Grammar Goodies

Subject Verb Agreement

Basic Rule

•Singular subjects need singular verbs.•Plural subjects need plural verbs.

Present and Past Tense

Using Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly

Recognizing Adjectives & Adverbs• Many words have both an adjective and adverb form

Adjective AdverbHappy kids Playing happily

Smooth rock Running smoothly

Good night Eating Well

Efficient workers Working efficiently

Casual dress Dressing casually

Quick meeting Talking quickly

hopeful children Waiting hopefully

Real butter Really hot

What are adjectives?

• Adjectives modify nouns or pronouns• These words are all adjectives

• A hot day

• A happy camper

• A silly twit • A big, bloody mess (both “big” and “bloody” modify “mess”)• She is creative (“creative” is a subject complement that

follows the linking verb “is”)• A boring course (present participle used as an adjective

So what are adverbs?

• Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs• Many adverbs end with ly• Many adverbs answer the question “How?”• These are adverbs• Eating quickly (modifying a verb)• Trying very hard (modifying an adverb)• A really big show (modifying an adjective)

Don’t use needless adverbs

• Before using any of these words, check to see if they add anything to the sentence

• Really, very, absolutely, extremely, quite, actually, somewhat, rather• I am really happy to see you• Grammar is very boring• You are absolutely correct• Her language was extremely crude• You are quite intelligent

• Context will help you decide whether to retain the underlined words

• Keep them only if they add to the meaning• Bill Gates is very rich. I hope he gives me some money.

• Most college instructors are poor; their students are very poor.• Note: the terms “good success” and “real good success” have

been reserved for sports broadcasters; do not use them

Types of Transition Wordsand Phrases…

Transitions of Addition• Common Words

1. And

2. Also

3. Besides

4. Too

5. First

6. Next

7. Last

• Power Terms

1. Moreover

2. Furthermore

3. In Addition

Transitions of Contrast

• Simple Contrast1. But2. Yet3. Still4. Even so5. Instead6. Otherwise7. Regardless

• Complex Contrast1. Although2. At the same time3. Despite that4. In contrast5. In spite of6. Nevertheless7. Notwithstanding8. On the other hand

Transitions of Example

• Simple Example

1. For example

2. For instance

3. Indeed

4. In fact

5. Of course

• Complex Example

1. As an illustration

2. In other words

3. In short

4. That is

5. To illustrate

Practicing Transitions

1. In addition,

2. Likewise,

3. Even so,

4. For instance,

5. In general,

6. Finally,

Write sentences using the above transitional words and phrases.

Apostrophes…

Tip!

• Even when a singular noun already ends in -s, you must still add an apostrophe and an -s to form the possessive.

• The class’s test scores were high.

• Oscar Lewis’s article was interesting, but I disagree with much of what he said.

Singular Possessive

• Lincoln Universities mascot is the lion.

• Lincoln University’s mascot is the lion.

My next clients appointment is at 1:00.

My next client’s appointment is at 1:00.

Plural Possessive

• All three agencies directors are coming.

• All three agencies’ directors are coming.

Those students excuses are unbelievable.

Those students’ excuses are unbelievable.

Here’s the Common Mistake!!

• Don’t make a word possessive when it really is just a plain old plural.

The students’ did well.

The students’ success was well deserved.

X

possessive

plain old plural

Using Apostrophes

There are two uses for apostrophes.1. To form contractions.• do + not = don’t

2. To show possession or ownership.• Jean’s essay was good.

’

Contractions and Formal Writing

Do not use contractions in formal writing. Always write the words out.

Informal:

Experts don’t agree on why people can’t seem to stick to their diets.

Formal:

Experts do not agree on why people cannot seem to stick to their diets.

Homophones

Homophones are words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings.

Homophones

For example, there is a pear thatis good to eat. I use a pair ofgloves because I have two hands.

Pay attention to see how the followinghomophones are spelled.

they’re there their

• They’re going to be last if they don’t hurry.

• The books are right there.

• Halloween is their favorite holiday.

through threw

• We are swimming through the water.

• She threw the ball to her brother.

two too to

• The baby has two new teeth.

• I have too much homework!

• Astronauts went to the moon.

• eight• choose• wait• sun• main• need• new• pair You’re a homophone expert!

For the words listed above write the homophone.