FTCE General Knowledge Test (082)

This chapter covers Competency 1 of the English Language Skills subtest: Knowledge of language structure. It explains what makes a complete sentence, how to recognize and fix the three classic sentence-boundary errors, and how to spot other syntax problems such as mixed constructions and faulty predication.

A complete sentence (an independent clause) has a subject, a verb and a complete thought. A dependent clause also has a subject and verb, but it begins with a word that makes it lean on another clause, so it cannot stand alone.

Words that make a clause dependent are called subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns. Know the common ones by sight.

Words That Begin Dependent Clauses

The four sentence types are built from these clauses. A simple sentence has one independent clause. A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses joined correctly. A complex sentence has one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. A compound-complex sentence has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

A fragment is a group of words punctuated like a sentence but missing a subject, a verb or a complete thought. Fragments often appear right after a complete sentence, as an afterthought.

Memory Aid: To test for a fragment, put "It is true that" in front of the words. "It is true that the students who finished early" does not make sense, so it is a fragment. "It is true that the students who finished early read silently" works, so it is a sentence. (This test does not work for commands such as "Close the door," which have an understood subject, you.)

A run-on (fused) sentence joins two independent clauses with no punctuation at all. A comma splice joins two independent clauses with only a comma. Both are errors for the same reason: a comma alone is not strong enough to hold two complete sentences together.

Run-on: The library closes at five we should leave now.

Comma splice: The library closes at five, we should leave now.

There are five standard ways to fix either error.

Five Ways to Join Two Independent Clauses

The coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet and so.

Memory Aid: FANBOYS stands for For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So. Only these seven words can join two independent clauses with just a comma.

The most common comma splice on the exam uses a conjunctive adverb, a word such as however, therefore, moreover, consequently, nevertheless, furthermore, otherwise, thus or instead. These words are not FANBOYS, so a comma in front of them is not enough.

Note that a conjunctive adverb can also sit in the middle of a single clause, where commas around it are correct: "Most students, however, passed the test."

Exam Tip: When a comma sits between two groups of words, cover the comma and check each side. If both sides could stand alone as sentences and no FANBOYS word follows the comma, you have a comma splice.

Syntax is the arrangement of words into sentences. Beyond fragments and run-ons, the exam may test several other structural errors.

Mixed construction happens when a sentence starts with one structure and switches to another partway through.

Faulty predication happens when the subject and the predicate do not logically fit together. Watch for "is when," "is where" and "the reason is because."

Unnecessary shifts and awkward word order can also make syntax ineffective. Questions on effective sentence structure often reward the option that is clear and concise rather than wordy or passive for no reason.

Check the first sentence. Two independent clauses are joined by only a comma, so it is a comma splice.

Fix it with a FANBOYS word or a semicolon: The science fair is next week, so students are finishing their projects.

Check the second group of words. "Some of them working late" lacks a full verb, so it is a fragment.

Add a helping verb: Some of them are working late every night.

Result: The science fair is next week, so students are finishing their projects. Some of them are working late every night.

A complete sentence needs a subject, a verb and a complete thought; a dependent clause or an -ing phrase alone is a fragment.

A run-on has no punctuation between two independent clauses; a comma splice has only a comma.

Fix either with a period, a semicolon, a comma plus FANBOYS, a semicolon plus conjunctive adverb, or subordination.

However, therefore and similar words need a semicolon or period before them when they join two independent clauses.

Avoid mixed constructions, double connectors (although...but) and faulty predication (is when, is where, the reason is because).