Fun With Grammar ACT Prep 2013

The parts Of Speech A noun is a person, place, or thing – Joe, ball, floor. A verb shows action or helps to make a statement (helping/linking verbs) – was, dropped. A pronoun takes the place of a noun – he (takes the place of Joe). An adjective describes a noun – careful (describes Joe). An adverb describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb – very (describes the adjective). A conjunction links words or groups of words together – even though. A preposition links a noun to the rest of the sentence – on.

Clauses A clause contains a subject and a verb. If a clause can stand alone, it is an independent clause, or in other words, a complete sentence. If a clause cannot stand alone, it is dependent on the rest of the sentence to make sense, so it is a dependent clause.

Sentence Structure Problems with sentence structure arise when writers mistakenly confuse dependent clauses or fragments with complete sentences, like when a writer runs one complete sentence into another – a run-on sentence. Sally lit the campfire Jack set up the tent. There are fours ways to fix a run-on sentence: -Break up into two complete sentences. Sally lit the campfire. Jack set up the tent. -Turn into a compound sentence by adding a comma and a coordinating conjunction. Sally lit the campfire, and Jack set up the tent. -Turn into a complex sentence by making one of the clauses dependent. As Sally lit the campfire, Jack set up the tent. -If the sentences are inextricably linked, use a semi-colon. (Don’t overuse semi-colons.) Sally lit the campfire; Jack set up the tent.

Pronoun Agreement The pronoun of a sentence must always agree with its subject. you just need to remind yourself of those singular indefinite pronouns (like each). Each of these moments have played over again in my mind. Incorrect Each of these moments has played over again in my mind. Correct A good rule of thumb is if you could add ‘one’ or ‘body’ after the indefinite pronoun, it is singular.

Pronoun Case The Second Pronoun Rule: Case If a pronoun is the subject of a sentence, you must use a subject pronoun. If a pronoun is the object in a sentence, you must use an object pronoun.   Singular Pronouns Subject Object Possessive I me my you you mine he him your she her yours it it his/hers/its Plural Pronouns we us our you you ours they them your/yours their/theirs

Subject Verb Agreement The verb of a sentence must always agree with its subject. Singular subjects get singular verbs Plural subject gets plural verbs The best answer of the many good answers were Susie’s. Incorrect The best answer of the many good answers was Susie’s. Correct

Pronoun-Verb Agreement A Pronoun must always agree with the noun it refers to. A good rule of thumb is if you could add ‘one’ or ‘body’ after the indefinite pronoun, it is singular. The following indefinite pronouns are all singular: Either (one) No one Neither (one) Everyone Each (one) Everybody Any (one) Somebody Anyone Anybody

Verb Tense Switching If a sentence starts in present tense (or past, future, etc.), it should stay there. Sam is walking down the street when he found a large suitcase. Incorrect Sam is walking down the street when he finds a large suitcase. Correct

Commas Use a comma: To separate items in a series (including a comma before the conjunction) To separate two or more adjectives preceding a noun. After introductory phrases and clauses. To set off non-essential clauses and phrases within a sentence. Before and, but, or, nor, for, and yet joining two independent clauses. To set off sentence interrupters.

Semicolons Use a semicolon between independent clauses (or complete sentences) if they are not joined by and, but, or, nor, or yet. A semicolon can take the place of a period between two complete sentences (independent clauses) that are closely related. Use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by a transitional expression such as for example, for instance, that is, besides, accordingly, moreover, nevertheless, furthermore, otherwise, however, consequently, instead, hence. Use a semicolon between items in a series if the items contain commas.

Colons Use a colon to mean "note what follows" Use a colon to introduce a list of items following a complete sentence (Note: when a list immediately follows a verb or preposition, DO NOT use a colon) The equipment you will need is as follows: a jacket, a can of Spam, a think piece of plastic, and a water bottle. Correct My three favorite hobbies are: sewing, skating, and painting. Incorrect before a long, formal statement or quotation

Apostophes The Apostrophe (') Shows: Bob’s camera is brand new. 1. Ownership Bob’s camera is brand new. 2. Relationship Troy’s cousin is flying in today. Cleaning the apartment was a day’s work.

Modifiers A dangling modifier is a word or phrase that modifies a word not clearly stated in the sentence. A modifier describes, clarifies, or gives more detail about a concept. Example: Bob Smith, the plumber with one leg, fixed my leaky sink.

Parallelism A sentence contains good parallel structure if parallel ideas within the sentence are in the same grammatical form. In a sentence, two words related to one another should be of the same form and of the same part of speech. Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The usual way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as "and" or "or." Words and Phrases With the –ING ending of words (called gerunds): Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling. With infinitive phrases: Parallel: Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle. OR Mary likes to hike, swim, and ride a bicycle.

Sentence Fragments Fragments are incomplete sentences. Usually, fragments are pieces of sentences that have become disconnected from the main clause. One of the easiest ways to correct them is to remove the period between the fragment and the main clause.

redundancy Eliminate words that explain the obvious or provide excessive detail Always consider readers while drafting and revising writing. If passages explain or describe details that would already be obvious to readers, delete or reword them.