GRAMMAR REVIEW

Newsletter Fall 2 2017

Grammar Points Weve Learned So Far
What are the grammar points weve learned so far?
Simple/Compound/Complex Sentences
Three Common Sentence Errors
Capitalization
Subject-Verb Agreement
Listing three or more things
Verb ing = Progressive vs. Gerund

Additional Things Weve Learned:

Points of View in Writing

We are going to cover

Comma Usage
Three Types of Sentences
1) Simple Sentence
1 Independent Clause (Complete Sentence)
Can use compound subjects or compounds verbs
2) Compound Sentence
2 Independent Clause joined by a coordinating
conjunction (FANBOYS) and a comma
3) Complex Sentence
1 Independent Clause and 1 or more Dependent
Clause (Subordinating Conjunction attached to the
dependent clause)
Where do you put the comma? When do you put the
comma?
3 Common ST Errors
Sentence Fragment (SF)
Missing
a subject or a verb
Dependent clause

Run-on Sentence (RO)

Two or more sentences/independent clauses joined
incorrectly
Comma Splice (Com S)
Injoining sentences(independent clauses), comma is
used incorrectly
Three Common Sentence Errors
Yesterdays weather caused problems for many
travelers. Most of the flights were canceled. Due to
the torrential rains and high winds.
SF: Due to the torrential rains and high
winds, most of the flights were canceled.
Computer programs can help students learn a
foreign language, many students use the language
programs in the computer center.
Comma S: Computer programs can help
students learn a foreign language, so many students
use the language programs in the computer center.
Three Common Sentence Errors
It was definitely a nervous time for many people. When
we had the economic crisis, prices and unemployment
soared. The government did everything possible to
make sure that people did not panic.
Correct!

Dancing with the Stars is an internationally known

television show, the dancing is very exciting.
Com S/RO: Dancing with the Stars is an
internationally known television show. The dancing
is very exciting.
Three Common Sentence Errors
Jane is the most beautiful girl in our town, she
is really nice too.
Type: RO, Com S
Correction: Jane is the most beautiful girl in
our town, and she is really nice too.

Because we care. We want to help out.

Type: SF
Correction: Because we care, we want to help
out.
Sentence Errors
When I go to school in the morning I
always take the subway.
NOT any of the three common error types!
This is a sentence type error (remember the
simple/compound/complex ST lesson?). There
is a comma missing after the dependent clause
in this complex ST.
Correction: When I go to school in the
morning, I always take the subway.
Sentence Errors
Cats are very clean animals and they are cute
and they are very quiet.
Type: RO
Correction: Cate are very clean animals, and
they are cute. Also, they are very quiet.

You should turn off the lights, when you get out
of the bathroom.
Type: None of the 3 common types. ST type
error
Correction: You should turn off the light when
you get out of the bathroom
Three Common Sentence Errors
I saw an old lady with a heavy box. Helped
her carry the box.
Type: SF
Correction: I saw an old lady with a heavy box, so I
helped her carry the box
OR
I saw an old lady with a heavy box. So, I helped
her carry the box.
Three Common Sentence Errors
Europe is one of the most fun places to visit in
the world because you can experience a
mixture of a lot of different cultures and
because you can try a lot of different food.
Type: RO
Correction: Europe is one of the most fun places to visit
in the world because you can experience a mixture of
a lot of different cultures. In addition, it is fun because
you can try a lot of different food.
Three Common Sentence Errors
Despite all of the extremely depressing news that
we recently heard from that part of the world.
SF: This is a sentence fragment because 1) the
sentence does not have a subject 2) despite is a
subordinating conjunction

Possiblecorrection: Despite all of the extremely

depressing news that we recently heard from that part
of the world, we are hopeful that people there will
persevere through the difficulties.
Three Common Sentence Errors

Last winter I went to South Africa with my

family, we spent two weeks there and it
was really wonderful.
Type: RO, Com S
Correction: Last winter I went to South Africa
with my family. We spent two weeks there, and
it was really wonderful.
Three Common Sentence Errors

You need to wash the ingredients first,

then cut them up into thin slices.
Type: RO, Com S
Correction: You need to wash the
ingredients first, and then cut them up into
thing slices.
Sentence Errors

Mary decided to go to the movie

theater with her friends, although she
has a lot of homework.
Type: None of the 3 types. A ST type error
Correction: Mary decided to go to the
movie theater with her friends although she
has a lot of homework.
Comma Usage Rules
I need to buy apple orange and pears.
Comma in a list of three or more things
To make the grilled cheese sandwich you need to get some
cheese first.
Comma after the introductory word/phrase
When I went to the summer camp last year I has a very
good time.
Comma after the dependent clause
I hardly knew what to say so I just went to hug him instead.
Comma before a coordinating conjunction
Brad Pitt a famous actor from America is visiting Japan next
month.
Comma for an appositive
Capitalization
Remember the FIVE basic rules! (Review the handout)
Capitalize:
First letter of a sentence
I always
Proper nouns
Famous places and things (Central Park, New York, Statue of Liberty)
Specific names of people (Susan Peterson, Yousef, Brad Pitt)
Titles (Mr., Dr. etc.)
Geographical areas, countries, people of countries, and languages
(United States, American, English)
Titles of works, movies, music, pieces of art
Always capitalize the first word of the title
Capitalize the first word of every work in the title except the function words
Function word examples: the, a, and, in, of, etc.
Movie name: The King and I
Subject Verb Agreement
Subject and the verb has to agree in a sentence!
For example:
I does homework = Subject I and the verb to do do not
agree!
Should be: I do homework.

She were a very good teacher = Subject she and the verb
to be do not agree!
Should be: She was a very good teacher.
Using [Verb + - ing]
Progressive Forms (Needs a form of TO BE)
Present Progressive
am/are/is + verb-ing
Past Progressive
was/were + verb-ing
Future Progressive
will be/going to be + verb-ing
I will be studying tonight.
They are going to be cleaning the house this weekend.
Using [Verb + - ing]
Gerund (No TO BE)
Useverb + -ing as a noun for an action/activity
Watching TV, travelling, hiking
Watching TV is one of his favorite hobbies.
She likes travelling.
The students really loved hiking up the mountain.
Listing 3 or More Things
1st, 2nd, and 3rd
1st, 2nd . , and last thing

Parallelism in ST
When you are listing things in ST, use the same elements (verbs,
nouns, adjectives etc. when listing)
Examples:
BAD: Olympic athletes usually like practicing, to compete, and ice
cream sandwiches.
GOOD:
Olympic athletes usually like practicing, competing, and eating ice cream
sandwiches.
Olympic athletes usually like to practice, compete, and eat ice cream
sandwiches
Point of View in Writing
Viewpoint or Person
First person (I, we, me, us, mine, ours, my, our)
Refers to the person who is speaking
For formal and informal writing (not used often in academic
writing)
Second person (you, yours, your)
Refers to the person who is being spoken to
For informal writing
Third person (he, she it, they him, her them, theirs, its..)
Refers to the person or thing that is being spoken about
For formal writing (academic writing)
Third person can be used with first or second person
Point of View
Email to a friend:
Audience = the friend
Informal
Person?
First and second person
A writing assignment about Chile and Brazil:
Audience = teacher
Formal (academic writing)
Person?
Third person
My family vacation:
Audience = maybe a friend? Or a teacher (if its a homework)
Formal or informal
Person?
First person
Keeping the Point of View Consistent

Look at these examples:

Topic:
My Favorite Place in NYC
Some supporting ST: Whats wrong with them?
People like going to central park because you can easily
get there by public transportation.
I especially enjoy walking around the big lake in the park
because we can see a lot of people walking their dogs.

Keep the point of view/person consistent (same)!

Third person can be mixed with first or second person sometimes
General Advice for Summarizing/Paraphrasing

1) Read and understand the whole idea

2) Be selective. Take notes of the main/key ideas and
words/phrases while reading
3) Say it in your own words (You are telling a person who
doesnt know about this)
4) Look away from the source and then say/write

** Thesaurus/Dictionary are your friend!!

** DONT CHANGE THE MEANING OF THE SENTENCE!!

Ways to Paraphrase
DO AS MANY OF THESE AS POSSIBLE!

1) Change the words (use synonyms)

2) Change the content order in the sentence
(Try to keep the main focus though)
3) Take out unnecessary sections or add more info
(Dont make it too short or too long though!)

** DONT CHANGE THE MEANING OF THE SENTENCE!!