Grammar Overview

1
Grammar Overview

• Sentence errors, pronoun agreement,
• verb forms, parallel structures,
• misplaced modifiers,
• word errors, and
• punctuation.

2
What are major sentence errors?

• Four major errors destroy sentences.
• A splice occurs if a comma wrongly replaces a
  period.
  
• A run-on happens when we forget to use a period.
• A fragment occurs when an extra period is used.
• S-V mismatches happen when subjects dont match
  verbs.

• Is it a splice, a run-on, a fragment, or an S-V
  error?
  
• __1. Some students write more, others seem to
  write much less.
  
• __2. Many kinds of writing assignments long,
  short, and even medium.
  
• __3. Bob and Brenda takes more vacations than
  anyone else could.
  
• __4. They go on cruises wherever its good, they
  have been there.

3
What are major sentence errors?

• Four major errors destroy sentences.
• A splice occurs if a comma wrongly replaces a
  period.
  
• A run-on happens when we forget to use a period.
• A fragment occurs when an extra period is used.
• S-V mismatches happen when subjects dont match
  verbs.

• Is it a splice, a run-on, a fragment, or an S-V
  error?
  
• CS 1. Some students write more, others seem to
  write much less.
  
• FR 2. Many kinds of writing assignments long,
  short, and even medium.
  
• SV 3. Bob and Brenda takes more vacations than
  anyone else could.
  
• RO 4. They go on cruises wherever its good, they
  have been there.

4
What are splices and run-ons?

• If you have two independent clauses with nothing
  between them but a comma, you have failed to join
  them with a coordinator or to separate them with
  end-stop punctuation.
• Thus, you have a comma splice, which is a form of
  run-on sentence.
  
• Here is an example of a comma splice, followed by
  several different ways of correcting it

• Comma Splice  
• I got up late, I didn't have time for
  breakfast.
  
• Run-on Sentence
• I got up late_then I didnt have breakfast.
• Corrections
• I got up late. I didn't have time for breakfast.
• I got up late I didn't have time for breakfast.
• I got up late, so I didn't have time for
  breakfast.

5
Can you find splices and run-ons?

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• __1. Yesterday morning, the motor of Davids car
  flooded, it didnt start.
  
• __2. He arrived at college a little late his math
  class had already started.
  
• __3. The teacher had picked up the quizzes David
  missed the points.
  
• __4. Ignoring the teachers careless attitude,
  David bravely asked for the quiz.
  
• __5. The professor told David that he was too
  late, the quiz time was already over.

6
You can find splices and run-ons!

• Identify each sentence as Splice, Run-on, or OK
• S 1. Yesterday morning, the motor of Davids car
  flooded, it didnt start.
  
• R 2. He arrived at college a little late_ his
  math class had already started.
  
• C 3. The teacher had picked up the quizzes David
  missed the points.
  
• C 4. Ignoring the teachers careless attitude,
  David bravely asked for the quiz.
  
• S 5. The professor told David that he was too
  late, the quiz time was already over.

7
What is subject-verb agreement?

• Singular subjects use singular verbs.
• Mona writes great paragraphs.
• Everyone has her own way to do things.
• Plural subjects use plural verbs.
• Students write_ great paragraphs.
• Eva and Rod take_ two vacations every year.

• Pick the right verb
• There is/are too many subject-verb errors in this
  essay for it to pass.
  
• That pair of pants has/have a big rip in the back
  that shows your shorts.
  
• One thousand pounds of jelly beans fill/fills the
  bottom of the red van.

8
Here is subject-verb agreement

• Singular subjects use singular verbs.
• Mona writes great paragraphs.
• Everyone has her own way to do things.
• Plural subjects use plural verbs.
• Students write_ great paragraphs.
• Eva and Rod take_ two vacations every year.

• Pick the right verb
• There is/are too many subject-verb errors in this
  essay for it to pass.
  
• That pair of pants has/have a big rip in the back
  that shows your shorts.
  
• One thousand pounds of jelly beans fill/fills the
  bottom of the red van.

9
What are sentence fragments?

• The four type of incomplete thought fragments
  are
  
• Dependent-word fragments
• I like writing. Because it helps me to think.
• 2. -ing or to phrase fragments
• Writing in class about various issues helps me.
  To focus on solutions.

• Added-detail fragments
• The writing process makes me think. About many
  things in my life.
  
• Missing-subject fragments
• Writing essays develops my own ideas. __ is a
  good way to grow my ability to think clearly.

10
Can you identify fragments?

• 1. Although most of the class understood the
  question.
  
• 2. Mona didnt even know it was a question.
• 3. Looking blankly at the instructor.
• 4. She didnt answer at anything all.
• 5. The professor thought she might be very dumb,
  but hoped that she would wake up.

6. Without even looking up at the instructor.
7. Mona called a friend on her cell phone.
8. The professor very angry with Mona.
9. Saying, What is your problem, girl?
10. Then Mona, running from the class in an
emotional fit, looking back at her laughing
friends.
11
You can identify fragments

• F 1. Although most of the class understood the
  question.
  
• S 2. Mona didnt even know it was a question.
• F 3. Looking blankly at the instructor.
• S 4. She didnt answer at anything all.
• S 5. The professor thought she might be very
  dumb, but hoped that she would wake up.

F 6. Without even looking up at the instructor.
S 7. Mona called a friend on her cell phone.
S 8. The professor very angry with Mona.
F 9. Saying, What is your problem, girl?
F 10. Then Mona, running from the class in an
emotional fit, looking back at her laughing
friends.
12
What is pronoun agreement?

• Singular nouns match singular pronouns.
• Which sentences are correct?
• Each student has his own way of studying.
• Each student has their own ways of studying.
• Each student has different ways of studying.

• Pronouns agree when the writer matches pronouns
  to the words they refer to.
  
• Pronouns must match referents in
• Number singular or plural
• Gender male or female
• Person first, second, or third

Dont go for the obvious one!
13
Can you avoid weak pronoun use?

• 5. Using cell phones causes auto accidents.
• People using cell phones, it causes car
  accidents.
  
• Driving while you are talking on the cell phone
  should be illegal.
  
• Driving while talking on a cell phone should be
  illegal.

• Although the motorcycle hit the tree, the bike
  was not damaged.
  
• Although the motorcycle hit the tree, it was not
  damaged.
  
• They shouldnt show violence on TV.
• TV violence shouldnt be shown.

Which alternate makes more sense?
14
You can avoid vague pronoun use

• 5. Using cell phones causes auto accidents.
• People using cell phones, it causes car
  accidents.
  
• Driving while you are talking on the cell phone
  should be illegal.
  
• Driving while talking on a cell phone should be
  illegal.

• Although the motorcycle hit the tree, the bike
  was not damaged.
  
• Although the motorcycle hit the tree, it was not
  damaged.
  
• They shouldnt show violence on TV.
• TV violence shouldnt be shown.

15
What errors are in irregular verbs?

• Present verb used for the past verb
• Then she run there.
• Then she ran there.
• They came to me.
• They come to me.
• Over-regularized past tense verbs
• Everyone knowed him.
• Everyone knew him.
• They drank Cokes.
• They drinked Cokes.

• 1. Past verb used for a past participle
• I had went down.
• I had gone down.
• She has taken it.
• She has took it.
• Past participle used for a past verb
• He done the work.
• He did the work.
• She saw it there.
• She seen it there.

Is there a time shift here?
16
Here are the correct verb forms

• Present verb used for the past verb
• Then she run there.
• Then she ran there.
• They came to me.
• They come to me.
• Over-regularized past tense verbs
• Everyone knowed him.
• Everyone knew him.
• They drank Cokes.
• They drinked Cokes.

• 1. Past verb used for a past participle
• I had went down.
• I had gone down.
• She has taken it.
• She has took it.
• Past participle used for a past verb
• He done the work.
• He did the work.
• She saw it there.
• She seen it there.

Is there a time shift here?
17
What are parallel structures?

• Use the same pattern of words to show that two or
  more ideas are at the same level of importance.
  
• Parallel structures are connected with
  coordinators such as "and" or "or.
  
• Not we like to swim, to hike, and riding.
• But we like to swim, to hike, and to ride.

• Which are parallel?
• __1. Cory likes listening to music and reading
  the latest novels.
  
• __2. He spent his time studying Spanish. working
  at the store, and he jogged every afternoon.
  
• __3. The dog was excited running, barking, and
  chasing after boys.

18
What are parallel structures?

• Use the same pattern of words to show that two or
  more ideas are at the same level of importance.
  
• Parallel structures are connected with
  coordinators such as "and" or "or.
  
• Not we like to swim, to hike, and riding.
• But we like to swim, to hike, and to ride.

• Which are parallel?
• PR 1. Cory likes listening to music and reading
  the latest novels.
  
• NP 2. He spent his time studying Spanish. working
  at the store, and he jogged every afternoon.
  
• PR 3. The dog was excited running, barking, and
  chasing after boys.

19
What are misplaced modifiers?

• Misplaced modifiers are phrases that are not
  located properly in relation to the words they
  modify.
  
• Misplaced modifiers lead to illogical and
  confusing sentences.
  
• To take care of misplaced modifiers, place them
  as close as possible to the words that they
  modify.

• Which one is best?
• Having just time enough to learn two games, we
  only played one.
  
• Not having enough time to learn two games, we
  only played one.
  
• Having just time enough to learn two games, we
  only played one.
  
• Having barely enough time to learn two games, we
  played only one.

20
Which words do we confuse?

• Word choice errors occur when we choose a word
  that sounds exactly like another word with a
  different meaning (homonym).
  
• For example, Joe is taller then Al.
• Word choice errors also happen when the word
  sounds similar to another word with different
  meaning (synonyms).
  
• Ex might of instead of might have. 

• Americans __ need alternate forms of
  transportation.
  
• a. defiantly
• b. definitely
• c. deftly
• The dog chased __ tail around the room.
• a. its
• b. its
• c. it

Is there a time shift here?
21
Which words do we confuse?

• Americans __ need alternate forms of
  transportation.
  
• a. defiantly
• b. definitely
• c. deftly
• The dog chased __ tail around the room.
• a. its
• b. its
• c. it

• If you study the words carefully, __ you will
  learn them.
  
• a. then
• b. than
• c. that
• The students know all __ vocabulary pairs.
• a. there
• b. their
• c. theyre

22
Which words do we confuse?

• If you study the words carefully, __ you will
  learn them.
  
• a. then
• b. than
• c. that
• The students know all __ vocabulary pairs.
• a. there
• b. their
• c. theyre

• Five meals in one day is just __ much.
• a. two
• b. to
• c. too
• d. due
• Can you see __ the spaceship is driven by aliens
  or humans?
  
• a. whether
• b. weather
• c. whither
• d. wherever

23
Can you find the right punctuation?

• 1. Which is correct?
• A) I am asking if you would like to rollerblade
  together tomorrow?      
  
• B) I am asking "if you would like to rollerblade
  together tomorrow"?     
  
• C) I am asking if you would like to rollerblade
  together tomorrow.      
  
• D) I am asking "if you would like to rollerblade
  together tomorrow."

• 2. Which is correct?
• A) Yes, Jean, you were right about that
  answer.      
  
• B) Yes Jean, you were right about that
  answer.      
  
• C) Yes Jean you were right about that
  answer.      
  
• D) Yes, Jean, you were right, about that answer.

24
You can use the right punctuation

• 1. Which is correct?
• A)  I am asking if you would like to rollerblade
  together tomorrow?      
  
• B)  I am asking "if you would like to rollerblade
  together tomorrow"?     
  
• C)  I am asking if you would like to rollerblade
  together tomorrow.      
  
• D) I am asking "if you would like to rollerblade
  together tomorrow."

2. Which is correct? A)  Yes, Jean, you were righ
t about that answer.       B)  Yes Jean, you were
right about that answer.      
C)  Yes Jean you were right about that
answer.       D)  Yes, Jean, you were right, abou
t that answer.
25
Can you find the right punctuation?

• 3. Which is correct?
• A) I read in a book, "If all else fails, succeed
  if all else succeeds"...      
  
• B) I read in a book, "If all else fails, succeed
  if all else succeeds..."      
  
• C) I read in a book, "If all else fails, succeed
  if all else succeeds...."      
  
• D) I read in a book, "If all else fails succeed
  if all else succeeds..."

4. Which is correct? A) Wherever we go, "people"
recognize us.       B) Wherever we go people reco
gnize us.       C) Wherever we go people recogni
ze us.       D) Wherever we go, people recognize
us.
26
You can use the right punctuation

• 3. Which is correct?
• A) I read in a book, "If all else fails, succeed
  if all else succeeds"...      
  
• B) I read in a book, "If all else fails, succeed
  if all else succeeds..."      
  
• C) I read in a book, "If all else fails, succeed
  if all else succeeds...."      
  
• D) I read in a book, "If all else fails succeed
  if all else succeeds..."

4. Which is correct? A) Wherever we go, "people"
recognize us.       B) Wherever we go people reco
gnize us.       C) Wherever we go people recogni
ze us.       D) Wherever we go, people recognize
us.
27
Can you find the right punctuation?

• 5. Which is correct?
• A) Whenever, Cheryl, is in town she visits her
  sister.      
  
• B) Whenever Cheryl, is in town she visits her
  sister.      
  
• C) Whenever Cheryl is in town she visits her
  sister.      
  
• D) Whenever Cheryl is in town, she visits her
  sister.

6. Which is correct? A) Isabel enjoys the museum
although she cant afford the entrance
fee.       B) Isabel enjoys the museum, although
she cant afford the entrance fee.      
C) Isabel enjoys the museum although she cant
afford the entrance fee.      
D) Isabel enjoys the museum although, she cant
afford the entrance fee.
28
You can use the right punctuation

• 5. Which is correct?
• A) Whenever, Cheryl, is in town she visits her
  sister.      
  
• B) Whenever Cheryl, is in town she visits her
  sister.      
  
• C) Whenever Cheryl is in town she visits her
  sister.      
  
• D) Whenever Cheryl is in town, she visits her
  sister.

6. Which is correct? A) Isabel enjoys the museum
although she cant afford the entrance
fee.       B) Isabel enjoys the museum, although
she cant afford the entrance fee.      
C) Isabel enjoys the museum although she cant
afford the entrance fee.      
D) Isabel enjoys the museum although, she cant
afford the entrance fee.
29
Can you find the right punctuation?

• 7. Which is correct?
• A) It may not be the correct part, but I bet that
  it works.      
  
• B) It may not be the correct part but I bet that
  it works.      
  
• C) It may not be the correct part-but I bet that
  it works.      
  
• D) It may not be-the correct part-but I bet that
  it works.
  

8. Which is correct? A) You are my friend howeve
r, I cannot afford to lend you any more
money.       B) You are my friend however I can
not afford to lend you any more money.      
C) You are my friend, however I cannot afford to
lend you any more money.      
D) You are my friend, however, I cannot afford,
to lend you any more money.
30
You can use the right punctuation

• 7. Which is correct?
• A)  It may not be the correct part, but I bet
  that it works.      
  
• B) It may not be the correct part but I bet that
  it works.      
  
• C) It may not be the correct part-but I bet that
  it works.      
  
• D) It may not be-the correct part-but I bet that
  it works.
  

8. Which is correct? A)  You are my friend how
ever, I cannot afford to lend you any more
money.       B) You are my friend however I can
not afford to lend you any more money.      
C) You are my friend, however I cannot afford to
lend you any more money.      
D) You are my friend, however, I cannot afford,
to lend you any more money.