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| For
quick reference to a particular grammar problem with which you are
struggling, click on one of the topics below. |
| For
further help you may want to visit
A Guide
to Grammar and Writing
I also
recommend Diane Hacker's Handbook
For Writers. This
is a complete grammar book available online for free. It
also includes MLA format guidelines. |
| A
fragment occurs when a group of words is punctuated
like a sentence, but lacks something that is needed to make it a
sentence. In order for a group of words to be a
sentence, it must contain a subject, contain a verb, and express a
complete thought.
If the group of words lacks any one
of the above items, it is a fragment. Click on the picture
to the right for more on fragments.
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| A
run-on is a type of grammatical error that occurs when
two or more sentences are crammed together and punctuated as one.
This, like the fragment, is considered a serious grammatical flaw.
The best way to find run-ons in your writing is to examine each
group of words you punctuated like a sentence and ask yourself
whether or not you have an abrupt change of topics in one group of
words. If you do, you probably have created a run-on and
need to fix it.
For more on run-ons, click on the
picture to the right.
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| A
Comma-splice is a type of run-on. It
occurs when two independent clauses (groups of words that could
stand alone as sentences) are joined together with only a comma.
Click on the picture to the right to view a presentation on
comma-splices:
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| Apostrophes
tend to give many students problems. Although there are a
few other uses for the apostrophe, it is primarily used to form
contractions and to show possession.
In a contraction
(two words combined as one) the apostrophe almost always is used
to show that a letter or letters have been omitted. For
example, in the contraction don't,
which means do not,
the apostrophe stands in place of the o
in not. Without
the apostrophe in the correct place, you would have a spelling
error. The following is a list of common contractions and
their meanings:
|
Contraction
|
Meaning
|
Contraction
|
Meaning
|
|
|
|
|
| Aren't
Can't
Couldn't
Didn't
Don't
He's
I'll
I'm
I've
I'd
Isn't
Let's
|
Are not
Can not
Could not
Did not
Do not
He is
I will
I am
I have
I had, I would
Is not
Let us
|
She's
She'll
There's
They're
Wasn't
We're
Weren't
We've
Who's
Won't
Wouldn't
You're
|
She is
She will
There is
They are
Was not
We are
Were not
We have
Who is
Will not
Would not
You are
|
The only anomaly appears to be the contraction won't,
which means will not.
Please note that some instructors ask that you not
use contractions in academic writing. I am one such
instructor. However, I do feel it is important that you know
how to use contractions correctly outside the academic arena.
Back
Possessives
are words used to show ownership or belonging. They, like
contractions, are formed with the apostrophe. An example of
a possession is found in the following sentence:
Instructor Peppard's house is elaborate. Although the
above sentence is not true, it does contain the possessive noun
Peppard's. The
's in the word
Peppard's indicates
that the house belongs to Instructor Peppard. There are some
basic rules for forming the possessive case of nouns:
Rule
1: To show possession to plural nouns ending in s,
add only an apostrophe after the s.
For example: All of the
players' hats were strewn on the field after their incredible
victory.
Whose hats were strewn about in the
above example? In this case all the players hats were strewn
about. Because players
is a plural noun ending in s,
all you need to do to show ownership is add an apostrophe
(players').
Rule
2: To show possession for all other nouns, add
's. It does not
matter whether the noun is singular or plural. Following are
some examples of this rule put into use.
For example: The
children's toys spilled across the
once clean room.
Chris's plot to pass English 1A by
buying essays off the internet was thwarted by Mr. Peppard's
use of the web site plagiarism.org.
Mary's little lamb followed her to
school one day and made the children laugh and play.
|
|
Please
Note: Some words are possessive without the
apostrophe. These words are known as possessive pronouns.
The following is a list of possessive pronouns.
|
its
my
your
|
his
her
their
|
|
|
| Remember, the above words do
not take an apostrophe to show possession. They show
possession all by themselves. Please
do not confuse these with their contraction semi-look-alikes.
Other uses for the apostrophe include:
1) To
indicate numbers that have been omitted as is the case in the
following sentence: I graduated from the class of '72.
In this sentence the apostrophe represents the 19
in 1972.
2) To
indicate slang or informal speech has been used. For
example: I have been fixin' to
build an electric car for some years now.
I love gangsta' rap!
3) To form
the plural of some numbers or letters such as in the sentence,
"I anticipate getting straight A's
this semester." This last use of the apostrophe is
optional (some writers omit the apostrophe). Whether or not
you decide to use the apostrophe in this instance, stay consistent
throughout your essay.
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|
|
| Voice
refers to the ability of the verb to show whether a subject acts
or receives the action named by the verb.
All sentences are either active
or passive
voice. Although both are grammatically correct, the active
voice is often stylistically preferred. However, most
students write in the passive voice.
When the subject of the sentence performs the action, the
sentence is said to be in the active
voice. For an example of a sentence written in the active
voice, read the following: Mary hurled the javelin.
Because the subject (Mary) is performing the action (she is doing
the hurling), the sentence is said to be in the active
voice.
When the subject of the sentence receives the action, the
sentence is said to be in the passive
voice. For an example of a sentence written in the passive
voice, read the following: The javelin was hurled by Mary.
Because the subject (the javelin) is receiving the action (it is
being hurled by Mary and is itself not doing the hurling), the
sentence is said to be in the passive
voice.
Prefer the active voice to the passive voice because it is
more direct, more precise, and more likely to hold a reader's
attention.
Exceptions to giving preferential treatment to the active
voice include situations when the doer of the action is unknown
(my car was stolen by someone) and when you wish to emphasize the
action rather than the doer of the action (the body was found on
Mount Everest by the search team).
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| Parallelism
is a good thing in writing. However, faulty
parallelism creates problems for the reader. When you see
the symbol //
in the margin of your paper, it indicates that you have faulty
parallelism. Your goal, then, is to make your writing
parallel (to put elements of your sentence into the same
grammatical form). |
| The term parallelism in
composition indicates that within a sentence words, phrases, and
clauses are in the same grammatical form. Here are some
examples of faulty parallelism to better illustrate this concept: |
| Being
respectful and honesty are admirable qualities in a person.
The above example of faulty parallelism should be rewritten
as either of the following:
|
| Being respectful and being
honest are admirable qualities in a person. |
| Respectfulness and honesty
are admirable qualities in a person. |
| My
wife's days are filled with doing laundry, running errands, and
phone calls. |
| The above example of faulty
parallelism should be rewritten as either of the following: |
| My wife's days
are filled with laundry, errands, and phone calls. |
| My wife's days
are filled with doing laundry, running errands, and answering
phone calls. |
| To
eat and playing are my daughter's favorite activities. |
| The above example of faulty parallelism should
be rewritten as either of the following: |
| To eat and to play are my
daughter's favorite activities. |
| Eating and playing are my
daughter's favorite activities. |
| Keep in mind that
faulty parallelism usually occurs when there are three or more
items in a series. These items can be words, phrases, or
clauses. Most frequently, faulty parallelism occurs with
verbs used in a series. Be on the watch for this type of
grammatical flaw. For more on
parallelism, click here.
Back |
| Homonyms
are words that sound alike, but are quite different in meaning.
People often confuse one word for its sound-alike cousin.
The following is a list of some common homonyms and their
definitions. Also included are commonly confused words
that are not homonyms. Read the following from left to
right: |
| Accept: To receive
Except: To exclude |
|
Advise: To offer
recommendations (V)
Advice: a recommendation (N)
|
|
Affect: To produce an
influence on (V)
Effect: To cause (V)
|
|
An emotional response
(N)
A result (N)
|
|
Aid: Help
Aide: Assistant
|
|
Allude: To make a reference
to
Elude: To stay away from
|
|
Allusion: An indirect
reference
Illusion: Something not as it
appears
|
|
All ready: Completely
prepared Already:
Previously; before
|
|
Altogether: thoroughly,
completely
All together: Everything in one
place
|
|
Ante: before
Anti: against
|
|
Are: The present, plural
tense of the verb to be Our:
Possessive pronoun (plural of my)
|
|
Assent: Agree
Ascent: Rise
|
|
Awhile: (Adverb used without
for)
A while: ([N] He stayed for a
while)
|
|
Base: The bottom; foundation
Bass: A deep tone
|
|
Bear: To carry; The
animal
Bare: Naked
|
|
Capital: Main; city
Capitol: The building in D.C.
|
|
Decent: Good
Descent: Go down
Dissent: to oppose
|
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Desert: Dry land like the
Mohabi
Dessert: The after-dinner treat
|
| Everyone: All people
Every one: each one |
|
Flew: (did fly)
Flu: similar to a cold
Flue: A chimney
|
|
Foreword: An introduction
Forward: To move ahead
|
|
Farther: Refers to physical
distance Father:
Dad Further:
Refers to extent or degree
|
|
Gorilla: The animal
Guerrilla: War related
|
|
Hear: Listening with the ear
Here: A location
|
|
Heard: A group of animals
Heard: Did hear
|
|
Hoarse: harsh (as in throat)
Horse: The animal
|
|
Its: Possessive pronoun
It's: It is or It has
|
|
Knew: Did know
New: Not used or old
|
|
Lead: A metal; to guide
Led: (Did guide)
|
|
Loose: Not tight
Lose: Not win
|
|
Maybe: Perhaps
May be: May happen
|
|
Passed: Did pass
Past: Previous time
|
|
Patience: Forbearance
Patients: People who doctor's
treat
|
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Quiet: Silence
Quite: Completely, very
|
|
Raise: To bring up; to build
Raze: To level; to destroy
Rays: Light beams
|
|
Serial: In a row
Cereal: That breakfast food
|
|
Threw: Tossed
Through: Penetrated; Completed
|
|
There: Location
Their: Possessive Pronoun They're:
They are
|
|
To: Toward
Two: The Number 2
Too: Also
|
|
Your: Possessive pronoun (Your
house)
You're: You are
|
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BACK
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| Pronoun-antecedent
agreement occurs when pronouns agree in gender
and number with the word(s) they modify. You always want
your pronouns to agree with their antecedents. A lack of
agreement can cause confusion for the individual reading your
paper.
In the following sentences, the pronoun
agrees with its antecedent in gender and number.
Brian passed in all his homework on time.
His refers to
Brian.
Students need to pass in their essays on time.
Their refers to students.
In the following sentences, however, the pronoun does not agree in
number with the noun being referred to by the pronoun:
Everyone needs to be aware of their limitations in life.
In the sentence above, the pronoun their
(a plural pronoun) refers to everyone
(each one person).
|
| Neither of the doctors
had their license to practice medicine.
In the sentence above, the pronoun their
(a plural pronoun) refers to neither
(each doctor).
The
following words take a singular pronoun to refer to them:
nobody, somebody, anybody, everybody,
no one, one, someone, anyone, everyone
each, either, everyone, neither, one
BACK
| Irregular
Verbs
As you are well aware, many verbs in English are
irregular. The following chart provides some common
irregular verbs. It really does not take too much to
learn those with which you are not already familiar.
The chart has three sections: the simple form of the
verb (the verb in its present tense form), the past tense,
and the past participle (the past tense used with one or
more auxiliary verbs such as have).
|
| Simple
Form |
Past
Tense |
Past
Participle |
| arise
awake
be
bear
beat
bid (to command)
bite
choose
cling
come
creep
dive
do
draw
drink
drive
fly
forget
forsake
get
give
go
grow
hang (to suspend)
have
hide
know
lay
lie
light
lose
make
prove
ride
ring
rise
run
see
seek
shake
shine (to glow)
show
shrink
sing
sink
sit
slay
sling
speak
spring
stink
stride
strike
strive
swim
swing
take
teach
tear
think
throw
wake
wear
write
|
arose
awoke or awaked
was, were
bore
beat
bade
bit
chose
clung
came
crept
dived or dove
did
drew
drank
drove
flew
forgot
forsook
got
gave
went
grew
hung
had
hid
knew
laid
lay
lighted or lit
lost
made
proved
rode
rang
rose
ran
saw
sought
shook
shone
showed
shrank
sang
sank or sunk
sat
slew
slung
spoke
sprang or sprung
stank or stunk
strode
struck
strove
swam
swung
took
taught
tore
thought
threw
woke or waked
wore
wrote
|
arisen
awaked or awoken
been
borne or born
beaten
bidden
bitten or bit
chosen
clung
come
crept
dived
done
drawn
drunk
driven
flown
forgotten or forgot
forsaken
got or gotten
given
gone
grown
hung
had
hidden
known
laid
lain
lighted or lit
lost
made
proved or proven
ridden
rung
risen
run
seen
sought
shaken
shone
shown or showed
shrunk
sung
sunk
sat
slain
slung
spoken
sprung
stunk
stridden
struck
striven
swum
swung
taken
taught
torn
thought
thrown
waked or woken
worn
written
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