Sixth Grade English Benchmark Period Two Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics PASS Standards and Objectives

Sixth Grade EnglishBenchmark Period Two

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics

PASS Standards and Objectives

PASS GUM 3.2.b.6. Use a comma after an introductory

adverb clause.

subject verb direct object

After Monkey wrote his report,subject verb direct obj. direct obj.

Pig checked Monkey’s spelling and grammar.

Monkeys are so

dumb; it’ll take a year to

proofread it.

Monkeys are so smart. I won’t have any mistakes

on my report.


adverb clause.

A clause has a subject and verb (Monkey wrote).

subject verb direct obj.

After Monkey wrote his report,

There are dependent and independent

clauses. This one is dependent because it

can’t stand alone.


adverb clause.

My clause also has a subject and verb

(Pig checked).

subject verb direct obj. direct object

Pig checked Monkey’s spelling and grammar.

This is an independent clause because it can

stand alone.


adverb clause.

after, although, as, as if, as long as, as soon as, as though, because, before, if, in order that, once,

provided that, since, so that, than, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, while

All of these are “subordinating conjunctions.”

They are used to introduce

adverb clauses.

Although I ate a banana, I am still hungry!If pigs had wings, they could fly.

As soon as Monkey left, Pig ate the banana.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions


adverb clause.Write three sentences, each beginning with an introductory adverb clause. Use a different subordinating conjunction to

start each sentence.

1.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PASS GUM 3.2.b.15. Use a semicolon to separate two independent

clauses.

subject verb subject verb

Monkey is clever; Pig is smart.

A compound sentence with a

semicolonseparating its two

independentclauses is very sophisticated!

Watch me make a little hat out of this banana

peel!


clauses.

My independent clause has a subject and verb

(Monkey is).

subject verb predicate adjective

Monkey is clever;

Why is Monkey is clever;

an independent clause?

Hint: Two reasons


clauses.

My independent clause also has a subject and verb

(Pig is).

subject verb predicate adjective

; Pig is smart.

Why is Pig is smart.

an independent clause?

Yes! 1. It has a subject and verb and2. It can stand on its own.

Write two sentences, each with two independent clauses separated by a semicolon.

1._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PASS GUM 3.2.b.38.

Use ’s to make a singular noun possessive.

Slither’s fangs / Tess’s tail / Mouse’s ears

PASS GUM 3.2.b.38. Use ’s to make a singular noun possessive.

Definitions and Examples

1. ’s – apostrophe s2. Singular – one3. Noun – person (friend); place (school); thing (book); idea (frustration, happiness)4. Possessive – show ownership

Ex: Singular noun – friend Singular possessive noun – friend’s

phone

Make your own sentences using the possessive form for the following singular nouns: dentist / Ms. Hess

1.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PASS GUM 3.2.b.38. To make a plural noun ending in –s

possessive, add an apostrophe.

Look at the animals. Look at the animals’ ears!

Look at the pigs. Look at the pigs’ noses!

PASS GUM 3.2.b.38. To make a plural noun ending in –s

possessive, add an apostrophe.

Definitions and Examples

1. ’s – apostrophe s2. Plural – two or more3. Noun – person (friend); place (school); thing (book); idea (frustration, happiness)4. Plural noun ending in –s – friends; schools; books; ideas (attitudes, goals, possibilities)5. Possessive – show ownership

Ex: Plural noun ending in –s – students Plural possessive noun – students’ grades

Make your own sentences using the possessive form for the following plural nouns: princesses / monsters.

1._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PASS GUM 3.1.d. Make pronouns agree with their antecedents.

Every chick in the barnyard has (their, its) own personality.

Its is a pronoun. Its must “agree” (be matching singular or

plural) with the noun that Its refers to earlier in the sentence. That’s “pronoun-

antecedent agreement.” Now look, people.

Chick means one chick. You can’t talk about one chick and then go and say their. Their means more than one. Get it? Match them

up, people! Chick is singular; its is singular. Its that

simple!

Now you try a couple:

All of the contestants thought that (his or her, their) projects were judged fairly.

Each of the students wants to do (his or her, their) best.


All of the contestants thought that (his or her, their) projects were judged fairly.

Each of the students wants to do (his or her, their) best.

I hope you noticed that All is a plural pronoun. All matches their.

They are both plural!

Each is singular. Each means “each one.” Each matches his or her.

They are both singular!

Now try this one:

Everybody was late to (his or her, their) first hour this morning.

Hint: Is Everybody a singular or plural pronoun?


Everybody was late to (his or her, their) first hour this morning.

Question: Is Everybody a singular or plural pronoun?

Answer: Everybody is a singular indefinite pronoun. (We say Everybody is, not

Everybody are, right?)

So…Everybody and their DO NOT match! His or her, however, can get kind of

awkward!Most educated people try to think of a way to avoid saying his or her over and

over. You could sayEverybody was late to first hour.

Everybody was late to school.The bus was running late.

Uh-huh, I hear you thinking, “…nobody talks like that…everyone says stuff like

everybody does their work – not everybody does his or her

work…” Yeah, I know that, but if you

want to get it right on the four biggest tests in your life (EOI, ACT, PSAT, SAT), then learn it!

Also, you may need to know how to speak properly some

day.

PASS GUM 3.1.c. Use nominative, objective, and possessive

pronouns correctly.

subject verb direct------------------------------- object

1. Fluffy loves Horsie and (I, me, myself). subject verb indirect------------------------------object direct obj.

2. Fluffy told Cowie and (I, me, myself) a story. subject verb direct obj. (prepositional phrase ending w/obj. of prep.)

3. Fluffy told a story to Horsie and (I, me, myself). subjects------------------------------------ verb direct obj.

4. Horsie and (I, me, myself) love Fluffy.

Can you select the

correct pronouns?

PASS GUM 3.1.c. Use nominative, objective, and possessive pronouns correctly. Definitions and Examples1. Nominative pronouns – Used as subjects, predicate nominatives

2. Objective pronouns – Used as direct objects, indirect objects, objects of the preposition

3. Possessive pronouns – Used to show possession

my mine our ours

your yours your yours

his her hers its their theirs

I we

you you

he she it they

me us

you you

him her it them


pronouns correctly.

subject verb direct--------------------------- object

Fluffy loves Horsie and (I, me, myself).

Fluffy is the subject. Horsie and me are the direct OBJECTS. The direct object receives the action of

the verb (love from Fluffy). Since me is an “object,” you can’t use the pronoun I, which is a pronoun you

use for “subjects.”

subject verb indirect-------------------------object direct obj.

Fluffy told Cowie and (I, me, myself) a story.

Dude, I don’t do it that hard way. I just eliminate the “Cowie and…” and listen for what sounds right.

Listen… Fluffy told I a story.

Fluffy told me a story.Fluffy told myself a story.

The answer is me.


pronouns correctly.

subject verb direct obj. (prepositional phrase ending w/object of prep.)

Fluffy told a story to Horsie and (I, me, myself).

Subjects------------------------------------ verb direct obj.

Horsie and (I, me, myself) love Fluffy.

Fluffy told a story to Horsie and (I, me, myself).

Horsie and (I, me, myself) love Fluffy.

It’s easy; just mentally mark out the “compound element”: Horsie and…

Then you can listen for the correct pronoun answer!


pronouns correctly.

Try these two:

Bridget is going to the mall with Tyler and (I, me).

Keisha gave Jen and (me, I) her notes.

Bridget is going to the mall with Tyler and (I, me).

Keisha gave Jen and (me, I) her notes.

Yes!Bridget is going to the mall with ME.

(Just mentally mark out …Tyler and…)Keisha gave ME her notes.

(Just mentally mark out …Jen and…)

Try this one:(Me and my brother, My brother and I) gave back to my sister the gift she gave to (my brother and me, my brother and I, my brother and myself) for our birthday.

(Me and my brother, My brother and I) gave back to my sister the gift she gave to (my brother and me, my brother and I, my brother and myself) for our birthday.

She always gives us hockey stuff.

I love hockey. I hate soccer.

We hate hockey stuff.

PASS GUM 3.1.b. Use correct subject-verb agreement.

verb verb verb subject prepositional ph.

(There’s, There are, There is) two cats in the room.

subject –prepositional phrase-- -----verb----- direct object

One of the little kittens (have, has) black stripes.

A singular subject needs a singular verb; a plural subject needs a plural verb. Watch out; it can be

tricky!

Sometimes the verb comes before

the subject…

Don’t confuse the subject with a prepositional phrase that

comes after it!

With Either…or… and Neither…nor…, we look at the subject closest to the verb to determine whether to use a singular or plural verb.

Either a stick or some leaves (has, have) blown into the air conditioning unit.

Neither my parents nor my brother (is, are) moving to Canada.

Both…and… is always plural because it is like adding two and two!

Both my parents and my brother (is, are) coming to my game tonight.


subject subject --------verb------ direct object

Either kitty or puppy (want, wants) its food.

subject subject ---------verb------------ Neither the cats nor the dog (behave, behaves) properly.

puppy (singular) wants (singular)

dog (singular) behaves (singular)


Now you try:

Both the cats and the dog (behave, behaves) well.

Either the dog or the cats (have, has) torn up the carpet.

Both the cats and the dog (behave, behaves) well.

“Both…and…” = plural.

It’s like math. “Both…and…” =

“They.”

Either the dog or the cats (have, has) torn up the carpet.

“Either…or…” = singular or plural, depending on what

comes right before the

verb.


PASS GUM 3.3.d. Write simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex sentences. Observe comma and semicolon

rules.

Use a comma before and, but, for, nor, or, so, and yet

when they join independent clauses. That is what is called a “compound sentence.”

Do not use a comma to separate “compound verbs.”

Compound sentence?Compound verbs?

What’s the difference?


rules.

Compound Sentence: Two independent clauses joined by a conjunction:

and but or not for so yet

subject verb dir. obj. conj. subject verb dir. obj.

Kitty ate her food, but Puppy ate the sofa.

See? Independent clause (Kitty ate her food) - then a comma and conjunction - (,but) -

then independent clause (Puppy ate the sofa).

subject verb direct object verb

Puppy ate the cushions on the sofa and tore the direct object

bedspread to pieces.


rules.

Compound Verb:Two verbs separated by a conjunction

With two verbs – no comma (Puppy ran and bit.)With more than two verbs – use the “items in a series”

rule (Puppy ran, jumped, and bit.)

See? No comma! This is not a compound sentence! It is just a

sentence with a compound verb!

PASS GUM 3.3.d.Identify and correct faulty parallel structure

in writing.

GOOD: Typing accurately is more important than typing speedily.

Parallel structure – The use of the same grammatical forms to balance related ideas in a sentence

BAD: To type accurately is more important than typing speedily.

Look, people, it’s easy.If you have two of anything, and the first one

ends in –ing, make the second one end in –ing. That’s all there is to it.


in writing.

Candy fans argue loudly and without end about what the best candy bar is.

No, it’s not just –ing! Just make them look alike in any way!

It might be a phrase beginning with to. It might be a phrase beginning with a word ending in –ed. It doesn’t matter; just make “like parts” look alike.

Can you tell which two “like parts” do

not match? Do you know what to do to fix the problem?


in writing.

Candy fans argue loudly and endlessly about what the best candy bar is.

I love writing poetry, hiking in the mountains, cooking

gourmet meals, and when I read good books it’s great.

Now, you try this

one.

Snickers! Twix!

I love writing poetry, hiking in the mountains, cooking gourmet meals, and when I read good books it’s great.


in writing.

Did you figure out what’s not parallel? Right! The sentence

says, “I love…” three –ing things: writing, hiking, and cooking… The only “out of

parallel” thing is the last item.

I love writing poetry, hiking in the mountains, cooking gourmet meals, and reading good books.


in writing.

Revise these sentences that have parallel structure problems.

1. After they watch the Olympics on television, people are more interested in participating in competitive swimming, volleyball, and everyone loves gymnastics of course. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. A show dog’s attitude, fitness, and what he looks like determine how he will place in competition.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

See you later!

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Sixth Grade English Benchmark Period Two Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics PASS Standards and Objectives