GrammarReview

Antecedents

Is the word group that a pronoun stands for

Example:• I get worried when my employees let their hair down

Practice: 1. School psychologists

note the importance for every student to express her emotions.

2. The bag of marbles will not lose itself.

3. Either Adam or Ted will get his car.

Answer: 1. Student/her 2. Marbles/itself 3. Adam –Ted/his

Verb Agreement

A verb should agree in number with its subject

Example: Some of the

beads are missing. Some of the

water is gone. Wrong: Some of

the water are gone

Practice: 1. The student

sing/sings 2. She and her

friends is/are at the fair.

Answer: 1. Sings 2. Are

Verbals: Infinitives, Gerunds, & Participles

Examples of Gerunds:• Traveling might satisfy

your desire for new experiences.

• They do not appreciate my singing.

Participles:• The crying baby had a

wet diaper. • The burning log fell off

the fire. Infinitives:

• To wait seemed foolish when decisive action was required.

• Everyone wanted to go.

Practice: Which one is it? 1. The thief arrested for

the robbery shot at the security guard.

2. They are sure the extra planning will make a difference in the end.

3. The show offers everyone a chance to be a millionaire.

4. I had a disturbing dream last night.

Answers: 1. Participle 2. Gerund 3. Infinitive 4. Participle

Phrases & Appositives Examples:

Appositives:

Trucks, large and small cargo carriers, come in all colors

Phrases: The house at the end of

the street is green. The words in red form a

phrase; together they act like a noun. (making it a noun phrase)

The Republicans may nominate Newt. - (verb phrase)

Clauses Examples: Jim studied in the

Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz. (Independent clause)

When Jim studied in the Sweet Shop for his chemistry quiz (Dependent clause)

Which part is dependent, which is independent?

1. Because she had lost her job the woman had no money.

2. The crew could see the whale, which had surfaced only 50m behind them.

Compound & Complex Sentences Example: Compound: Mike wanted to play

football, but Jim wanted to play baseball

Complex: Although I like

hockey, I would never play it.

Practice: 1. The students are

studying because they have a test.

2. The queen bee lays the eggs, and the male bees fertilize them.

3. Should I watch T.V., or should I go watch a movie?

Answers: 1. Complex 2. Compound 3. Compound

Parallel Structures Examples: Mary likes hiking,

swimming, and bicycling

Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle

Practice: Wrong or right?

1. The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurate, and in a detailed manner.

Answer: Wrong—now make it

right …quickly, accurately,

and thoroughly.

Colons, Dashes, & Semicolons Examples: Colons: Read the following: 1984, Lord of the

Flies, Tale of Two Cities, & Othello. Dashes: All four of them—Bob, Jeffrey, Jason, &

Brett—did well in college. Semicolons: Call me tomorrow; I will give you my

answer then.

Direct & Indirect Objects Examples: Direct : Sam fed the dogs.

Indirect Object She sent him a

present.

Practice: 1. David repaired his

car The man visited the

museum  They sent him a

postcard He bought his son a

bike Answers: 1. DO 2. DO 3. IDO 4. IDO

Subject & Predicates Examples: In the following

sentences, the predicate is enclosed in braces ({}), while the subject is highlighted.

Judy {runs}.

Judy and her dog {run on the beach every morning}.

Practice: 1. Three pelicans flew

over the beach. 2. The children built a

sandcastle. Answers: 1. Three pelicans—

Sub. flew over the beach—

Pred. 2. The children—Sub. built a sandcastle—

Pred.