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Basic English/Writing II
3. How to Relax
A. Identifying Subjects and Verbs (Ch. 17) Identify the complete subject-verb
combinations in each sentence by doing the following tasks:
(a) Circle and write S over the Simple Subject words of each subject-verb
combination; and
(b) Underline once and write V over the verbs of each subject-verb
combination.
Note that one or more sentences contain more than one complete subject-verb combination
to be identified.
8. Although the fishermen trolled in the bay for hours, they caught nothing because they
9. Many newcomers to Central Oregon dont know how to drive in winter conditions,
therefore the police department offers a class in safe winter driving every fall.
10. Because Aunt Martha is an expert seamstress John asked her to hem his new pants.
11. All continuing students are given the opportunity to register for next terms classes in
advance students should take advantage of this opportunity.
13. Fast food restaurants have become an American institution but the food is not very
healthy.
14. Bright reds yellows and blues appearing in every one of Rauls paintings.
16. Aunt Helen sent us a Thanksgivings basket filled with savory pumpkin pie roasted
chestnuts and homemade cranberry sauce.
C. Pronoun Choice (Ch. 25): Substitute the appropriate subject, object, or possessive
pronoun for the underlined word or words in each sentence below. Write the correct
pronoun in the space provided after each sentence.
22 Ive been hired to take care of Mr. and Mrs. Arnolds garden this summer.
_________
D. Agreement & Reference Problems (Chs. 21 & 27): Proofread the following sentences
for errors in Subject-Verb Agreement, Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement, and Pronoun
Reference. Correct any errors that you find.
26. One of the men have brought his two children to the meeting.
27. If a person gets bad service at a restaurant, they should not just sit back and sulk.
28. The rivers of India eventually make its way to the sea.
29. The firefighters who was involved in the rescue all received citations for bravery.
30. I cooked a delicious baked potato, took off my apron, sat down at the table, and ate it with
great enjoyment.
31. When students are not sure how to correct a grammatical problem, she can seek help in the
Writing Lab.
E. Other Punctuation, Mechanics, & Spelling (Ch. 31 & 29): Proofread the
following sentences for errors in End Punctuation, Quotations, Apostrophes, &
Capitalization, and Spelling. Correct any errors that you find. Note that many
sentences contain more than one error.
32. Mona lost Georges copy of the novel entitled light in August.
33. Very angry with us, Mrs. albertson screamed, Get yourselves dressed right
34. Today the water flow of the deschutes river is carefully controlled.
35. My parents didnt want to send us away, but what else could they do.
36. My aunt likes to read womens magazines, like Redbook and cosmopolitan.
37. Sarahs children often ask to hear stories from her War experiences.
39. My old High School is located at 2600 Arrowhead street, portland, Oregon.
S V S V
The print looks very light , for the typewriter ribbon is old.
S V S V
The fishermen trolled for hours, but they caught nothing.
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S V S V
Don is an expert mechanic ; he intends to open a service center.
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The typewriter ribbon is old ; therefore, the print looks very light.
The typewriter ribbon is old ; as a result, the print looks very light.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The fishermen caught nothing although they trolled in the bay for hours.
The print looks very light because the typewriter ribbon is old.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Although the fishermen trolled in the bay for hours , they caught nothing.
Because the typewriter ribbon is old , the print looks very light.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRACTICE identifying the Patterns and Punctuating them Correctly:
1. Don is an expert mechanic in fact he intends to open a service center.
5. The fishermen trolled in the bay for hours unfortunately they caught nothing
Examples:
S V
S V
S V
S V
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2. It is often easier to locate the verb first and then look for its
subject (p. 239).
One sign of a finite verb is that its form can be changed to indicate a change in
tense (e.g. from past tense to present tense, or vice versa).
After you locate the verb, find the subject by asking yourself, Who or what is doing the
action or being discussed? The subject usually comes before the verb in normal English
word order (known as syntax).
Examples:
S V
S V
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3. A complete finite verb can contain more than one word (known as a verb
phrase): that is, the main action or linking verb (labeled MV below) can be
accompanied by helping verbs (labeled HV below) to express some verb tenses or
conditions. (See pp. 237-238: list of Common Helping Verbs, p. 238.)
Examples:
S HV + MV
Jane has walked to the store everyday day for a month now.
S HV + HV+ MV
S HV + MV
S HV+HV + MV
To review Verb Tenses that require helping verbs, and hard-to-recognize Irregular To
Be Verb forms, see these Odyssey chapters:
Simple Future Tense (Ch. 22: Box, p. 312 & Recap, pp. 318-319)
Perfect Tenses (Ch. 22: Box, p. 315 & Recap, pp. 318-319)
Progressive & Perfect Progressive Tenses (Ch. 24, pp. 339-340)
Recognizing Forms of To Be (Ch. 23: Box, p. 327 & Recap, p. 335)
More Examples:
S HV+ MV
SHV + MV
S HV+ HV + MV
By August, Juanita will have earned enough money for a new snowboard.
S HV+ MV
S HV+MV
NOTE: Certain verbal phrases may fill out the meaning of a sentence but they
cannot serve as the finite verb of a complete subject-verb combination:
(a) infinitives = to + simple verb form (like to be, to walk, to think) and
(b) verbals ending in ing (like being, walking, thinking) without a helping verb.
Examples:
S V infinitive phrase
*TIP: Avoid Verbal PHRASE FRAGMENTS (See Ch. 17, pp. 250-251) lacking a
complete subject-finite verb combination.
Fragment: John organizing his study schedule to feel more in control of his life.
Example Corrections:
S HV+ MV
John is organizing his study schedule to feel more in control of his life.
S V
After organizing his study schedule, John feels more in control of his life.
*TIP: SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT problems (Ch. 21) can occur when words come
between a subject and its verbespecially
Examples:
S HV + MV
S HV + HV + MV
The list of books and magazines has been posted on the library door.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Compound Subjects (p. 241) are two (or more) subject nouns/pronouns (usually connected
by the words and or or) that share the same finite verb action or condition. Compound
Verbs (p. 238) are two (or more) finite verbs (usually connected by the words and or or) that
share the same subject.
Examples:
S + S V
S V + V+ V
Jane walked to the store, bought some groceries, and then returned home.
S or S* V
NOTE: A Simple Sentence may contain both a compound subject and a compound
verb:
S + S V + V
Julia and Juan came to visit us this morning and stayed for three hours.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5. When the Verb Comes Before the Subject. As stated earlier, in normal
sentence order, the subject usually comes first and the verb comes after. However, in some
special kinds of sentences, like questions and there is type constructions, the verb--or
one of the helping verbswill comebefore the subject of the sentence.
Examples:
HV S MV
V S
Restate a Question in Answer form to get the sentence back in normal word order.
Examples:
HV S MV
S HV+ MV
Restated: You are going to the library (answer to where?) after school.
Look for this pattern: There or Here + (followed by) a verb; then expect
to findthe subject (a noun and/or pronoun) after the verb. NOTE: There and
Here arealmost never the subject of a verb!
Examples:
V S
V S
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Examples:
S V S V
The print looks very light, for the typewriter ribbon is old.
S V S HV+HV+ MV
The print looks very light, so the typewriter ribbon must be getting old.
S HV+MV S V
V S V S
There are many problems to solve, but here is one possible solution.
S + S V S HV + MV
Julia and Juan came to visit us this morning, but they did not stay very long.
S V S V
After John organizes his study schedule, he feels more in control of his life.
S HV +
MV S
One of the boys was going to the carnival after school, while the other boys
S V S V S HV
The fishermen trolled for hours, but they caught nothing because they were
MV
Identify the subject-verb combinations in the following sentences. Note: Some sentences
contain more than one subject-verb combination.
11. The print looks very light because the typewriter ribbon is old.
13. The list of books is posted next to the bulletin board in the library.
14. After an exciting chase scene, the two lovers flee to Mexico at the end of the novel.
15. The tired old woman stopped and looked anxiously behind her.
17. Instinctively, the abandoned dog began to make his way home.
18. Airplanes should be inspected regularly and carefully, or they may not be safe to fly.
20. The quartz wall clock looks beautiful, but it doesnt work.
21. In the1960s, the Beatles burst on the rock music scene and changed music forever.
22. Difficult situations on the playing field bring out the best, as well as the worst, in people.
Sentence Analysis Ex.#2, Part I:
Identifying Subject-Verb Combinations in Your Own Writing
Directions:
Review handout Sentence Analysis, Part I, and try to apply what you have
learned when doing this exercise with your own writing.
Prepare (or use) a clean, double-spaced copy of Paragraph #1.
For each sentence in your Paragraph, identify subject-verb combinations:
Examples:
S V S V V
The holiday season is one of my favorite times of the year. Bright lights are sparkling on the
Christmas
S V
trees, and children eagerly wait for Santa Claus to come.
After you have identified subject-verb combinations in your sentences, check for Subject-
Verb Agreement. Correct any errors that you find.
If you cant find at least one complete subject-verb combination in each of your
sentences, then that sentence is probably a Fragment. Correct any sentence Fragments
that you find.
When you are finished identifying Subject-Verb combinations and checking for Subject-
Verb Agreement and Fragments, attach your Paragraph to this sheet.
1. Each of the following example sentences contains one clause because it contains
only one complete subject-verb combination:
S V
The dog barks. (1 clause)
S V
Every morning at 7:00 a.m., the neighbors big black dog barks at the paperboy. (1
clause)
S V+V +V
S + S V
(compound subject)
S V + V
(compound verb)
V S V
S V+ V
V S
2. Sentences contain more than one clause if they contain more than one complete
subject-verb combination. To determine how many clauses that a sentence has, you
simply need to identify and count the number of complete subject-verb combinations that
it contains.
Examples:
S V
S V V
(compound verb)
S V S V
Julia went to the store, and she bought some groceries. (2 clauses)
S V S V
The print looks very light, for the typewriter ribbon is old. (2 clauses)
S V + V S V S V
Jane is going to college and she studies very hard because she intends
S V S V
After starting college, Jane always studied very hard because she wanted to
DO THIS Part II PRACTICE EX. Go back through Sentence Analysis Ex.: Part
I, and count the number of complete subject-verb combinations that you identified in each
practice sentence. Then write the number of clauses next to each sentence.
For More Practice: Go back through Sentence Analysis Ex. #2: Part I, in which you
identified complete subject-verb combinations in your own Paragraph #1
sentences. Count the number of complete subject-verb combinations that you identified in
each of your sentences. Then write the number of clauses next to each sentence.
In Sentence Analysis, Parts I & II Exercises, you gained practice in identifying subject-
verb combinations, and the number of clauses in sentences. Now you are ready to learn
how to identify different types of clauses and different sentence types.
Examples:
S V
S V
Every morning at 7:00 a.m., the neighbors big black dog barks at the paperboy.
[1 Main/Independent Clause]
Sentence Type #1: Simple Sentence: A sentence that contains only one
main/independent clause is categorized as a Simple Sentence. SeeOdyssey Ch.
19, & Recap Box, p. 271. See also Sentence Analysis, Part I . A, handout p. 1.
Examples:
S V
S V
Every morning at 7:00 a.m., the neighbors big black dog barks at the paperboy.
Sentence Type #2. Compound Sentence: A sentence may contain more than
one Main/Independent Clause. If a sentence contains at least two main or independent
clauses, it is a compound sentence. See Odyssey Ch. 19, Recap Boxes, pp. 272 & 273;
& handout Punctuating Common Sentence Patterns: Patterns #1, #2, & #3.
Examples:
S V S V
Every morning the dog barks at the paperboy, / but he delivers the newspaper anyway.
S V S V V
Every morning the dog barks at the paperboy; / however, the paperboy doesnt mind.
S V S V V
The print looks very light; / the typewriter ribbon must be old.
Examples:
COMMA SPLICE: The print looks very light, the typewriter ribbon must be old.
RUN-ON: The print looks very light the typewriter ribbon must be old.
The print looks very light; the typewriter ribbon must be old. [Pattern #2]
The print looks very light, so the typewriter ribbon must be old. [Pattern #1]
S V SC S V
The fishermen caught nothing / though they trolled in the bay for hours.
SC S V S V
Because the typewriter ribbon is old, / the print looks very light.
SC S V S V V
If Sherman watches his diet vigilantly, / he will be able to keep his weight down.
S V RP S V
Subordinate Clause
S S&RP V V V
Main Clause
Examples:
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Examples:
S V S V V
Every morning the dog barks at the paperboy; / however, the paperboy doesnt seem
SC S V
SC S V S V
Whenever the paperboy comes to deliver the newpaper, / our dog always barks at
Subordinate / Dependent Clause Main/Independent Clause
S V
2. Don and Susan are expert mechanics even though they dont like to work on cars.
5. For any students who are interested, the list of books is posted on the library .
6. I loved the exciting chase scene in which the two lovers flee to Mexico.
7. The tired, old woman stopped before she looked anxiously behind her.
8. We arrived at the play too late; therefore, we missed the opening act.
10. Airplanes should be inspected regularly and carefully, or they may not be safe to fly.
11. My new neighbors seem very kind and friendly, I am eager to meet them.
12. That quartz wall clock looks beautiful; however, it doesnt work.
13. After the Beatles burst on the rock music scene in the early 1960s, they changed the rock
15. My own feeling is that we should pass the proposal if it is the right thing to do.
17. Before she came home from work, Julia went to the store and bought some groceries.
Attach your completed assignment to this sheet. You may choose to:
Zerox the completed textbook exercises & attach them to this sheet
Tear out the relevant pages from your textbook & attach them to this sheet
OR
Copy out the entire exercises on a separate sheet of paper. Be sure to label
Exploration number and page number
Although pit bulls have been bred to fight, they can actually make very good
pets. Today many people are afraid of pit bulls. These dogs are sometimes mistreated, and if
so they become very aggressive. As a result, they are misunderstood and persecuted. In fact,
some municipalities have taken action against them. But pit bulls do not deserve their bad
reputation. Contrary to popular opinion, pit bulls can make good pets.
A. Identifying Subjects and Verbs (Ch. 17 & Handouts Sentence Analysis, Part I and
Sentence Analysis, Part II): Identify the complete subject-verb combinations in each
sentence by doing the following tasks:
(a) Circle and write S over the Simple Subject words of each subject-verb
combination; and
(b) Underline once and write V over the finite verbs of each subject-verb
combination.
(c) Write the number of clauses in the space provided after each sentence.
Note some sentences contain more than one complete subject-verb combination to be
identified and, thus, more than one clause.
Number of Clauses:__________
2. Jane has walked to the store every day for a month now.
Number of Clauses:__________
3. Every morning at 7:00 a.m., the neighbors big black dog barks at the paperboy.
Number of Clauses:__________
4. Every morning the dog barks at the paperboy, but he delivers the newspaper anyway.
Number of Clauses:__________
Number of Clauses:__________
Number of Clauses:__________
Number of Clauses:__________
Number of Clauses:__________
Number of Clauses:__________
Number of Clauses:__________
11. Julia and Juan came to visit us this morning and stayed for three hours.
Number of Clauses:__________
Number of Clauses:__________
Number of Clauses:__________
15. The print looks very light, for the typewriter ribbon is old.
Number of Clauses:__________
16. Although the fishermen trolled in the bay for hours, they caught nothing because they
Number of Clauses:__________
17. After John organizes his study schedule, he feels more in control of his life.
Number of Clauses:__________
18. There are many problems to be solved, but here is one possible solution.
Number of Clauses:__________
20. Aunt Martha, who is an expert seamstress, hemmed Johns new pants.
22. The fishermen caught nothing although they trolled in the bay for hours because they
24. When the paperboy comes to deliver the newspaper, our dog always barks at him.
25. If I were to inherit a million dollars, I would quit my job and move to Tahiti.
26. The room that I share with my brother is small, damp, and dark.
27. Even though it may seem difficult at first, anyone can learn to use a computer.
28. The teddy bear that my grandmother gave me for Christmas is one of my favorite
possessions.
29. After Jane told me that she couldnt go to the movies Friday night, I was really
depressed.
30. Many newcomers to Central Oregon dont know how to drive in winter conditions,
therefore the police department offers a class in safe winter driving every fall.
32. The print looks very light, the typewriter ribbon must be old.
33. All continuing students are given the opportunity to register for next terms classes in
advance students should take advantage of this opportunity.
35. One of the men have brought his two children to the meeting.
36. Bright reds, yellows, and blues appearing in every one of Rauls paintings.
39. After organizing his schedule to feel more in control of his life.
40. The firefighters who was involved in the rescue all received citations for bravery.
44. In one unforgettable football game, I hit a quarterback in his hip with my helmet the blow
knocked him off his feet.
45. The man did card tricks on the sidewalk. (and) A crowd soon gathered around
him.
___________________________________________________________________
___
46. He hopes to settle in northern Ontario. (because) The wilderness inspires him.
___________________________________________________________________
___
48. (although) The pictures looked identical. One of them was fake.
___________________________________________________________________
___
49. The pictures looked identical. (however) One of them was fake.
___________________________________________________________________
___
50. I have too many iris plants in my yard. (so) I will give some to my neighbor.
__________________________________________________________________
____
Even though the rules for both games are very similar, baseball and slow-pitch
softball are definitely different games. Baseball is played on a large diamond. Softball,
however, is played on a smaller field, more like a little league field. A baseball is pitched fast
, up to ninety miles per hour in the major league, and overhand. In contrast, a slow-pitch
softball is lobbed underhand. Because the speed of the pitching and the variety of pitches, a .
300 batting average for a baseball player is good. Because a softball is pitched more slowly,
though, batting averages of .500 or higher are common. Also, in baseball, players are
allowed to steal bases. In softball, however, a runner cant leave the base until the ball is hit.
(1) Evaluate the above paragraph for unity, and answer these two questions:
(2) Arranging Ideas Effectively (Ch. 3 & Ch. 10, pp. 127-129): The above paragraph is an
example of comparison-contrast. Evaluate the organization of the paragraph, and
answer these three questions:
b. Briefly explain why you think the above paragraph is or is not well
organized:
a. What is a transition?
Mr. Elmo Norman, my high school English teacher, is a very nervous person.
PART II: DEVELOPING AN ESSAY (Odyssey Ch. 14; see also Ch. 15)
1. Identify and briefly describe the three main parts that structure an essay:
a.
b.
c.
2. Every essay needs a clear thesis. The thesis must do two things to focus an essay
effectively. What are those two elements?
a.
b.
3. Evaluate the three statements given below as possible thesis statements for an
essay: For each statement, state whether or not it would be a good thesis statement
for an essay, and briefly explain why or why not.
b. Working as a waitress in a large resort was the best job I ever had.
4. Essay Unity: An essay entitled Breaking the Habit has this thesis:
A third strategy to help smokers quit is to alter habits associated with smoking. For
example, people who associate cigarettes with drinking coffee might temporarily switch to
tea or another beverage with caffeine. Or people who generally smoke while talking on the
telephone might try writing letters or sending electronic mail rather than making local and
long-distance calls. Unfortunately, some smoking-associated habits are difficult to
eliminate. Smokers who habitually smoke while driving in their cars obviously cannot give
up driving. The point is, however, to alter as many activities as possible to eliminate the
times when one would normally reach for a cigarette.
b. Essay Unity: Does the above body paragraph belong in the essay entitled Breaking
the Habit with the thesis given above? Explain why or why not:
A. Identifying Subjects and Verbs (Odyssey Ch. 17 & Handouts Sentence Analysis, Part
I and Sentence Analysis, Part II): Identify the complete subject-verb combinations
in each sentence by doing the following tasks:
(a) Circle and write S over the Simple Subject words of each subject-verb
combination; and
(b) Underline once and write V over the finite verbs of each subject-verb
combination.
(c) Write the number of clauses in the space provided after each sentence.
Note some sentences contain more than one complete subject-verb combination.
Number of Clauses:_________
2. He tells wonderful stories.
Number of Clauses:_________
3. One of his favorite childhood stories is about him and his brother.
Number of Clauses:_________
4. There were some nights on the family farm when my grandfather and his brother couldnt
sleep.
Number of Clauses:_________
5. Sometimes, they laughed and talked and talked and laughed until they heard the rooster
crow at dawn.
Number of Clauses:_________
6. One time after staying up all night, Grandpa and Uncle Jim dressed quickly, ran out into
the farmyard, and snuck up behind the rooster just before dawn.
Number of Clauses:__________
7. As the rooster started to crow, Grandpa and Uncle Jim screeched out, Cock-a-doodle-
Number of Clauses:_________
8. Their loud, unearthly cries woke up everyone in the house, and the surprised rooster
Number of Clauses:__________
9. Needless to say, my great-grandparents were not amused by all this ruckus at 4:30 in
the morning.
Number of Clauses:__________
Number of Clauses:__________
11. They spanked the mischievous boys and sent them to bed without their breakfast.
Number of Clauses:__________
12. Fortunately, the poor rooster revived after a while, and my grandparents allowed the boys
Number of Clauses:__________
13. There are still days when my grandfather screeches out Cock-a-doodle-do and
Number of Clauses:__________
14. Sarah asked Uncle George to help with the new cabinets because he is an expert
carpenter.
15. Uncle George, who is an expert carpenter, installed Sarahs new cabinets.
16. Some people think that Grandpa is senile.
17. Those poor fishermen finally realized that they were using the wrong bait.
18. The next day after they changed to the right bait, the happy fishermen trolled the bay
19. Sarah did not go to the airport to meet the man that she hated.
20. When the paperboy comes to deliver the newspaper, our dog never barks at him.
21. If I were to lose my current job, I think that I would start a new career.
22. The apartment that I share with my roommate is small but cheap.
23. Anyone can learn to use a computer even though it may seem difficult at first.
24. I have never liked the teddy bear that my grandmother gave me for Christmas in 1988.
25. After Jane told me that she couldnt go to the movies Friday night, I was relieved
26. Most long-time residents of Central Oregon know how to drive in winter conditions,
therefore they dont need to take a class in safe winter driving.
27. Donna and Albert, who are my best friends, is invited to the party.
28. The man did card tricks on the sidewalk a crowd soon gathered around him.
29. .My new neighbors next door seems cranky and unfriendly.
30. One of the students have brought his two children to class this morning.
33. After waiting too long and missing their chance to register in advance.
34. The firefighters, after arriving quickly at the scene, has rescued the child from the
burning building.
35. Because my daughter always does her best to make the house cheerful.
36. The computer in the Pioneer computer labs are not working properly today.
37. In one unforgettable football game, I hit a quarterback in his hip with my helmet, the blow
knocked him off his feet.
D. Sentence Style and Word Choice. (Handouts): List three ways that you can improve
the effectiveness of your sentence style and/or word choice. Then give a specific
example to illustrate each of the three ways that you describe.
38.
Example:
39.
Example:
40.
Example:
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