1. How is language used differently in different situations? Standard and nonstandard English Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds Words with related meanings Formal and informal English Review A Review B Understanding Usage

2. How is language used differently in different situations? People don’t speak and write the exact same way all the time. You probably speak to your friends in a different way than you speak to your teachers. Your e-mails probably don’t look anything like your school essays.

3. How is language used differently in different situations? The way you use English will usually depend upon your audience and your purpose. Audience To whom are you speaking or writing? Purpose Why are you speaking or writing?

4. The kind of English you are expected to use in school is called standard English. Standard and nonstandard English Standard English is grammatically correct used in both formal and casual situations

5. Nonstandard English is suitable in casual speaking situations. Standard and nonstandard English Nonstandard does not mean “wrong.” It means not appropriate in situations where standard English is expected, such as at school. [End of Section]

6. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds Learning standard English means learning to use words that are often confused or misused. This can be hard because there are many words that sound alike but mean different things. It’s Its TheirThere They’re or Whose Who’s or ? ? ?

7. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds Its/it’s Its is the possessive form of the pronoun it. It’s is the contraction of it is or it has. The raccoon washed its face. It’s been a good trip. It’s a cloudy day. it’s = it has it’s = it is

8. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds It’s/its My cousin has a pet bird. It’s a parrot, and its name is Bella. it is belonging to Bella

9. The possessive forms of pronouns never have apostrophes, even when the form ends in s. itsThe kitten likes its toy. hersIs the silver ring hers? yoursNo, I think it is yours. oursIt could be ours. theirsHas theirs been found? Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds

10. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds Their/there/they’re Their is the possessive form of they. There is used to mean “at that place” or to begin a sentence. The children happily flew their kite. There are five theaters in town. We are going there soon. “at that place” begins sentence

11. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds Their/there/they’re They’re is a contraction of they are. They’re the two best players on our team.

12. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds Their/there/they’re They’re going to start their garden over there. They are at that place belonging to them

13. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds Your/you’re Your is the possessive form of you. You’re is a contraction of you are. Your Fourth of July picnic was great! You’re a good friend.

14. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds You’re/your If you’re planning to walk home, bring your boots. you are belongin g to you

15. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds Whose/who’s Who’s is a contraction of who is or who has. Whose is the possessive form of who. Who’s the new student? Whose backpack is that? Who’s been using the phone? who’s = who is who’s = who has

16. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds Whose/who’s Who’s the woman whose home flooded? who is belonging to whom

17. Judy could of helped us rake. Judy could have helped us rake. Do not write of after could, should, would, might, or must. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds Could of/should of Write could have, not could of. Write should have, not should of. We should of started earlier. We should have started earlier.

18. The reason people sometimes write “could of” is that they are thinking about the contraction “could’ve.” could’vecould have should’veshould have would’vewould have might’vemight have must’vemust have Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds

19. 1.You (could of/could have) burned yourself. 2.Where is (your/you’re) sister? 3.The mug is missing (its/it’s) handle. For each sentence, choose the correct word or words in parentheses. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds 4.(Whose/Who’s) going to the parade tomorrow? 5.(Their/There) are two puzzle pieces missing.

20. For each sentence, choose the correct word or words in parentheses. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds Use have after could, should, would, must, and might. 1.You (could of/could have) burned yourself.

21. For each sentence, choose the correct word or words in parentheses. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds Your is the possessive form of you: Where is the sister that belongs to you? 2.Where is (your/you’re) sister?

22. For each sentence, choose the correct word or words in parentheses. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds Its is the possessive form of it: The mug is missing the handle that belongs to it. 3.The mug is missing (its/it’s) handle.

23. For each sentence, choose the correct word or words in parentheses. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds Who’s is the contraction of who is: Who is going? 4.(Whose/Who’s) going to the parade tomorrow?

24. For each sentence, choose the correct word or words in parentheses. Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds There is used to begin a sentence. 5.(Their/There) are two puzzle pieces missing.

25. On Your Own Some of the following sentences contain errors in the use of standard English. Find and correct each error. If a sentence is already correct, label it C. 1.Do you think its a good day for your hike? 2.Let me know when your ready to go. 3.Jamal should of shown up on time. 4.They’re leaving for their vacation tomorrow. 5.Who’s raincoat is lying there on the floor? [End of Section] Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds

26. Answers Words confused or misused Words with similar sounds Some of the following sentences contain errors in the use of standard English. Find and correct each error. If a sentence is already correct, label it C. 1.Do you think its a good day for your hike? 2.Let me know when your ready to go. 3.Jamal should of shown up on time. 4.They’re leaving for their vacation tomorrow. 5.Who’s raincoat is lying there on the floor? it’s you’re have Whose C

27. Words confused or misused Words with related meanings Some pairs of words are confusing because their meanings are so close to each other. Bring/take Bring means “to come carrying something.” Take means “to go carrying something.” Please bring the lemonade to me. Take those boxes when you go.

28. Words confused or misused Words with related meanings Fewer/less Fewer is used with plural nouns. Less is used with singular nouns. Did you say that fewer plants grow here than there? Desert plants require less water than most other plants. plural noun singular noun Fewer tells “how many.” Less tells “how much.”

29. Use fewer with things that can be counted. Use less with things that cannot be counted. Yolanda has (fewer/less) pets than Kristi does. Can you count pets? Yes Yolanda has (fewer/less) pets than Kristi does. Yolanda has fewer pets than Kristi does. Words confused or misused Words with related meanings

30. Good is an adjective and modifies a noun. Do not use good to modify a verb. Use the adverb well. verb noun Words confused or misused Words with related meanings Good/well Mimi is a good athlete. She plays soccer well. adj. adverb

31. Verb Noun Well is usually an adverb that means “ably,” but it is also used as an adjective to mean “healthy.” Words confused or misused Words with related meanings Good/well Kim feels well now.Kim danced well today. adjective meaning “healthy” adverb meaning “ably” adj. adverb

32. Feel good and feel well have different meanings. Feel good means “to feel happy or pleased.” Feel well means “to feel healthy.” Helping others makes me feel good. I didn’t feel well, so I went home early. Words confused or misused Words with related meanings

33. 1.When you come to my house today, (bring/take) your skateboard. 2.Heather sang (good/well) at last night’s concert. For each sentence, choose the correct word in parentheses, according to standard usage. 3.The craft fair had (fewer/less) booths this year than it had last year. Words confused or misused Words with related meanings

34. For each sentence, choose the correct word in parentheses, according to standard usage. Words confused or misused Words with related meanings Bring means “to come carrying something.” 1.When you come to my house today, (bring/take) your skateboard.

35. For each sentence, choose the correct word in parentheses, according to standard usage. Words confused or misused Words with related meanings 2.Heather sang (good/well) at last night’s concert. Well is an adverb that means “ably.” In this sentence well modifies the verb sang.

36. For each sentence, choose the correct word in parentheses, according to standard usage. Words confused or misused Words with related meanings Fewer should be used with the plural noun booths. In this sentence fewer tells how many booths were at the fair. 3.The craft fair had (fewer/less) booths this year than it had last year.

37. On Your Own [End of Section] Words confused or misused Words with related meanings Some of the following sentences contain errors in the use of standard English. Find and correct each error. If a sentence is already correct, label it C. 1.Please eat less cookies and more vegetables. 2.The goalie played good at yesterday’s game. 3.Bring the paper with you when you go to Grandma’s house. 4.Go rest if you don’t feel well.

38. Answers Words confused or misused Words with related meanings Some of the following sentences contain errors in the use of standard English. Find and correct each error. If a sentence is already correct, label it C. 1.Please eat less cookies and more vegetables. 2.The goalie played good at yesterday’s game. 3.Bring the paper with you when you go to Grandma’s house. 4.Go rest if you don’t feel well. fewer well Take C

39. Informal English is correct language that is common in everyday communication, such as speaking or writing to a friend. Formal and informal English Formal English is language that is appropriate in serious speaking and writing situations. Hello. How are you today? Hey. How’s it goin’?

40. Formal and informal English Speeches at ceremonies Serious papers, reports Tests and exams Everyday conversations Personal letters, e-mails Journal entries Some newspaper or magazine writing When is formal English expected? When is informal English okay?

41. Sentences: Shorter and simpler Word choice: Includes slang and contractionsslang Tone: Conversational, casual Formal and informal English Formal English Informal English Sentences: Longer and more complex Word choice: Precise, sometimes technical or scientific Tone: More serious, dignified How are formal and informal English different?

42. Formal and informal English Slang is made up of new words or old words used in new ways. Slang words usually have a short life, but some last and become widely used. All of these “old” slang words were once new and fresh. sweet—excellent, great freak out—to get upset chill—to relax or calm down What slang words are popular now?

43. Many words and phrases that are fine in informal situations should be avoided in formal situations. How come In formal situations, use why. How come geese migrate? Why do geese migrate? Formal and informal English Informal Formal

44. Kind of/sort of In formal situations, use rather or somewhat. The bread is kind of stale. The bread is rather stale. Formal and informal English Informal Formal

45. In formal situations, use try to. Try and I’ll try and answer all your questions. I’ll try to answer all your questions. Formal and informal English Informal Formal

46. 1.How come the stove isn’t working? 2.We should try and finish our homework early. Identify whether the following sentences use informal (I) or formal (F) language. If the language is informal, circle the informal word or phrase. 3.Why is Hector not here yet? 4.I felt sort of sad on the last day of school. Formal and informal English

47. 1.How come the stove isn’t working? Identify whether the following sentences use informal (I) or formal (F) language. If the language is informal, circle the informal word or phrase. Formal and informal English I How come is informal. In formal situations, use why.

48. 2.We should try and finish our homework early. Identify whether the following sentences use informal (I) or formal (F) language. If the language is informal, circle the informal word or phrase. Formal and informal English I Try and is informal. In formal situations, use try to.

49. 3.Why is Hector not here yet? Identify whether the following sentences use informal (I) or formal (F) language. If the language is informal, circle the informal word or phrase. Formal and informal English F Why is formal language.

50. Identify whether the following sentences use informal (I) or formal (F) language. If the language is informal, circle the informal word or phrase. Formal and informal English I 4.I felt sort of sad on the last day of school. Sort of is informal. In formal situations, use rather or somewhat.

51. On Your Own Review each sentence. Change informal English to formal English. If the sentence is written with formal English, write F. 1.The story Jen wrote is kind of funny. 2.My dad wants me to try and clean my entire room in one afternoon. 3.This soup is rather spicy. 4.How come you were late for the game? [End of Section] Formal and informal English

52. Answers Formal and informal English Review each sentence. Change informal English to formal English. If the sentence is written with formal English, write F. 1. The story Jen wrote is rather funny. The story Jen wrote is somewhat funny. 2.My dad wants me to try to clean my entire room in one afternoon. 3.This soup is rather spicy. F 4.Why were you late for the game?

53. [End of Section] Review A For each sentence, choose the correct word in parentheses, according to formal, standard usage. 1. Cory danced (good/well) in the school musical. 2.I borrowed (fewer/less) books from the library this week than I did last week. 3.At the zoo we watched a snake shed (its/it’s) skin. 4.Jaime (should of/should have) talked to me about the problem. 5.Turn (your/you’re) test in when (your/you’re) finished.

54. For each sentence, choose the correct word in parentheses, according to formal, standard usage. 1. Cory danced (good/well) in the school musical. 2.I borrowed (fewer/less) books from the library this week than I did last week. 3.At the zoo we watched a snake shed (its/it’s) skin. 4.Jaime (should of/should have) talked to me about the problem. 5.Turn (your/you’re) test in when (your/you’re) finished. Review A 2.I borrowed fewer books from the library this week than I did last week. 1. Cory danced well in the school musical. 3.At the zoo we watched a snake shed its skin. 4.Jaime should have talked to me about the problem. 5. Turn your test in when you’re finished.

55. Review B [End of Section] For each sentence, circle any incorrect or informal usage. Write C if a sentence is correct according to formal, standard usage. 1.This orange tastes kind of sour to me. 2.Mr. Romero accepted the award and gave a speech. 3.Don’t forget to take your helmet and knee pads with you to the skate park. 4.Please try and get here earlier next time. 5.Do you know how come there always late for school?

56. For each sentence, circle any incorrect or informal usage. Write C if a sentence is correct according to formal, standard usage. 1.This orange tastes kind of sour to me. 2.Mr. Romero accepted the award and gave a speech. 3.Don’t forget to take your helmet and knee pads with you to the skate park. 4.Please try and get here earlier next time. 5.Do you know how come there always late for school? Review B C C

57. The End