GRAMMAR EXPRESS, LYDIA VINE, TEACHER

KEYS TO EFFECTIVE USE OF GRAMMAR

PUNCTUATION: COMMAS, SEMICOLONS, PERIODS Some rules for commas:

Use commas to set off introductory sentence parts.

Use commas to set off explaining phrases.

Use commas to separate items in a series.

Use commas to separate items in dates and addresses.

PRACTICE WITH COMMAS

1) After grazing under the hot sun the cows returned to the barn.

2) Ben ordered his favorite lunch a cheeseburger with coleslaw and fries.

3) Seeking to better my future I have applied to college.

4) During vacation I enjoyed relaxing with family and friends.

5) Gail enjoys swimming writing poetry and listening to music.

KEYS TO USING SEMICOLONS

THE MAIN USE OF THE SEMICOLON: SEPARATION OF TWO SENTENCES OR INDEPENDENT CLAUSES WITH RELATED CONTENT

NOTE: A PERIOD MAY BE USED INSTEAD OF A SEMICOLON .

RULES FOR SEMICOLONS

1) Use a semicolon after a short sentence to separate it from a second and related one. i.e. We don’t have to wait too long; he is usually on time.

2) Use a semicolon after a sentence to separate it from a subsequent one beginning with a word such as: however, moreover, thus, therefore, then, accordingly, instead, consequently, and nevertheless. i.e. I would like to visit you; however, I need to study for a quiz.

RULES FOR PERIODS1) Use periods at the end of sentences or statements.

2) Use periods at the end of sentences which make a request.

PRACTCE: Try your skills with commas, semicolons and periods

Today is unusually warm

Please leave the bowl of fruit on the kitchen table

I plan to purchase some thread needles paper patterns and cloth to make a coat

When you visit I will arrange for us to tour many interesting sights in Hartford

Soon Spring will come then lilacs forsythia and tulips will bloom

Fran a very motivated talented student has excelled in her English courses at Capital

SUBJECTS AND VERBS

Verbs need to agree with subjects.

If a subject is singular, the verb must be singular.

If a subject is plural, the verb must be plural.

Sometimes, finding the right verb form for a subject is challenging , but practice helps!

PRACTICE WITH SUBJECTS AND VERBS

PLEASE CIRCLE THE CORRECT VERB IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES.

1)When Jennie (joke,jokes), her friends (laugh, laughs)

2)The sky ( appear, appears) dark, but I do not (think, thinks) there will be rain.

3)The little girl (look, looks) pretty in her pink and white dress.

4)Tom and Phil (enjoy, enjoys) boating during the summer.

5)Aerobics (is, are) good for building strong bones.

PRACTICE WITH SUBJECTS AND VERBS

PLEASE CIRCLE THE CORRECT VERB IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES.

1)There (is, are) many choices at the bakery.

2)Neither Manny nor his friends (want, wants) to attend the party.

3)Lucy, along with her sisters, (plays, play) volleyball.

4)Here (is, are) the books they wanted to read.

5)Everyone (wishes, wish) to be successful.

RULES FOR SUBJECTS SUCH AS FRACTIONS1)Fractions and words such as all, none, and some will be

singular if they refer to a bulk or total number.

2)Fractions, none, and some will be plural if they refer to individuals.

3)EXAMPLES:

4)Three-fourths of the roof is painted.

5)A majority of the members are here.

6)None of the food remains.

7)Some of the students are waiting outside.

(Adapted from: Handbook of English, Harry Shaw and Virginia Schaffer, McGraw Hill,Print)

SOME KEYS TO THE 4 MAJOR VERB TENSESPresent: refers to actions happening now

Past: refers to an event/action which occurred before the present

Present Participle: refers to an ongoing action

Past Perfect Tense: refers to an event/action which occurred prior to one in the past

EXAMPLES OF 4 MAJOR VERB TENSES

PRESENT: I enjoy listening to all types of music.

PAST: We elected class officers last week.

PRESENT PARTICIPLE: I have been looking for my notebook. (NOTE use of ing and a helping verb, such as have, am, is, and are.)

PAST PEFRECT : He recalled that he had forgotten to buy his friend a birthday card.

PRACTICE WITH VERB TENSES

Please fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb.

1) Talk : I am ----------- on the phone.

2) Bake: When I was a child, I----------- cookies with my mother.

3) Leak : During January, 2011, our roof------------.

4) Transfer : Some students are-----------to Central Connecticut State University soon.

5) Select: We enjoyed the fruit which we-----------------yesterday.

TEST YOUR SKILLS!

Please read the following sentences and see if you are able to spot and correct the errors.

1) We were load some furniture onto a truck.

2) We nearly slip on the ice while we were skating.

3) I finish my homework when a friend of mine came by unexpectedly to visit.

4) The story is about a child who grew up in Spain. Then, when she was a teenager, she moves to the United States.

5) We have live in Hartford for twelve years.

6) When Sarah visited her grandmother, she notice she had using a computer.

7) Sarah talked about her grandmother to Sam and he was impress.

8) I am find grammar tricky at times!

FRAGMENTS…WHAT DO WE DO WITH THEM? What is a fragment?

A phrase

A dependent clause

A group of words without a subject, verb, and the expression of a complete thought

EXAMPLES OF FRAGMENTS

On the sidewalk

When I skated on the ice

Many candidates who want to serve as our next President

PRACTICE CHANGING FRAGMENTS TO SENTENCES

1)While learning to ski

2) If I were in high school now

3) Running through the field

4) Listening to music

1) The tall buildings in the city

2) Hesitant to begin college

3) When I was on a diet

4) Jim and Joe English 101

EFFECTIVE WRITING WWW.COLLEGEBOARD.COM

Sequence of tenses

After he broke his arm, he is home for two weeks.

After he broke his arm, he was home for two weeks.

Shift of pronoun

If one is tense, they should try to relax.

If one is tense, one should try to relax.

Parallelism She skis, plays tennis, and flying hang gliders.

She skis, plays tennis, and flies hang gliders.

Noun agreement

Carmen and Sarah want to be a pilot.

Carmen and Sarah want to be pilots.

Pronoun reference

Several people wanted the job, and he or she filled out the required applications.

Several people wanted the job, and they filled out the required applications.

Subject-verb agreement

There is eight people on the shore.

There are eight people on the shore.

MORE EXAMPLES OF EFFECTIVE WRITING

Ambiguous and vague pronouns

In the newspaper they say that few people voted.

The newspaper reported that few people voted.

Diction He circumvented the globe on his trip.

He circumnavigated the globe on his trip.

Wordiness There are many problems in the contemporary world in which we live.

There are many problems in the contemporary world.

Improper modification

If your car is parked here while not eating in the restaurant, it will be towed away.

If you park here and do not eat in the restaurant, your car will be towed away

FINAL EXAMPLES FROM COLLEGE BOARD SITE

Writing ProblemSentence Illustrating the Problem

Should be...

Pronoun caseHe sat between you and I at the stadium.

He sat between you and me at the stadium.

IdiomNatalie had a different opinion for her.

Natalie had a different opinion of her.

Comparison of modifiers

Of the sixteen executives, Naomi makes more money.

Of the sixteen executives, Naomi makes the most money.

Sentence fragment

Fred having to go home early.

Fred has to go home early.

Comma splice

Mary took time out of her busy schedule to visit her aunt, John decided to continue working through the summer.

Mary took time out of her busy schedule to visit her aunt, but John decided to continue working through the summer