AVOIDING UNACCEPTABLE GRAMMAR MISTAKES: TEN RULES

MRS. PALKA

MS. THOMAS

RULE #1: “I” IS ALWAYS CAPITALIZED

Wrong: i love Justin Timberlake.

Wrong: Do you know who i have a crush on?

Right: Raven and I work at the same restaurant.

Right: I’m going to work after school.

RULE #2: USE AN APOSTROPHE WITH CONTRACTIONS

Wrong: I couldnt finish my homework.

Right: I couldn’t finish my homework.

Wrong: I didnt like that teacher.

Right: I didn’t like that teacher.

RULE #3: USE END PUNCTUATION

Wrong: Don’t forget to text me later

Right: My favorite character is Juliet.

Wrong: Do we have homework over the weekend

Right: Do we have homework over the weekend?

RULE #4: USE THE CORRECT “TO BE” VERB

Wrong: I is hungry./ We is hungry.

Correct: I am hungry./ We are hungry.

Wrong: We was hanging out this weekend.

Correct: We were hanging out this weekend.

Wrong: You was wrong about her.

Correct: You were wrong about her.

Present Tense

I am We are

You are You are

He/She/It is They are

Past Tense

I was We were

You were You were

He/She/It was They were

RULE #5: USE CORRECT SUBJECT/VERB AGREEMENT

General Rule: Singular noun + “s” verb.

Plural noun = drop “s” on verb.

Wrong: The teachers gives too much homework.

Right: The teacher gives too much homework.

Wrong: She walk to school.

Right: She walks to school.

RULE #6: DOUBLE-CHECK TO MAKE SURE EVERY SENTENCE IS COMPLETE

Avoid fragments and run-ons Make sure each sentence

has a subject and a predicate.

Proofread, proofread, proofread

RULE #7: KNOW THE DIFFERENCE– YOUR, YOU’RE

Your = possessive adjective, used to describe something as belonging to you.Example: What is your name?

Example: Your skirt is pretty.

Example: Your attitude needs improvement.

You’re= You're is the contraction of "you are." Example: You're going to be late.

Example: Is that what you're wearing?

Example: I think you're lying.

RULE #8: KNOW THE DIFFERENCE: THERE, THEIR, THEY’RE

Use there when referring to a place, whether concrete ("over there by the building") or more abstract ("it must be difficult to live there").

• There is an antique store on Camden Avenue.

• The science textbooks are over there on the floor.

• There are many documents that are used in investigations.

Use their to indicate possession. It is a possessive adjective and indicates that a particular noun belongs to them.

•My friends have lost their tickets. •Their things were strewn about the office haphazardly.

Remember that they're is a contraction of the words they and are. It can never be used as a modifier, only as a subject (who or what does the action) and verb (the action itself).

•Hurry up! They're closing the mall at six tonight!

• I'm glad that they're so nice to new students here.

RULE #9: KNOW THE DIFFERENCE– TO, TOO, TWO

To

To has two functions. First, as a preposition, in which case it always precedes a noun.

I'm going to the store.

He went to Italy.

This belongs to David.

Secondly, to indicates an infinitive when it precedes a verb.

I need to study.

We want to help.

He's going to eat.

Too

Too also has two uses. First, as a synonym for "also":

Can I go too?

He went to France too.

I think that's Paul's book too.

Secondly, too means excessively when it precedes an adjective or adverb.

I'm too tired.

He's walking too quickly.

I ate too much.

Two

Two is a number.

One, two, three...

I have two cars.

She ate two pieces of pie.

  The Bottom Line

The confusion between to, too, and two occurs because the three words are pronounced identically.

One: If you're able to replace the word with "also" or "excessively/too much," use too. Two: If the word is a number, use two. Otherwise, you'll want to use to.

RULE #10: KNOW THE DIFFERENCE– ITS & IT’S

It's

It's is a contraction of "it is" or "it has."

It's time to go.

Do you think it's ready?

I read your article - it's very good.

Do you know where my purse is? It's on the table.

It's been a long time.

Its

Its is the possessive form of "it."

That's an interesting device - what is its purpose?

I saw Les Misérables during its initial run.

This stove has its own timer.

The bird lost some of its feathers.

Where is its head office?

  The Bottom Line

The confusion between it's and its occurs because on virtually every other word 's indicates possession, so English speakers naturally want to use it's to mean "something belonging to it." But it's is only used when it's a contraction of it is or it has.

The ironclad rule - no exceptions - is that if you can replace the word with "it is" or "it has," use it's. Otherwise, it's always its.

TRICK QUESTION:

When is it appropriate to use its’?

It’s not! Its’ is NOT a word!

Do NOT let test makers trick

you!!!!