Standard English Conventions
| English | 中文 | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| clause/klɔːz/ | 分句 | fēn jù |
| modifier/ˈmɒdɪfaɪə/ | 修饰语 | xiū shì yǔ |
A decision before an answer
- “The results were clear, the team repeated the test.” Both halves are complete. A comma alone cannot join them.
- Your goal: Use sentence boundaries and punctuation.
Read the relationship
- Find the finite verb and subject in each clause. A dependent clause cannot stand alone as a full sentence.
- Maintain subject–verb agreement and pronoun clarity.
Choose the correct boundary: “The trial ended __ the team published its results.”
Both parts are independent clauses.
Use the defining rule
- Join two complete clauses with a full stop, semicolon, or comma plus a coordinating conjunction.
- Choose verb forms and modifiers fitting context.
“The box of tools ____ heavy.”
Box is singular; of tools does not change its number.
Check the conditions
- A colon follows a complete clause. A semicolon joins complete clauses. Keep essential modifiers attached to what they describe.
- Choose verb forms and modifiers fitting context.
The sensor failed; the team replaced it. Each side has a subject and verb, so a semicolon works. “Because the sensor failed; the team replaced it” is wrong: because makes the first part dependent.
Join two complete related clauses with a ____.
A semicolon can separate independent clauses without a conjunction.
Apply the task format
- Check the head noun for agreement. “The list of measurements is long”: list, not measurements, controls is.
- Choose verb forms and modifiers fitting context.
Long noun phrases hide the subject. Do not choose a verb merely to match the nearest noun.
Which answer fits this case?
Use sentence boundaries and punctuation
A colon can follow any introductory word or fragment.
In this tested convention it normally follows an independent clause.
Keep the distinctions
- clause 分句 — A group of words with a subject and a verb.
- modifier 修饰语 — A phrase describing another word.
- Use sentence boundaries and punctuation.
- Maintain subject–verb agreement and pronoun clarity.
- Choose verb forms and modifiers fitting context.
Match each term with its precise meaning in this lesson.
Keep the distinctions stated in the teaching example.
Put this lesson’s reasoning or event sequence in order.
The order follows the stated process; check each stage before the next.