SPRING 2014

ACT Punctuation Review

Apostrophes (use & misuse)

PLURALS If a noun does not end in s, make plural by adding s dog

dogs If a noun does end in s, make plural by adding es

boss bosses Never make plural by adding apostrophe s (’s) The rules holds for family names and proper nouns

• The Smiths are going on vacation.• The Kellys bought a new house.• The Robertses are going on vacation.• The Joneses like to go bowling.

If you don’t like these, change the sentence:The Jones family likes to go bowling.

Possessives

To make most singular nouns possessive, add apostrophe and s (’s) The dog’s collar is leather. (one dog)

For a plural noun ending in s, add only the apostrophe The dogs’ collars are leather. (more than one dog)

For plural nouns not ending in s, add apostrophe and s (’s) The women’s department is on this floor.

These rules are true with family names and initials used as a name (FDR).

• Charles’s friends met him at the game.• Mr. Jones’s car is in the garage.• The Smiths’ house is blue.• The Joneses’ cars are Toyotas.

Apostrophe Reminders

Possessive pronouns do NOT have apostrophes! Her’s Their’s Your’s It’s = WRONG!! (It’s = it is)

In a compound word or group, add apostrophe to the end: Father-in-law’s hat Rose and Denise’s idea

Add the number of apostrophes for each thing owned. Josh’s and Parker’s rooms (each have their own) Josh and Parker’s Wii (they share one)

Use possessives for time and amounts A week’s vacation A dollar’s worth Ended here Week 3-Day 1

Apostrophe Practice – correct the mistakes

1. It is her’s.2. Women’s department3. That boys’ radio4. Who’s is it?5. Fly’s wings6. Five dollar’s worth7. Mice’s tails8. Childrens’ program9. No ones’ fault10. San Jose’s industries11. A Buddhist’s beliefs12. Leaves’ color

13. Jeff’s and Joey’s room14. Soldiers’ rations15. It’s shiny surface16. That is their’s.17. Sister in laws’ house18. Churches’ spire19. The Siouxs’ land20. A horses’ hooves21. Mom’s and Dad’s cars

2 GROUPS OF PUNCTUATION

The function of periods, colons, and semicolons is to separate sentences.

2) The function of commas, dashes, and parentheses is to set off clauses or ideas WITHIN sentences.

JOINING SENTENCES

Where does the sentence end? Listen for the split.

Complete Sentence . Complete SentenceComplete Sentence ; Complete SentenceComplete Sentence : Complete SentenceComplete Sentence : List Complete Sentence : Point of emphasis

JOINING SENTENCES

I am going to apply to four colleges. I hope they all accept me.

I am going to apply to four colleges; I hope they all accept me.

I am going to apply to four colleges: surely one will accept me!

I am going to apply to four colleges: Drury, MU, Rolla, and Yale.

EXCEPTION – FAN BOYS

You can use , to separate two sentences if you add one of the “FAN BOYS”

(for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

I am going to apply to four colleges, and I hope they all accept me.

COLONS and DASHES

COLONS are used to make an ‘announcement’ or draw attention to what follows a complete thought: Use a colon before a list of items

We traveled through the following states: Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Do NOT use a colon after a verb My three hobbies are: sewing, cooking, and painting. NO!! My three hobbies are sewing, cooking, and painting.

Dashes indicate an abrupt break in thought. These are stronger than just parentheses or commas.

COMMA REMINDERS

Separate items in a list of three or more items.

He ordered cake, pie, and ice cream.Set off an introductory phrase from the

main clause. After eating 8 donuts, John felt bloated.

Set off an extra, non-essential information.

Washington, the capitol of the US, was built on marshlands.

COMMA REMINDERS

COMMA = PAUSES

A comma acts like a Yield sign.You must s-l-o-w d-o-w-n

for a comma when you read.

Subordinate Conjunctions (SC)

Punctuation rules:

S + V SC S + V.

SC S + V , S + V.If the dependent clause precedes the independent clause, a comma is needed between the clauses.

You add no punctuation when the dependent clause follows the independent clause.

Dependent Clause Sentences

Do I use a comma?

Because I got a 3.0 first semester, I was invited to the PNH dessert bar.

I was invited to the PNH dessert bar because I got a 3.0 first semester.

PHRASES & MODIFIERS

Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. Nailed to the gate, a no-trespassing sign attracted

Patty’s attention.

PHRASES & MODIFIERS

Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. Nailed to the gate, a no-trespassing sign attracted

Patty’s attention.Sign is nailed to the gate.

PHRASES & MODIFIERS

Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. Nailed to the gate, a no-trespassing sign attracted

Patty’s attention.Sign is nailed to the gate.

Sleeping during history class, the teacher marked me absent.

PHRASES & MODIFIERS

Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. Nailed to the gate, a no-trespassing sign attracted

Patty’s attention.Sign is nailed to the gate.

Sleeping during history class, the teacher marked me absent.The teacher is sleeping during class!?

PHRASES & MODIFIERS

Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. Nailed to the gate, a no-trespassing sign attracted

Patty’s attention.Sign is nailed to the gate.

Sleeping during history class, the teacher marked me absent.The teacher is sleeping during class!? Sleeping during history class, I was marked absent.

PHRASES & MODIFIERS

Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. Walking down the street, his eyes were wide with

wonder.

PHRASES & MODIFIERS

Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. Walking down the street, his eyes were wide with

wonder.Did his eyes start walking?

PHRASES & MODIFIERS

Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. Walking down the street, his eyes were wide with

wonder.Did his eyes start walking? Walking down the street, he expressed wide eyed

wonder.

PHRASES & MODIFIERS

Don’t leave your participles dangling!

Having selected a college, a trip to the campus was planned.

PHRASES & MODIFIERS

Don’t leave your participles dangling!

Having selected a college, a trip to the campus was planned.- Who selected the college?

PHRASES & MODIFIERS

Don’t leave your participles dangling!

Having selected a college, a trip to the campus was planned.- Who selected the college?

- Having selected a college, my family and I planned a trip to the campus.