COURT REPORTING:
Bad Grammar/☺
☺Good Punctuation©©
Grammar/
Grammar/☺Good
[email protected]
1
A Note About Commas
Before We Begin
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Commas that separate.
Commas that set off.
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1
I live in Culver City,,
California.
It was a tough,, tough match..
She is a competent,, efficient
employee..
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He met with John Thomas,, his
broker,, the end of the week..
I will object,, Your Honor,, on
the grounds of relevance..
The letters were,, at any rate,,
intended for her..
5
Are you saying then,, that he
was in charge?
?
She called that day Mr. Ray,,
about the issue..
He joined us by the way,, to
increase sales..
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2
Are you saying,, then,, that he
was in charge?
?
She called that day,, Mr. Ray,,
about the issue..
He joined us,, by the way,, to
increase sales..
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We believed also,, that he was
not capable of that..
The man that called later,, did
not mention this issue..
I know that morning,, she was
not feeling well..
8
We believed also that he was
not capable of that..
The man that called later did
not mention this issue..
I know that morning she was
not feeling well..
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3
February 6, 2006
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February 6, 2006
It was February 6,, 2006,, that
he was hired to work for our
company..
It was February 6 that he was
hired to work for our company..
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February,, 2006
February 2006
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4
SENTENCE
STRUCTURE
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Rule
Never put a single separating
comma between the subject and
verb.
Rule
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Harry,, called today..
The letter,, was sent..
The check,, bounced..
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5
The man that arrived at the
office…blah…blah…blah,, left
angry..
☺
The man that arrived at the
office…blah…blah…blah left
angry..
16
The man that arrived at the
office…blah…blah…blah,, left
angry..
☺ The woman that arrived at the
office…blah…blah…blah,, Mr. Lee,,
left angry..
17
When he left in order to
go…blah…blah…blah,, is still
unknown..
☺ When he left in order to
go…blah…blah…blah is still
unknown..
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6
When he left in order to
go…blah…blah…blah,, is still
unknown..
☺ When he left in order to
go…blah…blah…blah,, Your Honor,,
is anybody’s business..
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☺
My nephew,, grandson,, cousin,,
daughter,, and brother,, were
all involved in the investment..
My nephew,, grandson,, cousin,,
daughter,, and brother were all
involved in the investment..
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Were you …blah…blah…blah
taking medication?
?
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7
☺
Were you on the day of the
accident that occurred back in
July,, taking medication?
?
Were you,, on the day of the
accident that occurred back in
July,, taking medication?
?
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Were you on July 15 taking
medication?
?
Were you,, on the day of the
accident that occurred back in
July,, taking medication?
?
23
Were you in July of last year
taking medication?
?
Were you,, in July of last year,,
taking medication?
?
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8
DEPENDENT
CLAUSES
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A dependent clause
– Group of related words
– Has a subject and a verb
– Cannot stand alone
– Has a function in the sentence
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He left..
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9
He left..
which he left
because he left
that he left
when he left
whom he left
since he left
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Link a dependent clause to an
independent clause.
which
that
whom
because
if
since
before
when
after
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NOUN CLAUSE
Has the same function as any
other noun; that is, it can
be a subject or direct object
or object of prepositions.
Generally has no punctuation.
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10
Direct Object
I don’t know (why he left).
She doesn’t remember (who
called her).
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Object of a Preposition
I want info about (where he is).
She will give it to (whoever calls).
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Subject
(When he arrived home) is the
subject of discussion.
(How many people were in the car)
is a mystery.
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11
ADJECTIVE CLAUSE
Modifies a noun and usually
comes right after that noun.
Answers “Which one?” about
the noun.
Three punctuation rules.
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1. Adjective clause that comes
right after the noun it
modifies:
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I know the man (who called).
I visited a friend (who lives in
New Jersey).
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I spoke with John Nelson,, (who
called late in the day)..
She went with her mother,, (who
needed some assistance),, and
with her brother..
37
My friend (who works with me) is
not attending the meeting..
My husband,, (who works with
me),, is not attending the
meeting..
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He is sitting there with the
defendant (who is wearing a red
shirt)..
He is sitting there with the
defendant,, (who is wearing a red
shirt)..
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13
2.
An adjective clause that is
removed from the word it
modifies; that is, it is not
right next to the word but is
down the line in the sentence:
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I have a friend in town this
week,, (who lives in Ohio)..
I spoke with the doctor about
my knees,, (who is an
orthopedist)..
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3.
An adjective clause that
begins with that:
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14
The man (that was involved)
was my brother-in-law..
The boss in this case (that
made the decision) is Henry..
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ADVERB CLAUSE
Modifies as an adverb. Tells
when, where, why, and how.
Normal position is at the end
of what it modifies.
Punctuation is by position.
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When an adverb clause is at the
end of what it modifies, it takes
no punctuation because it is
where it should be.
If it is pulled out to the front of
what it modifies, it takes a
comma.
45
15
She was in town (because there
was a concert)..
(Because there was a concert),,
she was in town..
46
I left (before he called)..
(Before he called),, I left..
Don’t do it (if you don’t want to)..
(If you don’t want to),, don’t do
it..
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An adverb clause in the middle of
what it modifies takes commas
around it because it is not where
it belongs. This is called “out of
the natural word order.”
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16
She called,, (when she got home),,
to tell me the news..
I went with him,, (after he was
fired),, to file the papers..
He will be home,, (before the
game starts),, to fix the TV..
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He will get involved [if we need
him (when he returns)]..
He will get involved [if,, (when he
returns),, we need him]..
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[If we need him (when he
returns)],, he will get involved..
[If,, (when he returns),, we need
him],, he will get involved..
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17
COMPOUND
CONSTRUCTION
52
Coordinate Conjunctions
Join grammatically equal parts.
and
but
or
nor
(for)
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Friday or Saturday
and
but
or
nor
(for)
what to do and where to go
not in the checking but in the
savings
that he was tall and that he was
thin
if it is raining or if it is snowing
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and
but
or
nor
(for)
Subject ________
Verb
________
________
Subject ________
Verb
________
________
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Subject ________
Verb
________
________
,
and
but
or
nor
(for)
Subject ________
Verb
________
________
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Mr. Hanks was hired in January,, and
he stayed with us just six months..
57
19
Mr. Hanks was hired in January,,
and he stayed with us just six
months..
Mr. Hanks was hired in January
and stayed with us just six
months..
58
Mr. Hanks was hired in January,,
and
he stayed with us
just six months..
59
Mr. Hanks was hired in January,,
but because…blah…blah…blah…,,
he stayed with us just six months..
60
20
Mr. Hanks was hired in January,,
but because…blah…blah…blah…blah,,
he stayed with us just six months..
Mr. Hanks was hired in January
but because…blah…blah…blah…blah
stayed with us just six months..
61
Mr. Hanks was hired in January
but,, because…blah…blah…blah…blah,,
stayed with us just six months..
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Sometimes the reporting sentences
don’t have that perfect form of
having a complete subject and
verb in front and behind the
coordinate conjunction.
63
21
On Sunday,, but he couldn’t stay
more than an hour..
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On Sunday,, but he couldn’t stay
more than an hour..
On Sunday but couldn’t stay
more than an hour..
65
Mr. Hanks was hired in January and
he stayed with us six months until
he had to --
66
22
Mr. Hanks was hired in January,,
and he stayed with us six months
until he had to --
67
Mr. Hanks was hired in January
and he -- he stayed with us just
six months..
68
Mr. Hanks was hired in January,,
and he -- he stayed with us just
six months..
69
23
Mr. Hanks was hired in January,,
and he -- he stayed with us just
six months..
Mr. Hanks was hired in January
and he -- I personally didn’t work
directly with him..
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COMPOUND
DEPENDENT
CLAUSES
71
(because I had to go to the
bank) and (because I had an
appointment)
(that he was tall) and (that he
was thin)
72
24
I left early (because I had to go
to the bank) and (because I had
an appointment)..
73
I left early (because I had to go
to the bank) and (I had an
appointment)..
74
I left early (because I had to go
to the bank) and (
I had an appointment).
75
25
I left early (because I had to go
to the bank) and (because I had
an appointment)..
76
I would have listened (if he had
contacted me) and (if he had
wanted to convey that message)..
77
I would have listened (if he had
contacted me) and (he had wanted
to convey that message)..
78
26
I would have listened (if he had
contacted me) and (
he had
wanted to convey that message)..
79
I would have listened (if he had
contacted me) and (if he had
wanted to convey that message)..
80
I noticed that he was tall and
that he was thin..
I noticed that he was tall and
he was thin..
I noticed he was tall and he
was thin..
81
27
The company was in serious trouble
with the IRS,, and it was on the
verge of financial disaster..
82
My understanding at the time was
(that the company was in serious
trouble with the IRS) and (
it was on the verge of financial
disaster)..
83
It is my testimony (that she was
hired at a time that the
association was struggling with
management issues) and (
she was to be the savior)..
84
28
Rule
Never put a single separating
comma between the subject and
verb.
85
Put a comma before a coordinate
conjunction when there is
an independent subject and
verb after it.
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Compound dependent clauses
do not take a comma before
the coordinate conjunction.
87
29
ALERT
Be on the lookout for
dependent clauses trying
to deceive you.
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COURT REPORTING:
Bad Grammar/☺
☺Good Punctuation©©
Grammar/
Grammar/☺Good
[email protected]
89
30