D.L.P. – Week OneGRADE SEVEN

Day One – Skills• Capitalization – First Word in a Sentence

Sentences must begin with a capital letter to signal that a new thought has begun.

• Punctuation – End Marks

Sentences must end with proper punctuation to signal that a thought has ended. Declarative sentences or statements end in a period. Interrogative sentences, which are also known as questions, must end in a question mark. Imperative sentences are punctuated based on how they are said. Commands that are forceful would end in an exclamation point, but a calmly stated command would merit a period. Finally, exclamatory sentences end in exclamation points since they are spoken with such enthusiasm.

• Capitalization – Proper Nouns - Places

Names of specific places must be capitalized since they are proper nouns. These could include the names of buildings and monuments. They could also include towns, cities, states, and countries.

the Caribbean Islands are a colorful mosaic of many cultures

DAY ONE – SENTENCE ONE

The Caribbean Islands are a colorful mosaic of many cultures.

Hispanics make up a large part of the population of cuba and puerto rico.

DAY ONE – SENTENCE TWO

Hispanics make up a large part of the population of Cuba and Puerto Rico.

Day Two – Skills• Negatives – Elimination of Doubles

Only one negative word should be used per sentence. Negative words include no, not, never, and none.

• Punctuation – Apostrophes in Possession

An apostrophe is used to show possession or ownership. If the word showing ownership is singular, then the apostrophe is placed before the s. (boy’s) If the word is plural and ends in an s, then the apostrophe is placed after the s. (groups’) However, if the plural word does not end in an s, then the apostrophe is placed before the s. (children’s)

Joint possession means more than one person owns something. If one thing is owned by more than one person, the apostrophe and s appear only on the final person in the group. (Bob and Mark’s car)

There is hardly no rain on the Caribbean island of Curacao.

DAY TWO – SENTENCE ONE

There is hardly any rain on the Caribbean island of Curacao.

It was Bob’s and Barry’s idea to research the Dominican Republic.

DAY TWO – SENTENCE TWO

It was Bob and Barry’s idea to research the Dominican Republic.

Day Three– Skills• Punctuation – Colon in Time

When a time is written, a colon (:) is placed between the hour and the minutes.

• Punctuation – Interjections

An interjection is an interruption in a sentence. If it stated calmly, then it is followed by a comma. (Shhh, the baby is sleeping.) If it is an emotional, excitable outburst, then it is followed by an exclamation and the next word is capitalized to begin a new sentence. This type of exclamation may look like a sentence by itself even though it does not have the typical sentence parts of a subject and verb. (Ouch! I bumped my elbow.)

• Style – Precise Adjectives

Adjectives help describe things so that a reader can picture them. Using precise adjectives rather than plain or boring words will make writing more visual and more exciting. The English language has billions of words, so writers should vary the words they use to create pictures with their words!

Our plane landed in Barbados at 510 P.M., and we were very tired.

DAY THREE – SENTENCE ONE

Our plane landed in Barbados at 5:10 P.M., and we were very tired.

Wow The flowers on the island were nice.

DAY THREE – SENTENCE TWO

Wow! The flowers on the island were gorgeous.

Day Four– Skills• Numbers – Beginning of the Sentence

When a number begins a sentence, it must be written as a word regardless of the size of the number.

• Agreement – Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite pronouns are words that can take the place of nouns, but they are not specific. They are also complicated to use since they affected by whether they are singular or plural.

Another, anybody, anyone, anything, everybody, everyone, everything, much, nobody, no one, nothing, one, somebody, someone, and something are singular. That means these words would pair with an action verb that ends in an s or a linking verb like “is” or “was.”

Both, few, many, and several are plural. That means these words would pair with an action verb that does not end in an s or a linking verb like “are” or “were.”

All, any, more, most, none, and some can be either singular or plural. To determine how to make these words agree with their verb, look at the object of the preposition that follows the pronoun. If it is singular, it needs a singular verb. (All of ice is melted.) If it is plural, it needs a plural verb. (All of the pages are torn.)

4 islands show the influence of French culture.

DAY FOUR – SENTENCE ONE

Four islands show the influence of French culture.

Everything about the Caribbean islands are interesting.

DAY FOUR – SENTENCE TWO

Everything about the Caribbean islands is interesting.

Day Five– Skills• Punctuation – End Marks

Sentences must end with proper punctuation to signal that a thought has ended. Declarative sentences or statements end in a period. Interrogative sentences, which are also known as questions, must end in a question mark. Imperative sentences are punctuated based on how they are said. Commands that are forceful would end in an exclamation point, but a calmly stated command would merit a period. Finally, exclamatory sentences end in exclamation points since they are spoken with such enthusiasm.

• Modifiers – Adverbs

Adverbs modify or describe verbs mostly. Typically, they end in “ly.” Adverbs show when, where, how, or why something happens. Adverbs can also describe an adjective. They can also tell how much or to what extent something is.

Would you like to visit the Caribbean.

DAY FIVE – SENTENCE ONE

Would you like to visit the Caribbean?

It is a real friendly vacation spot.

DAY FIVE – SENTENCE TWO

It is a really friendly vacation spot.