grammarandpunctuationcollegeversion-111104063944-phpapp02

7/27/2019 grammarandpunctuationcollegeversion-111104063944-phpapp02

1/38

GRAMMAR ANDPUNCTUATION


2/38

Grammar a brief definition

Grammar is a system of rules for speakingand writing in a particular language


3/38

What is a a sentence?

A sentence is a group of words that canstand alone and, in context, make sense.

A sentence can have one complete idea init, or more.Sentences are made up of clauses andphrases.


4/38

How long should a sentence be?

To make sentences easy to read, it is bestnot to include more than three separateideas, or clauses.

A good average sentence length is 15 20 wordsFor variety, you should vary the length of sentences in your writing


5/38

What is a clause?

A clause contains a verb and can stand asa sentence on its own.

The phone rangThe members have arrivedThe meeting will start later


6/38

What is a clause?

A clause can be part of a larger sentence.

The phone rang as I was leaving.I am surprised that the members havearrived early.

The meeting will start later because of thesecurity alert.


7/38

What is a phrase?

A phrase does not usually have a verb andis not a complete sentence (exceptpossibly as the answer to a question).

after the meeting

in the meantimein reply to your complaint


8/38

Paragraphs

We divide our writing into paragraphs tomake things easier for the reader.

A paragraph is as group of sentencesrelating to one idea.

A new paragraph can indicate a slightchange of direction on the same subject.


9/38

Paragraphs how long?

There are no rules about how long or shorta paragraph should beThe longer it is, the more the reader willsee the text as a barrier We can have a one-line, one-sentenceparagraphConsider if a paragraph of more than 8lines could be split into two


10/38

A list which is a continuoussentence

If you are the last person to leave theoffice, please make sure that you:turn out all the lightslock the office door inform security that you are leaving the

building.


11/38

Function and parts of speech

A word can only be identified as aparticular part of speech if we know what

job it is doing in the sentence.The function defines the part of speech

Fast can be an adjective, an adverb, averb, a noun.


12/38

Verbs

The function of a verb is to show doing,having or being.Verbs have tenses to show when theytake place.In writing, keep to the tense you begin withunless there is a good reason to change it.


13/38

Verbs: participles

Verbs can be made up of twoparts: a secondary or supporting

verb and a participle from themain verbThe supporting verb is usually tobe or to have


14/38

Verbs: Present participles

Present participles end in ingThe manager is asking him

He is agreeing to do it

Note that if there is no supporting verb you

may have a non sentence:Traffic piling up on the M8 this morning.


15/38


16/38

Verbs: active and passive

With an active verb, the doer comesbefore the verbWe cannot consider your application until we receive the

formWith a passive verb the doer comesbehind the verb, introduced by the wordby (sometimes by is understood but does notappear)Your application cannot be considered until the form isreceived


17/38

Verbs: singular and plural

None takes a singular verb because itmeans not one Neither take a singular verb as long asthe subject are both singular Names of organisations usually take asingular verbCollective nouns usually use a singular verb


18/38

Adverbs

The function of an adverb is to show how,where or when a verb happens such as:quickly, slowly, carefully, reliably

Most adverbs end in ly but some dont: Fast, well, often, now, there, later

Adverbs can be linked to adjectives or other adverbs:completely safe, totally worn out, too quickly


19/38

Nouns

The function of a noun is to name aperson, place or thing.There are four types of noun.Common nouns: desk, computers, officesProper nouns: Scotland, The Minister, The Parliament

Abstract nouns: decision, principles, valuesCollective nouns: team, committee, audience


20/38

Pronouns

Personal pronouns take the place of nouns to make sentences run moresmoothlyFirst person: I, me, my, we, us, our Second person: you, your, yours

Third person: he, she, it, they, him , her, them,

his, hers, its, their, theirs.


21/38

Adjectives

The function of an adjective is to describea noun

Adjectives are words such as: quick, slow,careful, reliableWords which are used as nouns maybeused as adjectives: police van, committeepapers, security check


22/38

Prepositions

Prepositions come before nouns or pronouns and usually show a connection:in the officeto the meetingon the desk

Other common prepositions: at, for, up, over,by, from, near


23/38

Articles

The definite article is the The indefinite article is a or an

We use an before a vowel sound: an MSP, an hour, an honour We use a before a consonant sound:

a unique opportunity, a useful idea, a Europeancountry


24/38

Using punctuation

Compare these two statements:

A woman, without her man, is nothing.

A woman: without her, man is nothing


25/38


26/38

Using punctuation

Dear Jack,I want a man who knows what love is. All aboutyou are generous, kind, thoughtful people who

are not like you. Admit to being useless andinferior. You have ruined me. For other men Iyearn! For you I have no feelings whatsoever.When were apart I can be forever happy. Willyou let me be?Yours,


27/38

Punctuation?

Charles the First walked and talked half an hour after hishead was cut off.Leonora walked on her head, a little higher than usual.The driver managed to escape from the vehicle before itsank and swam to the river-bank.The convict said the judge is mad.The society decided not to prosecute the owners of theWindsor Safari Park, where animals, have already beenfed live to snakes and lions, on legal advice.


28/38

The comma

In simple terms, the comma indicates apause in a sentenceTo show where there would be a naturalpause if we were speakingIn a list, to separate the itemsIn pairs, in the same way that we woulduse brackets


29/38

The colon

We use a colon to introduce a list, as wesaw in the section on bullet points.

We can use a colon to make a break toindicate we expect something to follow:

Only three people turned up for the meeting: the HRmanager, the team leader and the case worker.


30/38

The semi-colon

Can act as a weak full stop, to separatetwo very closely related sentencesWe have studied this problem for several days; there areno easy answers

Can separate items in a long complicated

list


31/38

Inverted commas

To show direct speechTo quote a section from a report or to quote atitle of a book or paper etc

Note: If you are quoting part of a text , theuse of ellipsis should keep the sense of the sentence.

The report stated that The Management have carried out aconsultation and have recommended variousstepsto remedy the situation.


32/38

The apostrophe

To show that a letter has been left outTo show possessionIn the singular it comes before the s In the plural it comes after the s If the plural doesnt end in s we add anapostrophe and an s (womens committee etc) With names ending in s we can add anapostrophe or an apostrophe and an s (Mr James statement or Mr Jamess statement)


33/38

Brackets

We use brackets to separate a word , or agroup of words from the rest of thesentence (or to add something)The full stop comes outside the bracket,as it does in the last sentence, unlesswhat is in the brackets is a full sentence.(So if the sentence is complete, like this one, we put thefull stop inside.)


34/38

The dash

We can use two dashes but only in themiddle of a sentence in the same waythat we use brackets (in parenthesis)

We can use a single dash in the same waythat we use a colon to mark a breakwhen we expect something to follow


35/38

Capital letters are used

To begin every sentenceFor I

For proper names Edinburgh, JaneFor titles First Minister, Prime minister For days of the week, months of the year

In letters Dear Sir, Yours sincerelyFor abbreviations MSP, SCE, SQA


36/38


37/38


38/38

Checking and Redrafting

Does what you have written sound right whenyou read it aloud?Does the punctuation make the meaning clear?

Do the sentences make sense? Are the sentences an appropriate length? Are the sentences grouped in paragraphs?

Have you used Capitals correctly?Is the spelling accurate?

grammarandpunctuationcollegeversion-111104063944-phpapp02

Documents