Rules to Know: Grammar and Punctuation These are the basic rules that the English portion tests.

Comma Rules: Appositives/Parenthetical Information Rule: Use commas to surround appositives or parenthetical information. Hint: Does the information add extra detail to the sentence? Can it be removed and leave the sentence structure in tact?

Question Ed who lives next door was planning a trip. –A. NO CHANGE –B. Ed, who lives next door, was –C. Ed who lives next door, was –D. Ed who lives, next, door was

Comma Rules: Series/Listing Rule: Use commas to separate items in a list or three or more.

Question He asked us to look after his dog his cat and his plants. –A. NO CHANGE –B. look after his dog his cat, and his plants. –C. look after, his dog his cat and his plants. –D. look after his dog, his cat and his plants.

Beware: lists of two! The employees planned the meeting’s agenda and solidified the budget for the fiscal year. (no comma needed) The employees planned the meeting’s agenda, solidified the budget for the fiscal year, and discussed the possibility of new hires. (commas needed)

Comma Rules: Compound Sentences Rule: Use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS) to separate two independent clauses.

Question Billy decided to join the track team and Martha decided to swim. –A. NO CHANGE –B. team, and Martha –C. team, Martha –D. team; and Martha

Comma Rules: Complex Sentences Rule: Use a comma after a dependent clause before the following independent clause. Hint: If the sentence starts with an AWUBIS word, then you are dealing with a dependent clause.

Question Although she wanted to go on vacation she knew she had too much work to accomplish. –A. NO CHANGE –B. Although, she wanted to go on vacation she knew –C. Although she wanted to go on vacation, she knew –D. Although she wanted to go on vacation she knew,

Comma Rules: Prepositional Phrases Rule: Use a comma after a prepositional phrase that begins a sentence. Hint: Look for the subject of the sentences.

Question In addition, we were to water his lawn twice a week. –A. NO CHANGE –B. In addition we were to water –C. In addition we were to water, –D. In, addition we were to water

Semi-Colon Rule: Use a semi-colon to connect two independent clauses (a.k.a. complete sentences). Hints: Two choices to create a compound sentence: –Comma + FANBOYS –Semi-colon!

Question Winnie-the-Pooh is my favorite children’s book, I like the personalities of the animals. –A. NO CHANGE –B. children’s book I like the –C. children’s book; I like the –D. children’s book, because I like the

Colon Rule: Use a colon after an independent clause to introduce a list or a correlated idea. Hints: –Look at all of the words before the colon to see if they can function as a sentence. –Make sure the part after the colon further explains the idea before the colon.

Question The book is full of great characters; Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and Eeyore. –A. NO CHANGE –B. great characters, Pooh, Piglet –C. great characters such as: Pooh, Piglet –D. great characters: Pooh, Piglet

Parenthesis or Dashes Rule: Use parenthesis or dashes to enclose additional information within a sentence. Dashes exhibit a more forceful tone than parenthesis or commas. Hints: The parenthesis, dashes or commas should match on both sides of the additional information, unless the additional info appears at the end of the sentence.

Question Many reports, most of them filed by hunters have recounted wolf tracks in the area. –A. NO CHANGE –B. reports--most of them filed by hunters-- –C. reports; most of them filed by hunters, –D. reports, having been filed by hunters,

Apostrophes Rule #1: Use to replace missing letters in a contraction Rule #2: Use to show possession: –Before the “s” when the word is singular (student’s desk) –After the “s” when the word is plural (students’ desks)

Question Babies first attempts at speech generate excited responses from adults. –A. NO CHANGE –B. Baby’s –C. Babys –D. Babies’

Quotation Marks Rule: Place punctuation marks inside quotation marks.

Question “I am thinking of going to the movies”, said her friend. –A. NO CHANGE –B. to the movies” said, –C. to the movies,” said –D. to the movies” said