1. Grammar for Life
Rules and Examples

2. Master Your Modifiers
Concept: modifiers is a group of words that modifies, or describes, another group of words in a sentence. Rule: a modifier should always appear next to the word or words it modifiers. Incorrect: We drew colorful paintings of abstract art in Mrs. Sweeny’s room. Correct: In Mrs. Sweeny’s room, we drew colorful paintings of abstract art.

3. Vary Your Sentences Add an adverb to the beginning of a sentence.
Incorrect: The rope bridge’s suspension snapped and we all plummeted into the gorge.
It is incorrect because it is boring and does not give the full effect an adverb would have.
Correct: Suddenly, the rope bridge’s suspension snapped and we all plummeted into the gorge.

4. Link two sentences to form a compound sentence
Vary Sentences: Rule 3
Link two sentences to form a compound sentence
Example of an incorrect sentence:
I really enjoy vanilla ice cream. I hate strawberry.
This sentence is incorrect because it has awkward sentence structure.
Also, it needs to have a comma and a conjunction to connect the sentences.
Example of a correct sentence:
I really enjoy vanilla ice cream, but I hate strawberry.
This sentence is correct because it now has a conjunction and a comma.

5. Vary Your Sentences: Rule 3
Link two sentences to form a compound sentence
Incorrect: My brother and I always make my sister ice cream. She hates it!
Correct: My brother and I always make my sister ice cream, but she hates it!

6. Vary Your Sentences
Rule: Combine two or more sentences by placing a clause in the middle of one of the sentences. Incorrect: Milton Hershey developed numerous and well-loved chocolates. He was the creator of Hershey’s chocolate.
Correct: Milton Hershey, the creator of Hershey’s chocolate, developed numerous and well-loved chocolates.

7. Redundancy Rule- Remove all unnecessary repetition in a sentence
Incorrect Sentence- Together, they both went shopping for new clothes and shoes at the mall. Correct Sentence 1- Together, they went shopping for new clothes and shoes at the mall. Correct Sentence 2- They both went shopping for new clothes and shoes at the mall.
Rule- Remove all unnecessary repetition in a sentence

8. Comma Sense: Rule 4
Use commas in the middle of a sentence to separate the words or phrases that are not necessary parts of the sentence.
Incorrect Example: Stowe, Vermont my favorite place in the world is an excellent place to go skiing and hiking.
Correct Example: Stowe, Vermont, my favorite place in the world, is an excellent place to go skiing and hiking.

9. Using commas to separate items in a series of three or more things.
Comma Sense
Using commas to separate items in a series of three or more things.
Rule- In a series of three or more items, use commas to separate them.
Incorrect- My three favorite candies are M&M’s jujubes and jujyfruits.
Correct- My three favorite candies are M&M’s, jujubees, and jujyfruits.