BASIC PUNCTUATION PATTERNS
 1.

SUBJECT + VERB ( . )
My boss warned me about being late .

2.

 SUBJECT + VERB ( ; ) SUBJECT + VERB ( . )

My boss warned me about being late ; he didn't fire me.

3.


SUBJECT + VERB ( , ) but SUBJECT + VERB ( . )
or
yet
so
for
and
nor
My boss warned me about being late , but he didn't fire me.

4.


SUBJECT + VERB ( ; ) therefore ( , ) SUBJECT + VERB ( . )
however
nevertheless
consequently
furthermore
for example
thus
My boss warned me about being late ; however , he didn't fire me.

5.
If SUBJECT + VERB ( , ) SUBJECT + VERB ( . )
Because 
Since 
When 
While 
Although 
After 
Even before 
As long as
Whenever
Although my boss warned me about being late , he didn't fire me.

6.
SUBJECT + VERB if SUBJECT + VERB ( . )
because 
since 
when 
while 
although 
after 
even before 
as long as 
whenever 
My boss didn't fire me although he warned me about being late.

7.
SUBJECT  ( , ) a wealthy banker ( , ) VERB ( . )
on the other hand
his heart beating wildly
My boss , a compassionate person , didn't fire me ( . )

8.
SUBJECT + VERB ( : ) A, B, C, and D.
My boss gave me some gifts : an alarm clock, a beeper, a watch, and a book.

9.
a.
"You're fired," he said.
b.
He said, "You're fired."
c.
"You," he said, "are fired."
d.
Who said that you're fired?
e.
Who said, "You're fired"?
f.
Who said, "Were you fired?"