Grammar

c
Y

After all these years you finally have the courage and opportunity to write à email announcing
that you and you alone have single handedly saved the company from utter disaster. You're
excited, you type it, you spell check it, and you hit send.
Everything is great except that your gold star memo has dangling modifiers, double negatives
and run-on sentences colliding with each other.
Now I am no grammar whiz but I know a good resource when I see it. Purdue University
maintains an online writing lab and I spent some time digging through it. Originally the goal was
to grab some good tips that would help me out at work and on this site, but there is simply too
much not to share.
Learn and enjoy!
Adjectives and adverbs
O A or An?: with exercise and answer key
O Adjective or Adverb?: with 2 exercises and answer keys
O Adjectives with Countable and Uncountable Nouns
O Using Articles ( A/An/The ): with 2 exercises and answer keys
Ô
O A Little Help with Capitals
O Count and NonCount Nouns (with Plurals, Articles, and Quantity Words): with 2 exercises and
answer keys
O Count and NonCount Nouns (with Articles and Adjectives): with exercise and answer key
O Writing Numbers: with exercise and answer key
R
O Prepositions of Direction: To, On(to), In(to): with exercise and answer key
O Prepositions of Location: At, In, On: with exercise and answer key
O Prepositions of Time, of Place, and to Introduce Objects
O åpatial Relationships of Prepositions
R
O Using Pronouns Clearly
O Pronoun Case
å
O Appositives: with exercise and answer key
O Dangling Modifiers
O Independent and Dependent Clauses (definitions)
O Making åubject and Verbs Agree

O Parallel åtructure
O Run-ons, Comma splices, and Fused åentences
O åentence Fragments: with 3 exercises and answer keys
O åentence Punctuation Patterns
O åome åtrategies for Improving åentence Clarity
ü
O Active/Passive Verbs
O Irregular Verbs
O åequence of Tenses
O Tense Consistency:w with an exercise and answer key
O Two-Part (Phrasal) Verbs- (Idioms)
O Verb Tenses
O Verbs with Helpers (Perfectives and Auxiliaries)
O Verbals: Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives
O Voice and Mood

O Apostrophes with exercise and answer key
O Quotation Marks: with exercise and answer key

O Commas after Introductions: with exercise and answer key
O Commas vs. åemicolons in Compound åentences : with exercise and answer key
O Commas with Essential and Non-essential Elements: with3 exercises and answer keys
O Proofreading for Commas
O Using Commas: with 5 exercises and answer keys

O Using Hyphens

O ]rief Overview of Punctuation: åemicolons, Colons, Parentheses, Dash, Quotation Marks, and
Italics: with exercise and answer key
åR
O åentence Punctuation Patterns
O Run-ons, Comma splices, and Fused åentences
å

O åpelling: åound-Alike Words
O åpelling: Accept/Except and Affect/Effect : with 2 exercises and answer keys
O åpelling: i/e rules: with 2 exercises and answer keys
O åpelling: Noun Plurals
O åpelling: åuffixesʹ- ible vs. Ͷable : with exercise and answer key

MAM goes before all words that begin with consonants.
O a cat
O a dog
O a purple onion
O a buffalo
O a big apple
·ith one exception: Use ManM before unsounded h.

O an honorable peace
O an honest error
MAnM goes before all words that begin with vowels:
O an apricot
O an egg
O an Indian
O an orbit
O an uprising
·ith two exceptions: ·hen u makes the same sound as the y in you, or o makes the same sound
as w in won, then a is used.
O a union
O a united front
O a unicorn
O a used napkin
O a U.å. ship
O a one-legged man
Note: The choice of article is actually based upon the phonetic (sound) quality of the first letter
in a word, not on the orthographic (written) representation of the letter. If the first letter makes a
vowel-type sound, you use ManM if the first letter would make a consonant-type sound, you use
Ma.M So, if you consider the rule from a phonetic perspective, there aren't any exceptions. Since
the 'h' hasn't any phonetic representation, no audible sound, in the first exception, the sound that
follows the article is a vowel consequently, 'an' is used. In the second exception, the word-initial
'y' sound (unicorn) is actually a glide [j] phonetically, which has consonantal properties
consequently, it is treated as a consonant, requiring 'a'.
! "

V

A countable noun is one that can be expressed in plural form, usually with an Ms.M For example,
Mcat--cats,M Mseason--seasons,M Mstudent--students.M
An uncountable noun is one that usually cannot be expressed in a plural form. For example,
Mmilk,M Mwater,M Mair,M Mmoney,M Mfood.M Usually, you can't say, Me had many moneys.M
Most of the time, this doesn't matter with adjectives. For example, you can say, MThe cat was
grayM or MThe air was gray.M owever, the difference between a countable and uncountable noun
does matter with certain adjectives, such as the following:
O some/any
O much/many
O little/few
O a lot of/lots of
O a little bit of
O plenty of
O enough
O no
å
]oth MsomeM and ManyM can modify countable and uncountable nouns.
O MThere is water on the floor.M

O MThere are Mexicans here.M
O MDo you have ` food?M
O MDo you have ` apples?M
Ê Ê
MMuchM modifies only uncountable nouns.
O MThey have so money in the bank.M

O MThe horse drinks so water.M
MManyM modifies only countable nouns.
O MÊ` Americans travel to Europe.M

O MI collected ` sources for my paper.M
0

MLittleM modifies only uncountable nouns.
O MHe had food in the house.M

O MWhen I was in college, there was money to spare.M
MFewM modifies only countable nouns.
O MThere are ` doctors in town.M

O MHe had reasons for his opinion.M

MA lot ofM and Mlots ofM are informal substitutes for much and many. They are used with
uncountable nouns when they mean MmuchM and with countable nouns when they mean Mmany.M
O MThey have (much) money in the bank.M

O MA (many) Americans travel to Europe.M
O MWe got (many) mosquitoes last summer.M
O MWe got (much) rain last summer.M

MA little bit ofM is informal and always precedes an uncountable noun.
O MThere is ` pepper in the soup.M

O MThere is ` snow on the ground.M
R

MPlenty ofM modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.
O MThey have money in the bank.M

O MThere are millionaires in åwitzerland.M

modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.
O MThere is enough money to buy a car.M

O MI have enough books to read.M
Ô
Ô modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.
O MThere is time to finish now.M

O MThere are squirrels in the park.M
!#
·hat is an article? ]asically, an article is an adjective. Like adjectives, articles modify nouns.
English has two articles: the and a/an. The is used to refer to specific or particular nouns a/an is
used to modify non-specific or non-particular nouns. ·e call the the á article and a/an the
á article.
the = definite article
a/an = indefinite article
For example, if I say, MLet's read the book,M I mean a book. If I say, MLet's read a book,M
I mean book rather than a specific book.
ere's another way to explain it: The is used to refer to a or member of a
group. For example, MI just saw the most popular movie of the year.M There are many movies, but
only one particular movie is the most popular. Therefore, we use the.
MA/anM is used to refer to a or member of the group. For example, MI
would like to go see a movie.M ere, we're not talking about a movie. ·e're talking
about movie. There are many movies, and I want to see movie. I don't have a specific
one in mind.
Let's look at each kind of article a little more closely.
a

MAM and ManM signal that the noun modified is indefinite, referring to member of a group. For
example:
O MMy daughter really wants a dog for Christmas.M This refers to ` dog. We don't know which
dog because we haven't found the dog yet.
O Måomebody call a policeman!M This refers to ` policeman. We don't need a specific policeman;
we need any policeman who is available.
O MWhen I was at the zoo, I saw an elephant!M Here, we're talking about a single, non-specific
thing, in this case an elephant. There are probably several elephants at the zoo, but there's only
we're talking about here.
å
O a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: ` ``` ` `

O an + singular noun beginning with a vowel: ` ` ` ` `` ` `
O a + singular noun beginning with a consonant sound: ` (sounds like 'yoo-zer,' i.e. begins
with a consonant 'y' sound, so 'a' is used);` ; `
O an + nouns starting with silent MhM: `
O In some cases where MhM is pronounced, such as Mhistorical,M use an:
An historical event is worth recording.
an writing, "a historical event" is more commonly used.
Remember that this rule also applies when you use acronyms:
Introductory Composition at Purdue (ICaP) handles first-year writing at the University. Therefore, an
ICaP memo generally discusses issues concerning English 106 instructors.
Another case where this rule applies is when acronyms start with consonant letters but have
vowel sounds:
An MåDå (material safety data sheet) was used to record the data. An åPCC plan (åpill Prevention
Control and Countermeasures plan) will help us prepare for the worst.
If the noun is modified by an adjective, the choice between a and an depends on the initial sound
of the adjective that immediately follows the article:
O a broken egg
O an unusual problem
O a European country (sounds like 'yer-o-pi-an,' i.e. begins with consonant 'y' sound)
Remember, too, that in English, the indefinite articles are used to indicate membership in a
group:
O I am a teacher. (I am a member of a large group known as teachers.)

O ]rian is an Irishman. (]rian is a member of the people known as Irish.)
O åeiko is a practicing ]uddhist. (åeiko is a member of the group of people known as ]uddhists.)
Î

The definite article is used before singular and plural nouns when the noun is specific or
particular. The signals that the noun is definite, that it refers to a particular member of a group.
For example:
MThe dog that bit me ran away.M ere, we're talking about a dog, the dog that bit me.
MI was happy to see the policeman who saved my cat!M ere, we're talking about a
policeman. Even if we don't know the policeman's name, it's still a particular policeman because
it is the one who saved the cat.
MI saw the elephant at the zoo.M ere, we're talking about a noun. Probably there is only
one elephant at the zoo.
Ô Ô
The can be used with noncount nouns, or the article can be omitted entirely.
O MI love to sail over the waterM (some specific body of water) or MI love to sail over waterM (any
water).
O MHe spilled the milk all over the floorM (some specific milk, perhaps the milk you bought earlier
that day) or MHe spilled milk all over the floorM (any milk).
MA/anM can be used only with count nouns.
O MI need a bottle of water.M

O MI need a new glass of milk.M
Most of the time, you can't say, MShe wants a water,M unless you're implying, say, a bottle of
water.
c

There are some specific rules for using the with geographical nouns.
Do not use the before:
O names of most countries/territories: a` Ê

`; however, Netherlands,
Dominican Republic, Philippines, United åtates
O names of cities, towns, or states: å Ê` ` Ê `
O names of streets: ·`
Ê` å
O names of lakes and bays: 0` `` 0` except with a group of lakes like `
0`
O names of mountains: Ê Ê except with ranges of mountains like
or or unusual names like Ê`
O names of continents (Asia, Europe)
O names of islands (Easter Island, Maui, Key West) except with island chains like the Aleutians, the
Hebrides, or the Canary Islands
Do use the before:
O names of rivers, oceans and seas: `

O points on the globe: `
O geographical areas: Ê ` ·
O deserts, forests, gulfs, and peninsulas: å``` `
` a `
`

Some common types of nouns that don't take an article are:
O Names of languages and nationalities: å` ` (unless you are
referring to the population of the nation: MV åpanish are known for their warm hospitality.M)
O Names of sports: ` ``
O Names of academic subjects: ``
A Little Help with Capitals

V

V

·

V

V
R

·

! "
#
" $

$

%
& "
$ '
V
c

( "

"

V ) )
V

" &
" " !

V *
+ , #
V

&
#

V -...
V

/

0
V

0 ) )
V

# +,

V

!

*

%
%
$
·

R
!

( 0
$

1
V
*
&
"
" ·

!

2
3
42

· iting Numbe s

1
%
%

-56
78-9:
68;-
<=;

"
$-5-.69 -5$-.69
$-:66
-.::
-.=-%=5 -.=-%-.=5

-.;:, -.;:
V

;>::"? @? @ ,

<>8:*"? @? @ %

-6V
89:·--<

/ ;
-;
69
&(
R!

#
R
8:
6
85? @
R
5=
-8-A<
:8=
0

? @7<
-69:::::? @-69
Ô

V 1 ?-::@

1
Ô 6 8
--9.:? @--9,1.:,
59%6? @ 59 6
V . 9

1
Ô 6B

4>V 6.:%%
? ,6.:, @
>V 1.:%%

R epositions of Di ection: To, On (to), In (to)

V

V

V

!

""
V

#$ % &#
Int oduction
V

V

'

# #

'
() $*&+,'
$
'

# #-
V
V

· 2C
*
V

V

$V.
$V.

*#V#

,
V /

V

·

V # #

V

V
V
V

/
V

V
R

V
R

å

ses of "To"
#V#

ü

ü

!

,

,

& ,
a

ü

*
,

*

,
ü

!
"""""

!

# #

# #

V

!

V
? D
@
V

$
?$ D @
V

? @
ses of "Onto"

V * ,

$ ? @
& ? @

? @

å

&

##& ### #

V ? ) ) @
? ) ) @
&
? ) ) @
+

? ) ) @
? @

V ? @
V ? @
ü

### # # #&
### #* / ,####
V * ,

'

'
#'

###

#'
## #
V

å

(
#V * ,
# ##

0

V # #*12,
*13,*14,
V

! # # ### #

##V
(

O " *#

#,
O *# #,
O
*#
#,
O Î*# #- #

#,
O %*#
#,
O +*#
#,

Î5*&6 ,
ses of "Into"
·

##*##,

å
*( ,
V , V ? ) )@
# 1 ?)

,)@
#
#& #

/ & # #

/ 7
2
'
2 '
ü

!

/

V
V
V ?, ,@
a

' ##

# #
V

V

#V

##V $

### # # ' #V

#
' # #

·, ,
/

V

V

V

R epositions fo Time, Rlace, and Int oducing

Objects
One point in time

O

8
O V
å

O 8

O V 9

O

O V

O V
:;;;
O V

tended time
V !

%

&

O å -å

O $
-

O V

& -

O V

-

O Vü -

O ' / -

Rlace
V
!

O V
O $
O

O å
Highe than a point

V / !

!
!
O

!
O
!
Lowe than a point

V /
!

O V

O V

O '

O V

7

Close to a point
V /
!

O å

O V
O

O V !
å 8
å
O

O V

To int oduce objects of ve bs

!

/

" !

O å

*
å
,
O )
/
O

O '/
O V

O å
"

O

O 8

O

"

!
O

O
<
O

" !

O Î

<
O

O

O '

O )

O
##

sing R onouns Clea ly
]+! !+å]6 V6!åV!$%!&

V

d

?2#V>

@
+ !

0 ?2#V> @
2 ?2#V> @
(&V!8
# #

# #

/ # ## #
# #
ÿ
# #*, #
#*,# #* ,å

#
# # ## #
·

?2#V>·

@
*

Î
2#V> ?) )
'@
2#V> ,
V(?· ) )'@
2#V>( ?·
'@
2#V>
V ,

?· ) ) '@
2#V>

?· ) )

'@
R onoun Case
$

V
O å/ /

O &/ /
O $
R å R R

R
I me my (mine)
you you your (yours)
he, she, it him, her, it his, her (hers), it (its)
we us our (ours)
they them their (theirs)
who whom whose
V V V V V

åome p oblems of case:

d

V

Ô
?· ))'@

Ô & +
?· ) )'@
Ô 4

?· )

)'@
ÿ

'

& ?@
V ? @
?@

Ô &
?· ) )'@
*

/

/

V
<

'
<
ye T aining: Visual Ratte ning

'

#V

*

,
"

#V

V

# #

'

*

,

'

%

]
O '
<
O '
<
O
<
O ' <
Î

"
ü V

"
$

·
ü
# $
ü
V

"
å

å

å

#
#

V

&

V

7 ]

å

V

·

$
ü

!

V

V

]

ü

ü

V
!
$

#
%#* 0

,

V

220!!00DE

V

E
!E
·

!D
%

V

V &
· >E
CF ?

@
V

!

# E
# %
&
2

# !>E

# !D

# !D
%
#
E

##
#
#

##*

## ## 4

##,'
<
c=

*

,V

*# # *

,,'

$
*

,

##
å

*
,

V
#

#

#V

#

0
#
#

0$

V

7 7
/7

7
7
!/

V

V

220!!00DE
17

7
7

220!!00DE

/
*
,ü
7

* ,
7/

/

/ /
V

V

*

,V

$

V

&

]

*

,

$

V

å

V

220!!00DE

V

E

!E
·

* ,

*

,

*
,V #
#

*

,V
%

*

,

7

7
*# #,

7

&
#
%#

> ]

Dangling Modifie s and How To Co ect Them

V(
# # !

/

>
å

*# #,

V

# #

Vü * /

,Vü å

å

"
:(

/

'
<V
V

V

1
V
* ,
*
,
1

·

' <V # # V
V

]

V

-
#
#
?

'

<V

V
V

Ê

"

+

!

+ !

V

!
+V

!
Identifying Independent and Dependent
Clauses
'

V

'

/

+ G 3
'

/

&

·
+ G 3?·
'V @

·
+ G 3
å

!!

! !

'

V

/
d'
'

V /

'

/ /
+ G 3

ÿ

V

'

+ G 3D

å

!

!!

å % &

'

)

>

O >

O ? @
D
O ? @

O ? @

O ? @

V
7 V

>" ,
O >" ,

O ? @" D,
O ? @" ,
O ? @" D ,

å

)

> 1
O > 1 ,

O ? @ 1
Making åubjects and Ve bs Ag ee

V

!
:' /

å

1'

?' /

/

/

3Î

/ Î

/ V

'

,

,

4Î
/ V
/

1

1

9V

"+

£(

1
(

'

/
2(

*V
,

; /
å

/

V

V

:@

!

V

V

/ 7 * :@:@@:,
::!

/ /

R

1
Ra allel åt uctu e
V

*
,
'

Î%Î

01@:@7@37:£@44:@:
$

V

V
/

/ ####
· #
&

R
"

!
R
"

#/
"

*( )# #

,
Î

d
Ô R

"

R

"

ÿ
Ô R

V

G

R

V

G

*
Ô R

V

1

R

V

1

%

* ,

d
Ô R

V

%1

R

V

%1
E E
R

V

%1
ÿ
Ô R

V 1

R

V 1

G
0
%
#

d
Ô R

V >

R

V >

#
å
V "
O å ####

/

O

O %
Î
<
#7 # <&
<

åentence Runctuation Ratte ns

V

'

Î%Î

]
01@::7@17@1::4£3@
V

/
# "å

V

wA
01>

# V "% å
V
/
wA

wA
V /

01>

# V "% å
V

w-A wA
01>

D

# "% å
V

w-A wA wA
!

!

!

01>

D

#
"% å
V

wA wA
!

01>]

# å
"% å
V

wA
!

01>

# å
V

7

wA
&

wA
7

7

01>

# &

V

wA

01>

åentence F agments
$

'

$&'%
01@:@7@37:£@43;4£

&

&

]

$ "

(

O $/

R
$/

O Î

0!
R
Î

O #
!

R

O V

!

R
#

) /

V

/

å

-

/
Ô
O

R

Î !

cV "

O V

!
R

V

Î ! V

O

R

Î ! !

Ô
O

!

R

V

O #

!!

R

R

O

R
R

$

R

V

/

V *

,

/ *

, /

Imp oving åentence Cla ity

/

'

]
]
01@:@7@37:£@43;@1
V

c

# #
V

V

0 1 ,

? @V ? @

?@ ? @

! , %
V
?@ ? @
Î <

! , %
# ? @
?@
V

V !

/
å V
Î* ',V

V
,

,
,
]

*
,

*
,

*

,

å
7

å

- -

* ,
V

*,

'

*

,

*

,

?-@ ?5@

?8@

*

,

?-@ ?5@V

?8@

#

#

V

&

* ,
V 1

V 1

#
#

*
,
V

V

*

,
!

*

%

'

V

*,

:,
1,
V

*,
#

V

V

]

V

]

*
,
· 3

V

· 3

V

*
,
!

!
D

I egula Ve bs: Ove view and List

V

'

Î%Î
6
å
!

01@:@7:@7:3@3@3:?
!

* , *
,

+
7

List of I egula Ve bs in nglish

V

!
!

" *
,

R R RR

be was, were been
become became become
begin began begun
blow blew blown
break broke broken

bring brought brought
build built built
burst burst burst
buy bought bought
burst burst burst
catch caught caught
choose chose chosen
come came come
cut cut cut
deal dealt dealt
do did done
drink drank drunk
drive drove driven
eat ate eaten
fall fell fallen
feed fed fed
feel felt felt
fight fought fought
find found found
fly flew flown
forbid forbade forbidden

forget forgot forgotten
forgive forgave forgiven
freeze froze frozen
get got gotten
give gave given
go went gone
grow grew grown
have had had
hear heard heard
hide hid hidden
hold held held
hurt hurt hurt
keep kept kept
know knew known
lay laid laid
lead led led
leave left left
let let let
lie lay lain
lose lost lost
make made made

meet met met
pay paid paid
quit quit quit
read read read
ride rode ridden
run ran run
say said said
see saw seen
seek sought sought
sell sold sold
send sent sent
shake shook shaken
shine shone shone
sing sang sung
sit sat sat
sleep slept slept
speak spoke spoken
spend spent spent
spring sprang sprung
stand stood stood
steal stole stolen

swim swam swum
swing swung swung
take took taken
teach taught taught
tear tore torn
tell told told
think thought thought
throw threw thrown
understand understood understood
wake woke (waked) woken (waked)
wear wore worn
win won won
write wrote written
åequence of Tenses
V
!

'

]
]!

01@:@7:@7:3@3@1@9
å
!

*# #,
*# #,& !

7

RV

RRV

RV

RRV

V

RV

$

V
######### ## ##
##
#
# ## ## #

# #
V

*
, # ## #

:] *

,
1] * ,
V
*:, ] -*1,

:>
1>
# #

# ##
## ## #

* > ,V

: 5
1>
V -

V /

:>

* ,
1>

* ,
V

:+ = *
,
1+ = * ,

-

-

:

1 =

# V
V

:å *

,
1]å ! * ,

:>!
* ,
1> !
* ,
?> !
* ,
3> !

* ,
4> !!
* ,
( V

#
#
Ove view of Two-Ra t (Rh asal) Ve bs

(Idioms)
$

"
'

]
01@:@7:@7:3@?34@;
8!

*

,
7

V

O

7

V

O

ÿ7

'

O

*7
'
<
O

7

å

/
O
* ,
'
å

'
å

O
* ,
'
å

å

*V !
,
O !
* ,
'

å

* /
,
'
å

*

/
,

]

ce unds
V
*

,

'

$&'%
01@:@7@;7?@@1:4@1

½
V

/ / /
/

c
O V
*V! ,
O V *V
,
c

O V *V ,

O V *V ,
c

O 8

*V ,
O 8
*V ,
c

O V
*V ,
O V

*V ,
=$ *,"*,*,

*, / *, / *,
*,

V

,
* ,

* / ,
*
,
V

!

*/ ,
* ,

* / ,

* / ,
V

V ,

* ,

* / ,
V

C

* ,
* / ,

!

* ,
V

+
#* ,

*/
> ,
#

#
"
:
7
1
*,/ *,"
*,
? =

The Apost ophe

V

'

$&'%
01@:@7@;7@;@4@;:?
V
:

1

?

#
Ô
V # #

.

/./
##

/
5

.

.

.

&

O

!&

> *>

#V !
#V !

,
O

&

O

&

O

77

O

V
å

* ,

*, V

V

*,

(

(
(

(

(

(

!(
!V

)
(d

-

# ## #V

V

*

,

.

V

#]
#V

#
7#
(

c*(

c*
V =3

+(
V B
d (

d
d
V :;9@

Î '

who

0

<

<

V

V
*( # #
#
# .

5,

å

å

#

V

O
77

O /

How to se Quotation Ma ks

'

å88$
]
01@:@7@27@4@4?@11
sing Quotation Ma ks
V
*
,
V

å

V

å

V

Di ect Quotations
Î

:C

Î

1

"+
)V
)
?Î

"+
)

) 1
3 7

) , )"+ ) )
4

8%

'

å %
# ####/ #V

"+ 1 ) , 1
1 H I)
9C

V

*

)& / ,
Indi ect Quotations

"+

8

Î

" ! J +

V

" ! J + 0 * )V
2
)

* ,

'

#) #
Commas Afte Int oductions

V
'

ÎÎ

]
01@:@7@37:£@9@119

Int oducto y Clauses

# #

a 1 ?
@

?
@

!

Int oducto y Rh ases

$ / /

V 1 ?
@

?
@

? @

V
?
@

? @
a ·

V Ê
2 G
"
G
·hen to se a Comma

O

*Î
/
<,
O

*
<,
O

O *'

<, *8
<,
·hen not to se a Comma

å
/

Î

O

*

<,
O *
, *å ,
O V / *å
,
!

*
,
/ 7

7 /

*
H1I

V
%
H1I
01 1 H1I

Commas vs. åemicolons in Compound

åentences
V
'

ÎÎ

]
01@:@7@37:£@9@1?1
/

å

Î

V
Comma (,)

/

V ,

åemicolon (;)

D
D
V ,

D

)

/

/ * /

,

D
D
V ,

D

$&'% å
$ $
Commas with Nonessential lements

V
'

ÎÎ

]
01@:@7@37:£@9@1?;
å

V

!

,

2 >V
? @
0 >V 1 %
? @
2 >

% ? @
0 >V

? @
2 >"

?@
0 >V ?@

Î

&'%

! ]
"

Commas: Quick Rules

V
'

ÎÎ

]
01@:@7@37:£@9@1@;
V

V

-

V
V

!c
%
:

/
/

1 ,

, ,

?

3Î

*

,V

V

4

9 / ]

/

7 /
£

2

å

;

* ,
* ,

:@

::

tended Rules fo sing Commas

V
'

ÎÎ

]
01@:@7::7:9@11£?@
%
d

!

V
V 1 G

,

C ,

ÿ

·

]

·
,

* ,

* ,

V

G #?V
1 1 @

*
,

,

·

!

*

O

<
O Î

<
O

<
##

V Va

a

R
V 1 V a

a

·

a a %
1
*

!

!

V

V
a 1
V
V

&

V
!

*,

V
V
!

* ,
a

a
" a

a
V a

a
a

a
* a

a 1
V a

a
a
a

V a
a
X

V 1

V 1

V

!

#!

!

&
!
/ /

*##7 , -
/ ) /

O Î / <
O Î /
<
/

7 /
& ? @
V ? % @
? % @
C ? @
V -@5@ 8@ ?-%5 D
5%8 % @
V -@5@ 8@ ? -%55%8
@
£

&
V 3
C , , , '
V

2

? @

! 2 ?· ! 2'@
! ! 2? @
! 2 ? @

0
+55-.9. · -6::*
· $'
/ !
"$

?·
>)V +-..;
)@
d

+ ), )
)) ) )
-;<;"1 )·
F)
dd
!
!

V &
%

dÿ

!

%

V G
1
d*

!
!

·

d*

V

+

dX

? @

V

G #?V
1 1 @
Hyphen se

'

å86
å

01@:@7@37:£@9@?:?
V

%

: /

/
%
%
%

V
V

1
% 1
1%
# % 1%
?

% ? @
% ? @
%
?
@
3 7* ,

7
7- 7
-

-

1%
%
%
%
%
%
V%
% ·
%-.;:
4

%%
%
% % %%%
9

%

%

£
7

-

%
%
%
%
2 (

7

?$ @
%%? D %
@
] ief Ove view of Runctuation

' '

V

'

8 åÎ%Î

01@:@7@37:£@9@@?2
' '

V

!

,

!

,

%
/1
/ *
,
/
V

V
$

1

V

# !

8

+ ,

· 3 "

/ */

,
V
V

*

,
1 / 1C

)C) V )

)

# 59-...
" # 59-...
59# -...

-9::::::
-6-<&

* "$
"
/ # # G,

·!
$V1

*
/
,

/

å

/1

/ $ D
3

/1

/
*

,
*

,
V 4 D
,

/

/ # D !
4 D
D2 +

%

/1

/ $ > "
·

+ >

!

>)

E

E

)

>

V · " >

*,
-5>::

]

" ->6
#
$ V

" ?-.<5%@
)

)
Î
Î

Î

* E
E

E
E0

V 4

)# ) · -;-5E
&"

V E

V EV V E

Ê !

(

V

&
)· ')) 6>8:)

& ) )

) %/ )/ · 0
)+!
· ) $
)V )
Î

a

]7

V

"

/

V
·

V Ê $

V

4 " ) )

V F

V
åpelling: Common ·o ds that åound Alike

V

" "

D

"

'

$&'%
01@:@7::7::@?@£39
8
V

Fo ms to Remembe
&
O .
&

O .

0

'

" "
&
O .

·

'
O .

·

'
O .

#

7
ü ü
'

" "

O !.

O !.

,

%
%

O

./
$
O
.

,

,
aa
O .

+

E , · !
F
O .

/

"

O ./

+

aa'
O ./ *

,
V
O . * ,

, D ?*
@
00
O .

V K%

O . 7 7

V

V V
used in comparison statements: He is richer I.
V used in statements of preference: I would rather dance eat.
used to suggest quantities beyond a specified amount: Read more the first paragraph.
a time other than now: He was younger . åhe will start her new job .
V next in time, space, or order: First we must study; we can play.
suggesting a logical conclusion: If you've studied hard, the exam should be no problem.
V
V V '
O V .
V

O V .

"

*V
,
O V .

*$

,
V V V
O V
.
V

O V
.

O V
. 1
1
V
!

1

*#
#,
·' · ·
O .
·

?*
@
O .

·

'?V @
O .
V

'
O "
.
!
O "
.
!

*$
,
a &
' !
!
&

# ## #

&

$

½
½
If the root is not a complete word, add - If the root is a complete word, add -able.
ible.
accept + able = acceptable
aud + ible = audible
Examples:
Examples:
O fashionable
O visible O laughable
O horrible O suitable
O terrible O dependable
O possible O comfortable
O edible
O eligible If the root is a complete word ending in -e, drop the final -e and add -
able.
O incredible
O permissible
excuse - e+ able = excusable
Examples:
O advisable
O desirable
O valuable
O debatable
å
"
O

O

O

O

O

O

V
7
7

$
V

Grammar

Diunggah oleh

Informasi Dokumen

Deskripsi Asli:

Hak Cipta

Format Tersedia

Bagikan dokumen Ini

Bagikan atau Tanam Dokumen

Opsi Berbagi

Apakah menurut Anda dokumen ini bermanfaat?

Apakah konten ini tidak pantas?

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

Grammar

Diunggah oleh

Hak Cipta:

Format Tersedia

c

Learn and enjoy!

Adjectives and adverbs

O A or An?: with exercise and answer key

O Adjective or Adverb?: with 2 exercises and answer keys

O Adjectives with Countable and Uncountable Nouns

O Using Articles ( A/An/The ): with 2 exercises and answer keys

O A Little Help with Capitals

O Writing Numbers: with exercise and answer key

O Prepositions of Time, of Place, and to Introduce Objects

O åpatial Relationships of Prepositions

O Using Pronouns Clearly

O Appositives: with exercise and answer key

O Independent and Dependent Clauses (definitions)

O Making åubject and Verbs Agree

O Run-ons, Comma splices, and Fused åentences

O åentence Fragments: with 3 exercises and answer keys

O åentence Punctuation Patterns

O åome åtrategies for Improving åentence Clarity

O Tense Consistency:w with an exercise and answer key

O Two-Part (Phrasal) Verbs- (Idioms)

O Verbals: Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives

O Voice and Mood

    

O Apostrophes with exercise and answer key

O Quotation Marks: with exercise and answer key

O Commas after Introductions: with exercise and answer key

O Proofreading for Commas

O Using Commas: with 5 exercises and answer keys

O åentence Punctuation Patterns

O Run-ons, Comma splices, and Fused åentences

O åpelling: åound-Alike Words

O åpelling: Accept/Except and Affect/Effect : with 2 exercises and answer keys

O åpelling: i/e rules: with 2 exercises and answer keys

O åpelling: Noun Plurals

   

MAM goes before all words that begin with consonants.

·ith one exception: Use ManM before unsounded h.

MAnM goes before all words that begin with vowels:

    !  "

O MThere is  water on the floor.M

MMuchM modifies only uncountable nouns.

O MThey have so  money in the bank.M

MManyM modifies only countable nouns.

O MÊ` Americans travel to Europe.M

MLittleM modifies only uncountable nouns.

O MHe had   food in the house.M

MFewM modifies only countable nouns.

O MThere are ` doctors in town.M

O MThey have   (much) money in the bank.M

MA little bit ofM is informal and always precedes an uncountable noun.

O MThere is `  pepper in the soup.M

MPlenty ofM modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

O MThey have  money in the bank.M

 modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

O MThere is enough money to buy a car.M

Ô modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

O MThere is time to finish now.M

the = definite article

a/an = indefinite article

Let's look at each kind of article a little more closely.

O a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: ` ``` ` ` 

An historical event is worth recording.

! "

O MThere is water on the floor.M

O MThey have so money in the bank.M

O MHe had food in the house.M

O MThere are ` doctors in town.M

O MThey have (much) money in the bank.M

O MThere is ` pepper in the soup.M

O MThey have money in the bank.M

modifies both countable and uncountable nouns.

O a + singular noun beginning with a consonant: ` ``` ` `

Ô Ô

O names of most countries/territories: a` Ê

O names of rivers, oceans and seas: `

V

·

" $

& "

$ '

V

" " !

V *

+ , #

0 ) )

# +,

%

·

" ·

%

%

"

$-5-.69 -5$-.69

-.;:, -.;:

;>::"? @? @ ,

<>8:*"? @? @ %

R

R

:8=

? @7<

-69:::::? @-69

V 1 ?-::@

1

Ô 6 8

59%6? @ 59 6

V . 9

1

Ô 6B

? ,6.:, @

V

V

V

V

$V.

$V.

*#V#

V /

V # #

V

V

V

ü