Grammar Fundamentals: Punctuation, Connectors, and Verbs

Text Connectors: Uniting Ideas

Connectors serve to unite the parts of a text, ensuring coherence and flow. They can be categorized by their function:

Types of Connectors

• Time Connectors: Used to organize events in a text following a temporal order (e.g., first, then, next, finally).
• Order Connectors: Used to organize the different parts of a text from a logical standpoint (e.g., firstly, secondly, moreover, in conclusion).

Punctuation Marks: Guiding Your Reader

Punctuation marks are essential for clarity and meaning in written language.

Question Marks (?)

Used at the beginning and end of direct questions.

Exclamation Marks (!)

Used at the beginning and end of statements that express strong feelings, surprise, or emphasis.

Note: Punctuation marks are not typically placed immediately after question marks or exclamation points.

Quotation Marks (" ")

Used for several purposes:

• To give special emphasis to a word or phrase, often ironically.
• To highlight a foreign word, a nickname, or a pseudonym.
• To draw attention to an invented or vulgar word.
• To highlight the title of a work (e.g., a short story, poem, article).
• To reproduce direct speech or a direct quote.

Dashes and Parentheses (— / () )

Used to enclose or set off clarifications or incidental information that interrupts the main speech. They can also be used to introduce dialogues in the intervention of characters in a play (em-dashes).

The Period (.)

The period is used to mark the end of a complete sentence, the end of a subsection or paragraph, and the end of a full text.

Not Used:

• Between acronyms (e.g., USA, NATO).
• Immediately after question marks or exclamation points.

The Comma (,)

The comma indicates a pause in written language and has various uses:

• To separate elements in an enumeration or list.
• To insert an explanation or clarification (parenthetical phrase).
• To omit a verb in a clause when it is understood from context.
• To separate introductory clauses or phrases.
• To separate independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction (e.g., and, but, or).

The Semicolon (;)

The semicolon is used to indicate a pause stronger than a comma but weaker than a period:

• To separate sentences that already contain commas.
• To separate independent clauses that are closely related in meaning but are not joined by a conjunction.
• To separate items in a complex list where individual items contain commas.
• To indicate a pause before certain conjunctions or conjunctive adverbs (e.g., however, therefore).

The Colon (:)

The colon is used to introduce information:

• Before initiating an enumeration or list.
• In the salutations of letters (e.g., Dear Sir:).
• When a sentence is followed by an explanation, summary, or consequence of what was just said.
• Before introducing a direct quote.

The Ellipsis (...)

The ellipsis indicates:

• An incomplete list or enumeration.
• An unfinished thought or text.
• Surprise, hesitation, or a trailing off of speech.

Understanding The Chronicle: A Journalistic Form

A chronicle is a newspaper article in which the author reports on a current or interesting event, often from a close perspective, and also provides their personal opinion.

Key Features of a Chronicle

• The author reports objectively while also integrating personal opinion.
• Presents facts from a personal and often subjective approach.

Thematic Scope

The thematic scope of a chronicle is varied and requires a full specification by the author, allowing for diverse subjects.

Author's Style

The style must be clear, simple, and concise. It often incorporates literary devices such as vivid vocabulary, metaphors, and hyperbole to engage the reader.

Verb Conjugation: Mastering Tenses and Moods

Verbs are the backbone of sentences, conveying action, state, or occurrence. Understanding their conjugation is crucial.

Indicative Mood

The indicative mood expresses facts, opinions, and questions. It describes actions that are real or definite.

• Present: I love
• Imperfect: I loved (continuous or habitual past action)
• Preterite (Simple Past): I loved (completed past action)
• Future: I will love
• Conditional: I would love
• Present Perfect: I have loved
• Past Perfect (Pluperfect): I had loved
• Future Perfect: I will have loved
• Conditional Perfect: I would have loved

Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood expresses wishes, possibilities, doubts, or hypothetical situations. It often appears in clauses beginning with "that."

• Present: (that) I love
• Past: (that) I loved
• Present Perfect: (that) I have loved
• Past Perfect: (that) I had loved

Imperative Mood

The imperative mood expresses commands, requests, or instructions.

• Love!