Grammar Boot Camp

Brought to you by English Department Instructors Fall 2009

First Things First: Parts of SpeechNouns, Pronouns, Verbs, Adjectives, Adverbs, Prepositions, and Conjunctions

Nouns

A noun is a word for a person, place, thing, or idea.

Ex. Person: mailman, Ralph, ladyPlace: school, Centennial Park, heavenThing: ball, book, JeepIdea: love, anger, honesty, distrust

Nouns that name non-specific persons, places, or things are called common nouns.

Ex. teacher, stadium, peanut butter

Nouns that name a specific person, place, or thing are called proper nouns. These nouns are CAPITALIZED.

Ex. Mrs. Brown, Camden Yards, Jiffy

PracticeIdentify all the nouns in the following sentences by

underlining them. Put a “c” over the common nouns and a “p” over the proper nouns.

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1. Although Frances was usually careful with his passport, he thoughtlessly left it with his wallet by the pool, and a thief took it.

2. The Johnson’s loaded their old car and crowded in for the long, hot ride to their beach house in Nag’s Head.

3. The airplanes from Southwest, Continental, and Airtran waited in the shimmering heat of the runway for clearance from the tower to take off.

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Now, compose two original sentences about things you have done on a vacation. Include both common and proper nouns in each sentence.

Pronouns

A pronoun is a word that is used to take the place of a noun in a sentence.

Ex. We tiptoed carefully across the room so that we would not disturb her.If you are cautious, she will never hear it.

Possessive pronouns are a special form of pronouns that also show “ownership” over something in addition to taking the place of the noun.

Ex. Megan and Kevin tiptoed into the room to get their books.

PracticeIdentify all the pronouns in the

following sentences by underlining them. Put a “p” over all the possessive pronouns.

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1. The day was busy, but it was not too busy for a stop at the library to get our books.

2. We used the online catalogue first, then had to ask them for help at the front desk when it did not give us the information we needed.

3. Our visit ended up taking longer than we expected, but their help was needed to get the right books.

Antecedents

An antecedent is the noun that a pronoun refers to.

Ex. The dancers spread out around the room, warming up for their practice in its brightly lit atmosphere.

In this sentence, “dancers” is the antecedent for the pronoun “their”, and “room” is the antecedent for the pronoun “its”.

PracticeFor the following sentences, underline the

pronoun, and draw a line from the pronoun to its antecedent.

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1. The dancers got into their positions as the rehearsal began.

2. The beautiful music was an inspiration to the dancers as it filled the room with a lively melody.

3. Nodding his head in time to the music, the choreographer watched the rehearsal intently.

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Now, compose two original sentences about a musical, dance, or theatrical performance, or a movie you have seen. Use any of the pronouns in the word box, and pair them with an antecedent in each sentence.

he she it you them they theirs hershis us its we yours

Verbs

Verbs are words that convey action or doing. They may also convey a state of being.

Ex. Action/doing: run, swim, dance, jump, talk, read, sit, sleep, eat, study, dream, think, workState of being: is, am, were, was, are, be, being, been

PracticeIdentify the verbs below by underlining

them. Place an “a” over the action verbs and a “b” over the being verbs.

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1. I went to my first indoor soccer game last night.

2. The field was in a large warehouse in Baltimore.

3. While my friends played, I sat on the sidelines and watched the match.

4. Will is an aggressive player even though he is usually a gentle person.

5. Our team won the match when Jose drove the ball past the goalie for the final point.

Helping VerbsSome verbs are also called

helping verbs. They are placed before the main verb to help convey more specific meaning.

Ex. been, has, have, had, can, could, will, would, shall, should, mayJames may prefer to sit and talk rather than dance.Shane would have taken me to the prom if Alice had declined his invitation.Remember: Helping verbs must be paired with a

main verb. Together they are referred to as a phrasal verb.

PracticeIn the following sentences, identify the

helping verb by underlining it. Circle the entire phrasal verb – both the helping verb and the main verb.

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1. The prom tickets would have cost more money if we used the larger ballroom.

2. The prom has been held at the same hotel for five years in a row.

3. When our class plans the prom, we may choose another location.

4. Amanda should have been nominated for Prom Queen.

5. The prom committee has worked hard six months for this event.

Linking VerbsLinking verbs connect the

main noun in a sentence (subject) with words or phrases in the predicate. Unlike helping verbs, linking verbs can stand alone.

Ex. be, am, is, was, were, become, seem, appear, believe, remain, proveEverybody seems hungry for the picnic after the race.I am glad they have so much food.

Verbs for the five senses are also linking verbs (look, feel, sound, taste, smell).

Ex. The centerpieces look festive on all the picnic tables.

PracticeIdentify the linking verbs by

underlining them in the following sentences.

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1. The hamburgers and hotdogs were on platters in the middle of the table.

2. They smell so delicious.3. This is a great way to spend the

day with friends.4. Everyone appears to enjoy the

day’s events.5. I feel the picnic should be planned

again next year.

Adjectives

Adjectives are words used to modify (give more information about) nouns or pronouns. Adjectives answer the questions What kind? and/or How many/how much?.

Ex. Several big, red balloons made considerable noise when they exploded.

PracticeIdentify the adjectives in the following sentences by

underlining them. Then, draw an arrow to the noun or pronoun that it modifies.

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1. It was a hot, humid day when the circus train arrived in the small town.

2. All the young children and even some of the older folks came down to watch the colorful spectacle.

3. Sleek, striped tigers and enormous elephants were paraded past the astonished crowd.

4. The huge tent was raised efficiently by numerous strong men.

5. The entire town anticipated the enjoyment of a great show and a wonderful time at the circus.

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Now, compose three original sentences about a circus performance, and use at least two adjectives for each sentence. Try to use descriptive words that will give the reader a vivid picture of what you are writing about.

Adverbs

Adverbs are words used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. The answer the questions How?, When?, Where?, To what extent?.

Ex. Happily, we soon left the house to go there.

How?

Slowly

Well

Happily

Fast

When?

Tonight

Soon

Now

Tomorrow

Where?

Here

There

Nowhere

Everywhere

PracticeIdentify the adverbs in the following sentences by

underlining them and drawing an arrow to the verb, adjective, or other adverb that they modify.

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1. Studying intently for the upcoming exams, the students carefully organized their class notes.

2. Sharon patiently helps her classmates who always need more assistance to understand the lessons.

3. A study session at the library was cleverly planned by Gary and DJ.

4. We met there promptly and worked cooperatively.5. We will take the exam soon and are prepared well

because we studied so diligently.________________________________________________________

_

Now, compose three original sentences about a school experience that include at least two adverbs each.

Remember: Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs and tell the reader how, when, and where the action in the sentence takes place.

Ex. quickly, up, perfectly, better, carefully, down, here, well, hard, monthly, there, now, fast, rarely, neatly, soon, fast, rarely, neatly, soon, early, low, promptly, rudely, busily, sadly, loudly, high, late, finally, simply, far

Prepositions

Prepositions are words that tell the relationship between objects. Most often, they tell the position of one object to another.

Ex. The mouse jumped over the startled cat and ran under the chair, around the corner, and into the whole.

PracticeIdentify the prepositions in the following

sentences by underlining them.____________________________________________

1. Peter Rabbit squeezed through the fence in Mr. MacGregor’s garden.

2. The frightened rabbit looked behind him, then hopped toward the tempting row of carrots.

3. Seated among all the juicy vegetables, he was beside himself with joy.

4. Mr. MacGregor spotted two long brown ears between the bean plants.

5. He chased poor Peter with his rake throughout the garden until the naughty rabbit escaped over the fence.

ConjunctionsConjunctions are joining words that link

parts of sentences.

The most common are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Sometimes, these are referred to as FANBOYS.

Ex. I bought a present for my best friend but ended up leaving it on the school bus.

There are many other conjunctions that can combine phrases and clauses to make interesting sentences.

Ex. until, after, whereas, unless, whenever, however, if, because, although, besides, though, instead, otherwise, therefore, since, while

PracticeChoose a word from the following list of

conjunctions that will complete the sentences below: until, after, unless, if, for, whenever, however, because, although, besides, since, though, and, yet, nor, so, but, instead, or, therefore.

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1. We planned to surprise Alex __________ it was her birthday.

2. Terri bought balloons __________ pink crepe paper.

3. All of her friends __________ Rita, her cousin sang Happy Birthday __________ it embarrassed Alex.

4. She loved her decorated locker __________ she kept the decorations up for a week.

5. It was a memorable birthday __________ it made her feel special.

Parts of a Sentence

Subjects and PredicatesPhrasesClauses

Subjects and Predicates

Every sentence has two essential parts: a subject and a predicate.

Subjects and PredicatesThe subject is the part of the sentence

that names the person, thing, or idea that the sentence is about.

The predicate is the part of the sentence that tells what the subject does, what it is, or what happens to it.

Ex. The eagle on the Great Seals

holds a motto in its beak.p

Step By Step

Finding the Subject

1. Find the verb.

2. Ask “Who?” or “What?” before the verb.

Ex. The girl in the red sweater plays second base.

verb – plays

who plays? - girl

Remember: “There” and “here” are never subjects, and prepositional phrases never contain the subject.

Practice

In each sentence, underline the subject once and the predicate twice.

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1. He made a great deal of money as the inventor of dynamite.

2. Nobel created a fund for prizes for outstanding achievement.

3. Since 1917, committees of Swedish experts have been awarding annual prizes in chemistry, physics, medicine, literature, and peace.

4. Each prize carries a cash award, a medal, and a worldwide recognition.

Clauses

A clause is a group of words containing at least a subject and a verb.

There are two kinds of clauses: independent and dependent.

Independent Clauses

An independent clause has a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought. (aka a sentence)

Ex. Karen is late as usual.s v

Dependent Clauses

A dependent clause has a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought. (aka a fragment)

Ex. because she is trying to save money

Remember that a dependent clause cannot stand alone. When it does, it is a fragment and needs to be corrected.

A dependent clause usually begins with a dependent word. Here are some dependent words:

After Though

AlthoughUnless

As When

Because Whenever

Before Where

If Wherever

SinceWhether

Than While

PracticeWrite “I” for an independent clause or

“D” for a dependent clause; then, revise every dependent clause to make it a complete sentence.

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1. Responsibly written articles and research papers are factual and well documented.

2. Because you cannot always tell whether the articles and stories you read are true.

3. Statistics interpreted carelessly weaken a paper.

4. When you write a research paper.

Phrases

A phrase is a group of words which contains neither a subject nor a verb.

Ex. in a flashscreaming like a banshee

PrepositionalAppositive

ParticipialInfinitive

AbsoluAbsolutete

Positioning and PunctuationPhrases can be positioned at the

beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.

When placed in these positions, phrases are often (but not always) set off by commas.

phrase commaEx. In a flash, she realized that the tofu

had been underneath her chair all along.

comma phrase commaIrving, screaming like a banshee, went careening for the room.

Cordelia longed to eat the last tamale. comma unnecessary

phrase

PracticeUnderline every phrase in the

sentences below. Check the punctuation of each phrase; make any necessary corrections, and circle them.

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1. The novel is a masterpiece of realism, portraying life on and around the Mississippi River about 1845.

2. At the beginning of the novel Huck lives with Widow Douglas.

3. Huck locked in a cabin by his father escapes and runs away.

So, what’s the difference between phrases and clauses? You tell me!Label the underlined group of words as “P”

(phrase), “DC” (dependent clause), or “IC” (independent clause).

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1. When they saw the airplane commercial, they knew they had to take a vacation.

2. With spring break approaching quickly, Tad and Teresa had to start planning.

3. After sunset, the fish are more likely to bite.

4. During her sophomore year of high school, she discovered what true friendship was.

Types of Sentences

SimpleCompoundComplex

Reviewing the Basics

All sentences must have at least one subject and one predicate (verb).

Ex. Billy ate the slug on as v

dare.

The Super Simple Sentence

A sentence only needs two parts, so it can be as short as two words.

Ex. Jane ran.s v

Bob tripped.Sarah laughed.

The Simple Sentence AKAThe Independent Clause

Remember the independent clause, which has one subject and one predicate?

*A single independent clause properly punctuated can also be called a simple sentence.

Ex. The twins laughed at the clown.

simple sentenceindependent clause

Simple Sentence & Independent

Clause are SYNONYMS!

The Sentence Fragment

Any sentence lacking either a subject or predicate is considered a fragment.

Ex. Ran down to the beach.(no subject)Johann on the phone.(no verb)

Remember: Fragments are evil. Always check your sentences.

WARNING!

Practice

Correct the following sentence fragments.

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1. The snowmobile on the trail.

2. Jaguars with spots.3. Ate the whole pizza.4. Ran and fell down the hill.

The Compound Sentence

A compound sentence is two independent clauses connected by a conjunction.

Ex. Captain Tipperman stormed the hill, AND the soldiers followed.

The thunder rumbled across the plain, YET the elephants remained calm.

Conjunctions:

For

And

Nor

But

Or

Yet

So

Punctuating a Compound SentenceAlways place a comma

before the conjunction to separate the two independent clauses.

Ex. Heather bought a new house, so she had to furnish it.

the very important comma

Practice

Add conjunctions and independent clauses to the following independent clauses to create compound sentences.

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1. Bigfoot is tall and hairy,2. Gerald saw a UFO,3. The ghost moaned and

shrieked,

Remember: Compound sentences must consist of two full independent clauses.

The Complex SentenceA complex sentence consists

of one independent clause and one dependent clause.

dependentEx. While the sheep slept, the

wolves crept in.independent

independentThe wolves crept in while the sheep slept.

dependent

Recall these dependent words?

After, although, as, because, before, if, since, than, though, unless, when, whenever, where, wherever, whether, while

Punctuating a Complex Sentence

If you begin the complex sentence with the dependent clause, always use a comma to separate the two parts.

the very important comma

Ex. When tigers are young, they are really, really cute.

Punctuating a Complex Sentence

When beginning the complex sentence with the independent clause, no comma is necessary.

Ex. Tigers are really cute when they are young.

Practice

Create the following sentences._________________________________

1. A compound sentence about a turtle at the beach who drinks Dr. Pepper

2. A complex sentence about Bob living in the desert

3. A compound sentence about football and ballet.

Another PracticeUse the following starters to

complete complex sentences. Be sure to properly punctuate.

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1. Although Geraldine2. __________ whenever I am cold.3. Because the game4. __________ while it is sunny

out.5. When sand

Final Practice

Create the following sentences._________________________________

1. Compound sentence about mermaids

2. Complex sentence (dependent clause first) about Native Americans

3. Complex sentence (independent clause first) about dancing

4. Simple sentence about dirt

Final Practice (for real this time)

Rewrite the following paragraph so it does not totally suck (Use all of the new rules).

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James at the beach. He wanted a shark to be his friend so he went out into the ocean and he saw a fin and swam towards it really fast and was tired. When the shark saw him it was happy. The shark was hungry. Sharks love to eat. They usually do not eat boys. James looked yummy. Then James said hello to the shark. They became friends.