MEET (2)

2017
LUCKY WRITING
EFL WRITING GUIDE

INDEX
Team Members
About
Subject and Verb Agreement
Fragments
Run-on Sentences
Parallel Sentences
Punctuation Marks

MEET
OUR TEAM

Gerardo Santos Hernández
José
Writer and Editor
Saraí Álvarez Álvarez
Liliana
Sub Editor
Atilio Mejía Lazo
Ciro
Sub Editor
María García Lara
Martha
Art Director

ABOUT
English is known as the major language if
business in the world ; when we start to
study a second language we have to go
against many factors that can affect our
process of getting the language, as EFL
(English as a Foreign Language)
Students, we face the problems of not
being in a country where this language is
not the official one, and that may represent
many problems to us, because our culture
is a challenge that we have to deal with,
the involvement is full of our mother
tongue and that is going to be an issue
can produce some problems with the
Basic Grammar rules of the Target
Language and here we are going to talk
about some of them: Subject and Verb
Agreement, Fragments and Sentences,
Run-on Sentences, Parallel
Sentence/Parallel Structure, and
Punctuation Marks.

SUBJECT AND VERB
AGREEMENT
A basic sentence, in English, is composed by a subject and a verb. Who performs the
action in the sentence is called subject; what the subject performs is indicated by a verb.
Examples:
1) The crowd fights in favor of the gender equality.
2) The planet suffers two issues: famine and obesity.
3) I want a decent work.
Subjects:
1) Crowd
2) Planet
3) I
Verbs:
1) Fights
2) Suffers
3) Want
How can we identify the subject and
the verb in a sentence?
In order to answer this question, we
need other two questions:
To identify the subject we ask:
Who is the sentence about?
To identify the verb we ask:
What does the sentence say about
the subject?
These two questions are key and helpful to identify the
subject and the verb, for example in question one:
Who is the sentence about?
It is about the crowd.
What does the sentence say about the subject?
The sentence says that the crowd fights.

An easy way to identify the verb and the subject: the subject is always before the verb
and the verb is always after the subject. Commonly the subject it is represented by a
pronoun (I, you, he, she, we, they, and it) in a sentence, and sometimes by a proper noun
(Michael, Sarah, white house, etc.)
Now, why in some sentence of simple present the verb is followed by an “s”?
This happens because of the verb agreement with the third person (He, She, and It.)
Example:
My country suffers poverty.
The verb suffer is followed by an “s” because country it is a third person subject.
Finally, when we deal with auxiliary verbs (a.k.a. helping verbs) and with modal verbs;
only the auxiliary verbs are modified for plural and the third person while the modal
verbs do not modify the verb and it stands in an infinite form.
Auxiliary verbs:
Be: am for singular (first person), is for
singular (third person), and are for
plural (second person).
Do: do for first and second person,
and does for third person.
Have: have for first and second
person, and has for third
person.
Modal Verbs:
D a r e
M u s t
S h o u l d
W i l l
O u g h t
C a n
M a y
S h a l l

Tips for subject and verb agreement
1) The subject and verb must agree in number:
- Earth is affected by human actions.
- Low developed countries are affected by the actions of high developed countries.
2) Words between the subject and the verb do not affect the agreement:
- The pollution, produced by gasses, is the most difficult issue to control.
3) If there are more than one subject in the sentence, it is considered plural:
- China, the United States, and Russia suffer pollution despite being developed countries.
4) If a sentence has more than one subject, and one of this is singular and the other one
is plural, the verb agreement will be applied with nearest to the verb:
- The plastic bottles or gas produces several quantities of pollution.
5) Titles are considered singular:
- Sustainable cities and communities are one of the UN’s global goals.
6) Collective nouns like herd, crowd, class are considered singulars:
- The class is doing a research about the UN’s global goals.
7) If two infinitives are separated by and they take the plural form of the verb:
- To protect and to solve the global goals aim the United Nations.
8) Indefinite pronouns take always singular form:
- Everyone wants to stop the famine.
9) If a sentence starts with here or there, care needs to be taken to identify the subject and
verb agreement:
- There are 17 global goals.
10) Prepositional phrases between the subject and the verb do not affect the verb agreement:
- The gasses of the pollution kill our lungs.

FRAGMENTS
As it is known, a sentence is composed by a subject and a verb. When a word
group lacks a subject or a verb and does not express a complete thought, it is
known as a fragment. To identify a fragment, it is just needed to look for the
miss of the subject or the verb; however, there are some types of fragments
that are written with a subject and a verb.
In order to understand more about how to identify a fragment, you should study the most
common types of fragments that people used.
Dependent-word fragment.
-ing and to fragments.
Added-detail fragments.
Missing subject fragments
Missing auxiliary verb fragments.

types of fragments
Dependent-word fragment
You know in English we have two type of clauses, and the dependent clues, in the case
of fragments, is known as dependent-word fragment because of the word that introduces
to this sentence. The followings are examples of dependent words: after, as, because,
how, if, even if, since, that, so that, until, wh- words, etc.
If we eliminate discriminatory laws, policies and practices. We can ensure equal
opportunity and reduce inequalities of income.
The dependent statement starting with a dependent word like if that cannot stand alone.
To correct that mistake we have two possible options:
- We can ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of income if we eliminate
discriminatory laws, policies, and practices.
- If we eliminate discriminatory laws, policies, and practices. We can ensure equal
opportunity and reduce inequalities of income.
-ing and to fragments
Most of the time, people write or put the -ing and to fragments as one sentence because
they think that they subject of one sentence will work for the next one. But base on the
structure of a simple sentence, the subject must be in the same sentence.
Countries can accelerate the transition. To an affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy
system. By investing in renewable energy resources, prioritizing energy efficient practices,
and adopting clean energy technologies and infrastructure.
Doing the analysis to the sentence you can see that the statement "to an affordable,
reliable, and sustainable energy system" has been separated from the whole sentence,
and the correct writing is:
- Countries can accelerate the transition to an affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy
system by investing in renewable energy resources, prioritizing energy efficient practices,
and adopting clean energy technologies and infrastructure.

Added-detail fragments
People write these types of fragments for much the same reason they write -ing and to
fragments. Commonly, the added-detail fragments are introduced by the words: also,
especially, except, for example, like, including, such as.
Poor harvesting practices. As well as food wastage. Have contributed to food scarcity.
The additional detail "As well as food wastage" has been written as one sentence and it
cannot stand alone. The correct writing will be:
- Poor harvesting practices, as well as food wastage have contributed to food scarcity.
Missing-subject fragments
As in the two types mentioned above, people write this type of fragments because they
think the subject in one sentence works for the next one.
Society benefits when more people are being productive. And contributing to their
country’s growth.
The second statement lacks subject. The correct writing is:
- Society benefits when more people are being productive and contributing to their country’s growth.
Missing auxiliary verb fragments
This type of fragment happens accidently because people do not take care of their writing.
Climate change caused by human activities and is threatening the way we live and the
future of our planet.
In this sentence, you can see that the auxiliary verb does not appear. Then, the correct writing is:
- Climate change is caused by human activities and is threatening the way we live and the future of
our planet.

Tips to correct fragments
1) Dependent-word fragments
- When this type of fragments appear, you can attach to the sentence or complete the thought of the
dependent statement.
- Another way to correct this fragment is by eliminating the dependent word.
Note: use a comma to attach the fragment to the sentence if it is at the beginning. Generally, a comma
is not needed if the fragment is at the end.
2) -ing and to fragment:
For -ing
- To give sense to the -ing fragment you can attach it to the sentence before it or to the sentence after it,
whichever makes more sense with.
- Also, you can add a subject, but this one implicates to modify the verb to give sense to the sentence.
- If the fragment shows a mistake in the use of the verb to be and this one appears to like being change
to the correct form.
For to
- The common mistake when doing this fragment is that people separate it from the whole sentence, and
in order to give it sense you just have to attach it to the sentence.
3) Added-detail fragments
- With this type of mistake, you must look for it and attach to the sentence.
- Another way is to introduce it and add a subject.
- Also, if the fragment has been put it away with a period, you can add it to the sentence by
introducing it with commas.
4) Missing-subject fragments
- You can attach it to the sentence by eliminating what it is separating it, or you can add the subject.
5) Missing auxiliary verb
For do, be, have: check the verb agreement for singular or plural.
For modal verbs: find out the message that wants to be given, and use the one that expresses the message.

Run-on Sentences
Run-on sentences are known as two completes thoughts that have been separated by a sign given a
break between them, but that sign has been used incorrectly. However, there are two types of run-on
sentences and one of these does not have signs to break between the thoughts.
Types of Run-on Sentences
FUSED SENTENCES
COMMA SPLICES
There is no sign that indicates the break
between the thoughts. They are fused, or
joined as if they were a complete thought.
If you are a woman you can address
unconscious biases and implicit associations
that can form an unintended and often an
invisible barrier to equal opportunity.
Correct form:
If you are a woman, you can address
unconscious biases and implicit associations
that can form an unintended and often an
invisible barrier to equal opportunity.
This is the most common type of run-on
sentences because most of the time students
think that break is needed, but probably a
stronger, or clearer break is needed.
Even the richest countries still have communities
living in abject poverty, the oldest democracies
still wrestle with racism, homophobia and
transphobia, and religious intolerance, a recent
UNICEF report noted growing inequality among
children in several high-income countries
Correct form:
Even the richest countries still have communities
living in abject poverty. The oldest democracies
still wrestle with racism, homophobia and
transphobia, and religious intolerance. A recent
UNICEF report noted growing inequality among
children in several high-income countries

How to Correct Run-ons
If they are not related, or if the next thought will be
present with another method that make it too long,
you can use a period and capital letter between the
thoughts.
F= for
A= and
The use of commas is mainly for FANBOYS. If the
N= nor
second thought begins with FANBOYS, you must
use a comma before it. Also, you can attach these
B= but
types of joining words to correct run-ons.
Also, you can use a semicolon to correct run-ons.
O= or
with transitional words. However, not all the people
Y= yet
This one mark a long pause and it is used alone or
because it is a confusing mark, and if this happen to
S= so
feel comfortable using the method of the semicolon
you, you can or must use one of the two first
methods.
The use of subordination is a helpful method, too.
Note: there are some words that can lead to run-ons:
pronouns, that, there, this, next, now, then.

Parallel sentence/parallel structure
When using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level
of importance, it is known as parallel sentence or parallel structure. This can happen at the
word, phrase, or clause level. Usually, you can identify the parallelism with the use of
coordinating conjunctions.
Word and phrase level
With -ing:
You can make changes in your
own life—at home, at work and in
the community—by supporting
local farmers or markets and
making sustainable food choices,
supporting good nutrition for all,
and fighting food waste.
As you can
see, the
underlined
words have
the same
structure.

the words in
In
there are
bold,
clauses
three
have the
that
structure
same
the
introducing
With infinitive phrase:
Unemployment can lead to
unrest, to disrupt and to break
peace if it is left unaddressed.
The same
happens here
with underlined
words. They
have the same
structure.
Clause level
More than half of children that have
not enrolled in school, that have
not attended to a class, and that
have not had a touch of an
educational environment live in sub-
Saharan Africa, which makes it the
region with the largest number of outof-school
children in the world.
statement.
Tips to Identify the Parallelism
Check out the words at the beginning of the first clause if you have more
than one clause in a sentence.
In a list: put the items in a column to see if they are equal.
To see if the words, phrases or clause are parallel checks on each side
of them.

" " Quotation Marks
, Comma
: Colon
; Semicolon
( ) Parenthesis
- Hyphen
PUNCTUATION MARKS
Punctuation marks are symbols that are used to aid the clarity and
comprehension of written language. Some common punctuation marks are
the period, comma, colon, semicolon, dash, question mark, exclamation
point, apostrophe, parenthesis, quotation mark and hyphen.
Dash

Quotation Marks
This type of punctuation has two main uses:
- To indicate the exact words of a speaker or writer.
- To indicate the titles of short words.
The first one has an especial notation which is the use of a comma; the comma
will be written inside of the quotations if the statement is at the beginning of the
sentences, and if the statement that is within quotations is at the end, the comma
will be written before the quotations.
Within quotations:
“I am going to do a research about the global goals,” said Jamal.
Out of the quotations:
Jamal said, “I am going to do a research about the global goals.”
Titles of short words:
If the global goal “Zero hunger” is defeated, several countries will raise.
Titles of long words:
In the paper Responsible Consumption and Production, it is said that There
are many aspects of consumption that with simple changes can have a big
impact on society as a whole.
Use quotation marks for articles in books, newspapers, or magazines; chapters
in books; short stories; poems; and songs. Underline for: titles of books,
newspapers, magazines, plays, movies, record albums, and television shows.
Other Uses of Quotation Marks:
- To emphasize word/s or phrase/s from the rest.
- To mark off a quotation within a quotation, but a quotation within a quotation is
indicated by a single quotation mark.

Comma
The comma has many uses:
To separate items in series:
- The UNO has global goals like: No poverty, Zero hunger, Gender quality, Climate action,
and life below water.
Notes: The final comma is optional, but is often used. In descriptive words, a comma is
needed, but if and is inserted between the words, the comma is omitted.
Comma after introductory material:
- According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), more than 204 million people
are unemployed as of 2015.
Note: If the introductory material is brief, sometimes the comma is omitted.
Comma around extra information interrupting the flow of the thought:
The comma is placed on both sides of the words or phrase interrupting the flow.
- The UNO, with the 3 Good Health and Well-being global goal, has made progress in
several areas, including in child and maternal health as well as in addressing HIV/AIDS,
malaria and other diseases.
Comma between two complete thoughts:
We use FANBOYS for this.
- Access to good health and well-being is a human right, and that is why the Sustainable
Development Agenda offers a new chance to ensure that everyone can access the
highest standards of health and health care— not just the wealthiest.
Notes: If the thoughts are shorts, it is optional to use the comma. Be careful and do not
separate two verbs from one thought.
Comma with direct quotations:
The comma will be written inside of the quotations if the statement is at the beginning of
the sentences, and if the statement that is within quotations is at the end, the comma will
be written before the quotations.
- “Works in teams,” said the teacher, “That will be helpful for your research about the
global goals.”
Comma with everyday material:
Everyday material stands for: persons spoken to, dates, address, openings and closings of
letters, and numbers.
- Fred, you deadline for your research about the global goal “Zero Hunger” is on June 13,
2017, and it has to have at least 2,00 pages.
Notes: Comma is not used before a zip code. In formal letter, a colon is used after the
opening.

Colon
The uses are:
1) Make a list.
2) For introduce exact words from a speaker or a writer, instead a comma use a colon.
3) To introduce an explanation.
- The goal of the global goal “Responsible Consumption and Production” is: to ensure
sustainable consumption and production patterns
Semicolon
It is used to mark a break between two complete thoughts, or in series when the items
themselves contain a comma.
- Real progress means achieving universal health coverage; making essential medicines
and vaccines affordable; ensuring that women have full access to sexual and reproductive
health care; ending all preventable deaths of children.
Dash
It is used to mark a pause longer than a comma, but not as complete as a period.
- Access to good health and well-being is a human right, and that is why the Sustainable
Development Agenda offers a new chance to ensure that everyone can access the
highest standards of health and health care — not just the wealthiest.
Parenthesis
It is used to set off or extra information from the rest of a sentence.
- Peaceful, just and inclusive societies are necessary to achieve the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).
Hyphen
We used it when two or more words that act as a single unit describing a noun.
- Poverty eradication is only possible through stable and well-paid jobs.