Grammar Gremlins; Defeated!

Sentence Types.

Simple sentences are used for clarity and impact:Simple sentences are used for clarity and impact:

His house was so quiet now.His house was so quiet now.

Compound sentences join two clauses.Compound sentences join two clauses.

I cleared away the dirty plates and stood in the kitchen I cleared away the dirty plates and stood in the kitchen listening to their chatter and laughter.listening to their chatter and laughter.

Complex sentences have a main (independent) and Complex sentences have a main (independent) and subordinate (dependent) clause.subordinate (dependent) clause.

She was coughing again, wheezing and spitting into her She was coughing again, wheezing and spitting into her handkerchief.handkerchief.

Embedded clauses

Instead of writing a compound sentence:Instead of writing a compound sentence:

Ben was the winner of the race and won a gold Ben was the winner of the race and won a gold medal.medal.

We can embed a clause:We can embed a clause:

Ben, the winner of the race, was given a gold Ben, the winner of the race, was given a gold medal.medal.

Nouns

Nouns are used for people, places and things Nouns are used for people, places and things (( ‘‘namingnaming’’ words). words).

The names of people or places are The names of people or places are proper nouns; proper nouns; they always begin with a capital letter, regardless they always begin with a capital letter, regardless of where in the sentence they appear.of where in the sentence they appear.

Ben won a gold medal at the London Olympics. Ben won a gold medal at the London Olympics.

Ben, London and Olympics (although that’s an event) Ben, London and Olympics (although that’s an event) are proper nouns; medal is a regular noun.are proper nouns; medal is a regular noun.

Verbs

Verbs are actions (‘doing words’).

To vary your sentence structure, you can start your sentence with a verb.

For example instead of:

Ben won the race and got a gold medal.

You could try:

Having won the race, Ben received a gold medal.

Adjectives

Adjectives describeAdjectives describe nouns nouns (they are not just (they are not just ‘‘describing describing wordswords’’).).

They add detail and interest to your writing, as well as They add detail and interest to your writing, as well as clarifying your meaning.clarifying your meaning.

The elated students reached their target.The elated students reached their target.

Or, Or,

Elated, the students reached target.Elated, the students reached target.

Adverbs

Adverbs describe verbs; they say how and when something Adverbs describe verbs; they say how and when something is done. Often they are words ending in is done. Often they are words ending in ‘‘lyly’’

The mouse quietly crept across the floor.The mouse quietly crept across the floor.

oror

Quietly, the mouse crept across the floor.Quietly, the mouse crept across the floor.

Prepositions

Prepositions say where something is done:In, at, above, under, behind, outside, among, etc.

Again, they are used to clarify and add interest, meaning and detail;

So,

The aircraft was cold because of the air conditioning.

Can become:

Inside the aircraft, it was cold because of the air conditioning.

Re-write the following sentences

to make them more interesting.It was a nightmare finding a good restaurant. The town was in the It was a nightmare finding a good restaurant. The town was in the middle of nowhere.middle of nowhere.

The bar was right next to the pool and it served food.The bar was right next to the pool and it served food.

Kenya is situated on the east coast of Africa. It is very near to the Kenya is situated on the east coast of Africa. It is very near to the equator.equator.

I was amazed that I didnI was amazed that I didn’’t get bitten more than once by a mosquito t get bitten more than once by a mosquito the whole holiday.the whole holiday.

Paragraphs

Are your friends. You need to use them!!Are your friends. You need to use them!!

Vary their lengths – do not be afraid to use a very Vary their lengths – do not be afraid to use a very short paragraph.short paragraph.

Paragraphs should be about one topic. DonParagraphs should be about one topic. Don’’t ramble. t ramble. Make a point, explain or analyse it considering your Make a point, explain or analyse it considering your evidence if required. New point; new paragraph!evidence if required. New point; new paragraph!

Make them fluent – they must have some order: Make them fluent – they must have some order: chronological, by topic, by place.chronological, by topic, by place.

Planning the structure of your essay or writing is really Planning the structure of your essay or writing is really important; use the 5 stage drafting process.important; use the 5 stage drafting process.

Semi Colons 

A A semi colonsemi colon looks like this ; looks like this ;

It is used:It is used:

To separate two clauses of a sentence when they are closely related.To separate two clauses of a sentence when they are closely related.

To separate items in a list when the items are long phrases.To separate items in a list when the items are long phrases.

For example:For example:

Elephants live in hot countries. They cool off by bathing.Elephants live in hot countries. They cool off by bathing.

  

These sentences are closely related, so could be joined by a semi colon. These sentences are closely related, so could be joined by a semi colon. 

Elephants live in hot countriesElephants live in hot countries;; they cool off by bathing. they cool off by bathing.

    

Another example:Ysgol Aberconwy is an excellent school. This includes the quality of the Ysgol Aberconwy is an excellent school. This includes the quality of the teaching, especially in English. Also, its success is due to the excellence of teaching, especially in English. Also, its success is due to the excellence of the buildings and the wonderful cafeterias and the intelligence and the buildings and the wonderful cafeterias and the intelligence and helpfulness of the pupils. helpfulness of the pupils. 

In this list we have used lots of In this list we have used lots of ‘‘andsands’’. BORING. Why not write it like this?. BORING. Why not write it like this?

Ysgol Aberconwy is great for many thingsYsgol Aberconwy is great for many things:: the quality of the teaching, the quality of the teaching, especially in Englishespecially in English; ; the excellence of the buildingsthe excellence of the buildings;; the wonderful the wonderful cafeterias, serving an array of healthy foodcafeterias, serving an array of healthy food;; the intelligence and the intelligence and helpfulness of the pupils.helpfulness of the pupils.

(See how a colon has been used to introduce my list too?)(See how a colon has been used to introduce my list too?)

Colons.

Re-write these sentences, adding colons

and semi colons.