1. Grammar review!
March 8, 2011

2. Subjects
Definition: The subject of a sentence is the actor that is doing or being something in the sentence.
To find the subject(s), find the verb and ask yourself: Who or what “verbs” or “verbed?”
EX: The mold smells like dirty feet.
What smells? The mold. It is the subject.

3. Objects
Definition: The object of a sentence is on the receiving end of the subject’s action. Objects complete the thought of the sentence. They are what or who is being done to.
To find the object, ask yourself whom or what after the verb.
EX: The woman drank tea after a long day at the office.
What did the woman drink? Tea is the object.

4. Simple verb tenses Media professionals prefer simple tenses.
Three tenses: past, present, future
Past: Wendy drank water.
Present: Wendy drinks water.
Future: Wendy will drink water.

5. Be verbs
The short list of linking verbs: is, are, was, were, be, been, am
Example: Wendy is fond of cats.
OR: Cats are like a religion for Wendy.
Versus: Wendy praises cats the way some people praise scripture.

6. Pronouns
Pronouns (for example: he, she, it, they) need to match the tense of the subject to which they refer.
For example:
Although the baseball team had its share of successes, the season was a loss.
She praised the news media for their ability to report with accuracy.

7. Active/Passive Voice Why use active and not passive voice?
Guidelines for spotting passive voice (p. 68):
The subject is acted upon rather than doing or being anything itself.
EX Passive: The book was read by the author.
EX passive: Declined enrollment was the result of poor management by University administrators.
Passive voice uses some form of a be verb as a helping verb.
EX: The cheese will be eaten by Wendy.
EX: The cheese was eaten by Wendy.

8. Clauses
Definition: Groups of related words that have both a subject and a verb (could be enough information to form a complete sentence, could not)
Two kinds of clauses: independent and dependent
The order and kind of clause determines the punctuation

9. Words to know
When do we use the following: Who, whom, whoever, whomever Who’s, whose (first is shortened verb of “who is,” second is possessive) Already, all ready Alright, allright Less, fewer Farther, further

10. Independent clauses Definition: Forms a a complete thought
EX: I went to the beach.
The cheddar cheese tastes good.

11. Dependent clauses
Definition: Not a complete thought, needs more information
EX: when I was 6 years old
although I prefer fire

12. Phrases
Definition: Groups of words that lack a subject or verb or both (not enough information to make a sentence)
EX: in the strawberry fields, on the playground, at the podium

13. Essential/nonessential phrases, clauses
***Punctuation guides meaning in clauses and phrases.
EX: My brother Owen has a cat, Kitty.
Essential: Necessary for meaning to be clear, DO NOT set off with commas (general rule--if the information can’t go in parentheses, it’s essential)
EX: My cat Wompus is crazy.
Nonessential: Adds details but not necessary for clear understanding (general rule--if the information can go in parentheses, it’s nonessential)
EX: Journalism, the practice of media professionals, is the topic of this class.