1. Grammar Brush-Up
Dana Collins

2. Nouns: a person, place, animal, thing, or an abstract idea
George Washington, Suffolk County, dog, book, beauty
Nouns can be possessive of other nouns
George Washington’s dog…
The possessive is shown with an apostrophe and an ‘s’
Nouns can be proper, meaning they are a name
George Washington
Proper nouns are capitalized
Parts of Speech Nouns

3. Parts of Speech Nouns Nouns can be count or non-count
Count nouns have singular and plural forms
Book(s); Shelf/Shelves; Hat(s)
Non-count nouns include liquids and things you wouldn’t normally count
Oil; Rice; Oxygen
Nouns can be collective
These name groups of things
Committee; Class; Flock
Parts of Speech Nouns

4. Parts of Speech Verbs Verbs describe actions Verbs take many forms
Base forms of verbs are also called infinitives
Infinitives begin with the word ‘to’
To watch; to sleep; to heal
Other forms are shown when verbs are tensed
Tenses express time
They include past, present, future, perfect, and progressive
For example: to watch (base form); watched (simple past); watches (simple present); will watch (future); had watched (past perfect); is watching (present progressive)
Parts of Speech Verbs

5. Subject/Predicate Activity
To form a complete sentence, all you need is one noun and one verb
Thomas sleeps.
We can also say, a complete sentence must contain a subject and a predicate
The subject tells us who or what the sentence is about (nouns)
The predicate tells us the action or condition of the subject (verbs)
Example: Most birds (subject) / can fly (predicate)
Subject/Predicate
Subject/Predicate Activity

6. Parts of Speech Adjectives
Adjectives describe or modify another person or thing in a sentence
Adjectives are usually placed before nouns
Example: A tall, handsome stranger.
However, they sometimes go after nouns
Example: The president elect moved into the White House.
Example: The house was ablaze.
Example: Someone special came to my house.
Parts of Speech Adjectives

7. Parts of Speech Adjectives
When many adjectives are placed before a noun, they are placed in a specific order
This order is: general opinion, specific opinion, size, shape, age, color, nationality, material
Example: The nice, eccentric, chubby, round, 10-year-old, golden, Scottish, furry retriever ate dinner.
Separate multiple adjectives with commas
Don’t put a comma between the final adjective and the noun the adjectives describe
Parts of Speech Adjectives

8. Parts of Speech Adjectives
Adjectives can express degrees of modification called comparatives and superlatives
Add ‘-er’ to make a comparative adjective
Add ‘-est’ to make a superlative adjective
Example: The cute cat. The cuter bunny. (comparative) The cutest dog. (superlative)
Irregular comparative and superlative forms don’t follow the ‘-er’ ‘-est’ pattern
Example: She was the worst teacher.
Some adjectives don’t take degrees at all
Example: absolute, impossible
Parts of Speech Adjectives

9. Parts of Speech Adverbs
Adverbs modify verbs
They tell us when, where, how, in what manner, or to what extent
Examples:
He shopped yesterday.
He ran there.
He ate quickly.
She ran barefoot.
They spoke forever.
Parts of Speech Adverbs

10. Parts of Speech Adverbs
Adverbs can also modify adjectives or other adverbs
He passed an extremely hard test.
She quite happily skipped home.
Kinds of adverbs:
Adverbs of manner, adverbs of place, adverbs of frequency, adverbs of time, adverbs of purpose
What types of adverbs are these?
now, there, slowly, always, to be the best
Parts of Speech Adverbs

11. Parts of Speech Adverbs
Adverbs are found in all different parts of a sentence
When there are many adverbs/adverb clauses, they follow a specific order:
manner, place, frequency, time, purpose
Example: Lucas naps soundly, at home, each morning, before breakfast, to feel alert.
Parts of Speech Adverbs

12. Parts of Speech GLUE Words
Some parts of speech don’t carry meaning, but hold meaningful words together
The girl goes to the store.
Which words you can picture in your head?
The words you cannot picture are the GLUE words or structure words
These include articles, auxiliary verbs, prepositions, conjunctions, and pronouns
Parts of Speech GLUE Words

13. Parts of Speech Articles
Articles signal nouns
There are two types of articles: the definite article (the) & the indefinite articles (a/an)
What’s the difference between these two sentences?
I want a book.
I want the book.
Parts of Speech Articles

14. Parts of Speech Auxiliary Verbs
If you see two verbs in a sentence, one of them is usual an auxiliary verb and one is the main verb
Auxiliary verbs = have, be, do
What’s the difference between these two sentences?
I have cats.
I have always liked cats.
Parts of Speech Auxiliary Verbs

15. Parts of Speech Prepositions
Preposition words show position or the placement/location of sentence elements
Some one word prepositions: about, in, onto, outside, through, to, underneath, within
Some two word prepositions: apart from, inside of, because of, out of, prior to
Parts of Speech Prepositions

16. Parts of Speech Conjunctions
Conjunctions are used to make sentences longer
We can call these longer sentences “complex”
They may have two subject and many verbs
Example: I like apples and Mary likes pears.
FANBOYS
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
Parts of Speech Conjunctions

17. Parts of Speech Pronouns
Pronouns can substitute for nouns/noun phrases
What can you substitute for the underline parts of the following sentences?
The beautiful man buys flowers.
It is my book.
The woman admired her own reflection in the mirror.
A student forgot their book.
Parts of Speech Pronouns
Parts of Speech Identification Activity

18. Independent Clauses Simple Sentences
An independent clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought
An independent clause = a grammatically correct sentence
Examples:
Mary eats cake.
The merry students study hard.
Go home. (Is this grammatical?)
Independent Clauses Simple Sentences

19. Compound Sentences Independent Clause +Independent Clause
Miguel sings the tenor part and Sara sings the soprano.
What are the clauses in the following sentence? Are they independent?
They eloped, for they wanted their freedom.
Try joining the following two independent clauses to form a compound sentence.
Should I stay? Should I go?
Compound Sentences Independent Clause +Independent Clause

20. Complex Sentences Dependent Clause + Independent Clause
A dependent clause contains a subject and a verb but it is NOT a complete thought; it CANNOT stand alone
Example: Because it feels right.
This is a sentence fragment.
These clauses often begin with subordinators
Examples of subordinators: when, while, in order to, because, after, since, unless
Complex Sentences Dependent Clause + Independent Clause
Identify Clauses & Sentences Activity

21. Run-on sentences happen when independent clauses have not been joined properly with a coordinating conjunction.
What’s wrong with this sentence?
Home Economics teaches how to sew and cook it has made me a better homemaker.
What about this one?
Home Economics teaches how to sew and cook, however, it has made me a better homemaker.
Run-on Sentences

22. Most paragraphs should have a main point stated in a topic sentence
All the other sentences in the paragraph should relate to this point
A paragraph does not need a topic sentence if it is continuing to explain a topic stated in the paragraph that comes before it
Paragraph Writing

23. Paragraph Writing Example of Paragraph with Topic Sentence:
Nearly all living creatures manage some form of communication. The dance patterns of bees in their hive help to point the way to distant flower fields or announce successful foraging. Male stickleback fish regularly swim upside-down to indicate outrage in a courtship contest. We, too, use gestures, expressions, postures, and movement to give our words point.
-Olivia Vlahos, Human Beginnings
Paragraph Writing

24. You can create an outline with topic sentences as a pre-writing exercise
Remember, the outline is not set in stone and can easily be revised along the way
Paragraph Writing

25. There are two types of revision: sentence level & global level
Sentence level is when you edit a sentence for grammar, punctuation, spelling, etc.
Global level is when you make larger changes, for example moving around paragraphs, moving information from one paragraph to another, deleting or adding paragraphs, making an idea longer, or saying something in a simple sentence that had been said in several
Revision

26. A Note on Spelling/Grammar Check
Spelling and grammar checkers are not always 100% accurate. They are sophisticated, but not sophisticated enough to understand all of the nuances of the English language. Therefore, it is not wise to rely on it. Think of it as a slightly incompetent assistant. Then proofread and edit!
A Note on Spelling/Grammar Check

27. Basic Punctuation Rules The Comma
Use commas before coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) that join two independent clauses
Use a comma after small word groups that tell how, why, or what
When Lucas wants dinner, he begins to purr.
Use a comma between all items in a series
In her cupboard, she kept dishes, glasses, mugs, tureens, and glass figurines.
Basic Punctuation Rules The Comma
Oxford Comma Handout

28. Basic Punctuation Rules The Comma
When two or more adjectives modify a noun, use a comma or ‘and’
Jingshu is a kind, courteous student.
Jingshu is a kind and courteous student.
When two or more adjectives do not modify a noun separately, don’t use a comma
I ordered a rich chocolate layer cake for dessert.
Basic Punctuation Rules The Comma

29. Basic Punctuation Rules The Comma
Use commas after transitional expressions
Moreover, we have decided to cancel Christmas.
Use commas after parenthetical expressions
I went, with my shoes on, for a walk.
Use commas to separate contrasted elements
Unlike Sophie, Lucas eats prescription food.
Use commas to set off direct quotations
A wise man once said, “Carpe Diem!”
Basic Punctuation Rules The Comma

30. Basic Punctuation Rules The Semicolon

31. Basic Punctuation Rules The Semicolon

32. Basic Punctuation Rules The Semicolon
Semicolons can repair comma splices
In 1800, a traveler needed six weeks to get from New York City to Chicago, in 1860, the trip by railroad took two days.
In 1800, a traveler needed six weeks to get from New York City to Chicago; in 1860, the trip by railroad took two days.
Use a semicolon between independent clauses linked with a transitional expression
I like cereal; in fact, I eat it every morning.
Basic Punctuation Rules The Semicolon

33. Basic Punctuation Rules The Colon
Use a colons for lists, appositives, and quotations
My breakfast includes: mashed potatoes, cereal, and coffee.
My roommate is guilty of two of the seven deadly sins: gluttony and sloth.
Consider the words of a wise man: “Carpe diem.”
Basic Punctuation Rules The Colon

34. Basic Punctuation Rules Parentheses
Use parentheses to show afterthoughts
I was playing the Chopin piece (my favorite) at the recital.
You can also use parentheses to show minor disagreement
I was told to walk (not run) with scissors.
Basic Punctuation Rules Parentheses

35. Basic Punctuation Rules Quotation Marks
Use quotation marks for direct quotations
Offset longer quotations
Mrs. Parker said, “Keep the change.”
Always place commas and periods inside the quotation marks
Colons and semicolons go outside quotation marks
Use single quotation marks to show a quotation within a quotation
Use quotation marks around the titles of short works: newspaper and magazine articles, poems, short stories, songs, episodes of TV shows, chapters of books…
Basic Punctuation Rules Quotation Marks

36. Basic Punctuation Rules Ellipses

37. Basic Punctuation Rules Ellipses
“Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth…that all men are created equal.”
Ellipses can also be used to show hesitation or a trailing thought
I can’t find it..
These are mostly used informally, such as in s
Be careful not to overdo it: “I’m writing to you…I need legal advise…I was in a car accident…please help….”
Basic Punctuation Rules Ellipses

38. Basic Punctuation Rules The Dash
Use two hyphens to form a dash (--)
Sometimes Word autocorrects to form an em- dash (—) and this is perfectly acceptable
Use the em-dash to set off parenthetical material for extra emphasis
I got a terrible report card—an A and 4 D’s—due to never studying.
Also use it to set off appositives with commas
There are many kinds of dogs—Daschunds, hounds, mixed breeds—that need love and affection.
Basic Punctuation Rules The Dash

39. Grammar Jokes

40. Grammar Jokes

41. Grammar Jokes

42. Remember, good grammar is an attractive quality!

43. Error Correction Activity