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The Golden Rule & Clause Structure - Coggle Diagram
The Golden Rule & Clause Structure
The Golden Rule & Clause Structure
1.0 The Golden Rule & Clause Structure
1.1 The One Ind Clause Rule
One Independent Clause (S+MV) per sentence.
Mistakes:
No main verb
Two main verbs
1.2 Types of Clauses
Independent (Ind) Clause: Can stand alone (S+MV).
Dependent Clauses: Cannot stand alone.
Subordinate Conj Clause:
(After, Because, When, Although) + S+V
Relative Clause:
(Who, Which, That, Whose, Where) + S+V
1.3 Tricky Verbs (Cannot be Main Verbs)
to + verb (infinitive)
-ing verb (gerund) without a helper
Past Participle (PP) without a helper (known, played)
The first verb after a relative pronoun (e.g., which talks)
2.0 Punctuation
2.1 Single Punctuation (.;:,*?)
Period (.) & Semicolon (;): Link two Ind Clauses.
Colon (:) & Dash (*): Introduce specifics after a general statement.
Allowed after colon: a word, an Ind Clause, a list.
NOT Allowed: Conj Clause, Relative Clause.
Comma (,)
Lists of 3+ items.
After introductory elements.
Before FANBOYS to join two Ind Clauses.
2.2 Double Punctuation ( ,..., ) / ( ... )
Use: For interrupters, non-essential modifiers, transition words.
Rule: Modifier ALWAYS between two commas/punctuation marks.
Types:
Non-essential Appositives (e.g., Ali, my cousin, will...)
Non-essential Relative Clauses
Transition words (e.g., I was, however, tired.)
2.3 Apostrophe (')
Possessive Form: 's for singular, s' for plural.
Rule: Between two nouns (All's car).
Not Used: Before articles (a, an, the) or pronouns.
3.0 Sentence Building & Function
3.1 Core: Support & Additions
Support (Specifics): Illustrate, clarify, give examples.
Lists, Quotes, Functions.
Additions: Add extra information.
Subordinate Clauses, but/yet/while/whereas, modifiers, phrases after a colon.
3.2 Key Sentence Functions
Introduce X:
Name X.
Make X the subject of the sentence.
Reader's Familiarity:
Familiar Subject: No defining details needed.
Unfamiliar Subject: Add defining details (e.g., Salah, the Egyptian player...).
Comparison
(X & Y same group + point of comparison)
Similarity:
Like, similar to, as...as, both...and, neither...nor.
Difference/Contrast:
Unlike, different from, but, while, whereas, although.
4.0 Verbs & Agreement
4.1 Verb Tense
Determined by time reference and surrounding verbs.
Rule: Tense in a dependent clause is often related to the main clause tense.
4.2 Subject-Verb Agreement
Present Tense: He plays / They play.
The Subject is NEVER inside:
A Prepositional Phrase (e.g., The people in our area like...).
A Relative Clause (e.g., My car which was at the mechanic's is...).
4.3 Verb Forms (V-ing vs. PP)
V-ing (Active): The subject can do the action.
PP (Passive): The subject receives the action.
5.0 Modifiers & Placement
5.1 Types of Modifiers
Relative Clauses (who likes...)
Prepositional Phrases (in the box)
Appositives (my cousin)
Verbal Phrases (waiting outside, known as...)
5.2 Placement Rules
Directly After Noun: Jack who likes movies...
Initial Modifier: On her way home, Nancy...
CRITICAL: The subject of the main clause must be the one "doing" the action of the modifier.
Remote Modifier (between doubles): Nancy waved sadly, watching the ship leave.
6.0 Test Strategy & Logic
6.1 Transition Words & Logic
Contrast: However, While, Whereas, Yet, But, Although, Unlike.
Against Expectations: Surprisingly, Unexpectedly.
Similarity: Similarly, Likewise, Also, Both.
Cause & Effect: Therefore, Thus, As a result, Because, So.
Example: For example, For instance, Such as.
Add Info: Moreover, Furthermore, In addition, Also.
Emphasis: Indeed, In fact, Actually.
6.2 Investigation/Research Passage Structure
ID: Introduce the study/researchers.
Purpose: Goal/Aim (to test, measure, examine).
Method/Approach: Steps and tools used.
Findings/Results: Specific discoveries (data).
Conclusion:
Summarizes findings.
Suggests/Hypothesizes/Predicts based on findings.
Other Elements: Limitations, Recommendations, Scope, Feedback.
6.3 Inference & Relationships
General-Specific Relationship:
General: a country, a book.
Specific: Egypt, "Hamlet".
Cause & Effect: Look for lead to, result in, because, when, or contrasting evidence.
Main Idea Safety Check:
It's the core claim.
It's about the subject/scope of the text.
It answers the question from the purpose.
7.0 Common Mistakes & Test Behavior
7.1 Comma Splice (Error)
Error: Connecting two Ind Clauses with only a comma.
Correction: Use (. ; : ), a conjunction (FANBOYS), a relative pronoun, or a phrase.
7.2 Question Structure in Text
As a direct question: How can they swim?
Embedded in a statement: I need to know where you live. (No helping verb inversion).
7.3 Reference Words
Decode: Pronouns (it, they), this/that/these/those, both/neither/either, other/another, there/then.