English Usage/Grammar/ Punctuation Review

English Usage/Grammar/ Punctuation Review

Vocabulary Term -- Punctuation Apostrophe the mark (') used to indicate the omission of one or more letters from a printed word Can also be used to indicate possession

Vocabulary Term Type of Phrase Idiom -- a phrase in which the words together have a meaning that is different from the dictionary definitions of the individual words

Vocabulary Terms Type of Phrase Parenthetical Phrase -- a construction that can be used to extend the meaning of a word or phrase but is not one of the main constituents of a sentence

Vocabulary Term Type of Phrase Preposition -- links nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a sentence Examples... The book is on the table. The book is beneath the table. The book is leaning against the table. The book is beside the table. She held the book over the table. She read the book during class.

Vocabulary Term Grammar Basics Mechanics -- the way the words and phrases work together within a sentence

Vocabulary Terms Editing Necessities Modifier -- a word that qualifies the meaning of a noun or verb Parallelism -- a balance of two or more similar words, phrases, or clauses What s a phrase? a sequence of two or more words arranged in a grammatical construction and acting as a unit in a sentence What s a clause? a construction of words containing a subject and predicate and forming part of a sentence or constituting a whole simple sentence

Vocabulary Terms Editing Necessities Pronoun word that replaces a noun or another pronoun Ex: he, which, none, you, I, it, etc... Usage longestablished method of handling a given word

Vocabulary Terms Editing Necessities Rhetoric using language effectively to please or persuade Redundant Unnecessarily repetetive Verbose Containing more words than necessary Relevant Having significant importance to the matter at hand Tone Expression of a mood

You are now armed with the vocabulary you need to understand grammar instruction

Usage and Mechanics Basic Grammar & Usage Sentence Structure Punctuation Rhetorical Skills Strategy Organization Style

Most Common Errors Singulars and Plurals Pronoun Usage Apostrophe Use (especially the word they) (I or me, he or him, etc ) (its or it s) (whose or who s) Proper Word Usage (there, their, they re) (are, our) Parenthetical Phrases and Punctuation Idiomatic Preposition Use Unidiomatic Verb Use (in, of, on, to, for) (-ing endings)

Pronoun Usage Subject Case I He She We Who Whoever They Object Case Me Him Her Us Whom Whomever Them

Singulars and Plurals MOST common error in this area? The use of THEY When a friend borrows my car, I usually ask them to fill it with gas before they return it. When friends borrow my car, I usually ask them to fill it with gas before they return it.

Subject or Object Case Pronoun? STRATEGY: Leave out part of the sentence. Example: Rephrased: If you have any questions about grammar usage, ask your English teacher or (I / me) to help you. Read it again WITHOUT the words your English teacher or If you have any questions about grammar usage, ask (I X /me) to help you.

WHO or WHOM? How do you decide? STRATEGY: Use the Him/He Test 1) Re-order the part of the sentence containing who or whom. 2) Rephrase with he or him. Where him is the proper choice, then whom would also be correct.

Sample Problem I wonder who/whom he bribed to get this position. To get this position, he bribed him. Correct Choice: Whom

Sample Problem Whoever/Whomever Whomever the drama teacher liked received a part in the play. The drama teacher liked him. Correct Choice: Whomever

Caution with the Him/He Test Use the subject case if the pronoun 1) precedes a verb AND 2) is the subject of that verb.

Sample Problem The police gave tickets to whoever/whomever had parked in front of the fire hydrant. 1) Is the pronoun followed by a verb? Yes 2) Does that pronoun appear to be the subject of that verb? (Did whoever actually do the parking?) Yes Yes

It s or Its? Whose or Who s? The apostrophe takes the place of a letter. It s = It is Who s = Who is STRATEGY: Slow down when you come to these. Read the sentence as It is or Who is to be SURE you ve chosen the correct answer.

Sample Problem Who s / Whose Line Is It Anyway is a funny television show. Its /It s on the comedy channel. 1. Who is Line Is It Anyway OR 2. Whose Line Is It Anyway

Sample Problem Who s / Whose Line Is It Anyway is a funny television show. Its /It s on the comedy channel. 1. It is on the comedy channel OR 2. Its on the comedy channel

Our & Are For questions involving proper word usage SLOW DOWN and READ CAREFULLY!!!!! Our = possession Are = Verb Helpful Tip: Our is spelled like your.

There, their, and they re There = Location There contains the word here. Their = Possession. They re = They are Substitute They are in the sentence and see if it makes sense.

Parenthetical Phrases Definition: Phrases which could be removed and the sentence would still be complete. Bob, on his way to the store, saw a lizard. Bob saw a lizard. RULE: Parenthetical phrases must begin AND end with the same punctuation mark.

Punctuation Sample Problem On the day of the test, his over-protective mother packed him an ACT survival kit. Ten sharpened pencils, a pencil sharpener, a calculator, a pack of batteries, three different-weight sweaters, four pieces of fruit, a liter of spring water and a box of tissues. A. NO CHANGE B. kit, ten C. kit; ten D. kit: ten D.

Idiomatic Preposition Use Certain phrases require the use of particular prepositions. STRATEGY: Trust your ear. Is that what most people say? I will pick you up tonight at quarter of six. I will pick you up tonight at quarter to six.

More Idiomatic Prepositions She tried to instill on me a respect to the law. She tried to instill in me a respect of the law. I want to protect you in all dangers. I want to protect you from all dangers.

Unidiomatic Verb Use (-ing endings) RULE: -ing endings are used to indicate repeated or continuous action and should NOT be used for a single action that occurs once. Example: When I left for the store, I was forgetting my list. Correction: When I left for the store, I forgot my list.

OMIT OMIT the Material When It is unnecessary It is repetitious, or It is wordy Correct more than half of the time. When in doubt, take it out!

Example of Wordiness As I previously mentioned to you when explaining at last week s meeting the incredible and undisputed advantages of combining our two clubs, The Poetry Society and the Poets Outside, I have written up here for your further study my thoughts on the matter, detailing the many benefits that will accrue to both organizations. At last week s meeting, I said there were benefits to combining our two clubs. Here s a note repeating why.

Spielberg s Amistad is the filmmaker s second attempt to show that someone who is an unexcelled creator of funny, fast-paced action movies can also be a producer of films that try to deal in a serious fashion with weighty historical and moral themes. (42 words) Spielberg s Amistad is the filmmaker s second attempt at dealing in a serious fashion with weighty historical and moral themes. (19 words) Spielberg s Amistad is the filmmaker s second attempt to show that an unexcelled creator of funny, fast-paced action movies can also produce films dealing seriously with weighty historical and moral themes. (30 words)

The remarkable growth in increased attendance currently being enjoyed by such formerly moribund sports franchises as baseball s Cleveland Indians shows that building a new stadium can have a powerful effect on the popularity of a team. A. NO CHANGE C. B. The growth in attendance remarkably being enjoyed currently C. The remarkable growth in attendance currently enjoyed D. The remarkable attendance boom currently enjoyed

Later, Pike fell while valiantly defending America in the War of 1812. It goes without saying that this took place after he discovered Pike s Peak. He actually died near York (now called Toronto) F. NO CHANGE I. G. Clearly, this must have occurred subsequent to his discovering Pike s Peak. H. This was after he found Pike s Peak. I. OMIT the underlined portion.

School Paper Editorial The first reason why the Denville school district should not be combined with the Jackson school district is the fact that the schools have been sports rivals for too long. 1 Trying to unite the schools after so many years of competition would inevitably lead to friction. [2] 1. A. NO CHANGE B. because of the fact that C. about D. that D.

The first reason why the Denville school district should not be combined with the Jackson school district is the fact that the schools have been sports rivals for too long. Trying to unite the schools after so many years of competition would inevitably lead to friction. [2] 2. Is the author s introductory paragraph effective? B. A. Yes, because it gets immediately to the problem B. No, because an introduction should outline the whole subject. C. No, because it doesn t say how many other reasons there will be. D. Yes, because sports is the number one interest of most students.

Important Points 1/3 of English items on the ACT concern redundancy, verbosity, and relevance. NEVER let the passage repeat itself. Stay true to the author s tone. Don t try to correct EVERY sentence. Trust your ear.

CAUTION! Don t Add a New Mistake Avoid Changing the Meaning When Editing

Grammar Review Among those who played a crucial role in the Northern victory at Gettysburg were Joshua Chamberlain, a Union colonel from Maine who later enjoyed a distinguished career as an educator and politician. Among those who played a crucial role in the Northern victory at Gettysburg was Joshua Chamberlain, a Union colonel from Maine who later enjoyed a distinguished career as an educator and politician.

Dismayed by the news that a top executive had suddenly accepted a job with a competitor, the price of the company s stock fell sharply the next day. Problem: Dangling Modifier Possible correction: Stockholders were dismayed,and the price

A fabled center of monastic life during the Middle Ages, each summer thousands of visitors travel to the island of Iona near the coast of Ireland. Problem: Misplaced Modifier Suggestion: Move A fabled center of monastic life during the Middle Ages after the phrase the island of Iona.

In the 90s, albums by Pearl Jam appeared consistent on the charts even without the exposure of music videos. In the 90s, albums by Pearl Jam appeared consistently on the charts even without the exposure of music videos.

Although the hospital administrators interviewed many staff members about the repeated cases of staph infections they had no explanation for the puzzling pattern of outbreaks. WHO had no explanation? The administrators? The staff? Possible Correction: Although the hospital administrators interviewed many staff members about the repeated cases of staph infections the staff had no explanation for the puzzling pattern of outbreaks.

Each member of the tour group should have their tickets by the end of the week. Problem: pronoun usage Each member of the tour group should have his or her tickets by the end of the week. OR All members of the tour group should have their tickets by the end of the week.

Representatives to the student senate were asked to pursue often contradictory goals: boosting student acceptance of more homework, developing explanations for adding two hours to the length of each school day, and the reduction of rampant poor morale. Problem: Parallelism

Representatives to the student senate were asked to pursue often contradictory goals: boosting student acceptance of more homework, developing explanations for adding two hours to the length of each school day, and the reduction of rampant poor morale. reducing rampant poor morale.

In the Olympics the first place winner gets a gold medal, second place, a silver medal, and third place, a bronze medal. In the Olympics the first place winner gets a gold medal; second place, a silver medal; and third place, a bronze medal.

Princess Diana, for who the song Candle in the Wind was written died tragically in an automobile accident. Princess Diana, for whom the song Candle in the Wind was written, died tragically in an automobile accident.

The children had been playing in the park, they were covered in mud. A. The children had been playing in the park. They were covered in mud. B. The children had been playing in the park, and they were covered in mud. C. The children had been playing in the park; they were covered in mud.

Reflection (5 points) Directions: Use complete sentences on a ½ sheet of paper to answer the following. 1. Name two things you learned today about grammar/usage/punctuation. (2 points) 2. Name two things you are still unsure about (regarding grammar/usage/punctuation). (2 points) 3. Why does this stuff matter? (1 point)