Common Error 8.2 Is it a fragment?
years, they
Although scientists researched the problem for many years. They were not able to find a solution.

RemembeR: An adverb clause must be joined to an independent clause to form a sentence. An adverb
clause that is not joined to an independent clause is an incomplete sentence, or a fragment.

Common Errors 105

Copyright 2018 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be copied, scanned, or duplicated, in whole or in part. Due to electronic rights, some third party content may be suppressed from the eBook and/or eChapter(s).
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