Language ISAT Review
- Name and describe the four types of sentences.
1.Interrogative: asks a question. It ends with a (?). Example: How are you?
2.Exclamatory: expresses strong feelings. It ends with an (!). Example: Watch out!
3.Imperative: gives a command or makes a request. It ends with a period. Example: Please bring me the light.
4.Declarative: makes a statement. It ends with a period. Example: I want waffles.
- Name and describe the five steps in the writing process.
1.Pre-writing:Come up with an idea. Organize your thoughts using a graphic organizer
2.Writing (drafting):Write about your idea. Write everything down. Don’t worry about punctuation and spelling.
3.Revising:Make your writing clearer. Check your writing for information, organization, and right words.
4.Editing or Proofing:Check for mistakes in your work. Proofread for grammar, punctuation, and spelling mistakes.
5.Publishing: Sharing your writing with others. Use your best handwriting or a print your written work using a clear font.
- Comma (,)
1.To separate two or more adjectives of equal rank. Examples:(bright, shinny penny). His dog was an exuberant, energetic puppy.
2.To set off a direct quotation. (p. 390-391)Example: He yelled, “Don’t go near the well!”
3.Use a comma in direct address, in the greeting of a friendly letter, and after introductory words and phrases. (p. 382-383) Examples: Yes, cameras see things that we cannot always see, Jim. History students, Christianna, all remember Mathew Brady’s pictures. (Dear Mom and Dad,) Believe it or not, the first camera was made in Italy in 1500.
4.To separate three or more words, phrases, or clauses in a series. (p. 380-381) Example: Please bring the yellow ball, the red bat, and the yellow gloves when you come to my house.
5.To separate two independent clauses in a compound sentence.(p. 322) Example: Before the Constitution was adopted, the United States had no President. Unconcerned about small children or kittens, Carol recklessly sped through the residential neighborhood.
6.You should use a coma with two complete sentences connected by and, but, or, nor that are close in meaning. Example: My brother loves his pets, and he takes good care of them.
7.To set off a word, phrase, or dependent clause at the beginning of a sentence. Example: Yes, you are the one! After slurping up the last few drops of his chocolate shake, he rubbed his stomach.
- Colon (:) page 394
1.Before a list of items or details. Example: These students helped with the costumes: Shirley, Barry, and Eva.
2.In a salutation of a business letter. Example Dear Sir:
3.With time. Example 3:45 p.m.
4.Before a statement that summarizes the original statement.
5.Before a long, formal quotation or statement.
- Semicolon (;) (p. 66-67)
1.To separate two complete sentences that are close in meaning but not separated by and, but, or, nor, for, or yet. Example: Textbook illustrations cannot look old-fashioned; students will not like them.
2.To separate items in a series when the series already contains commas. Example: I have many favorite color combinations. I love red, white, blue; purple, pink, lavender; and black, yellow, green.
- Quotation marks (p. 392)
1.To set off a direct quotation. Example: “He was holding his head high above the clouds.” Ethan exaggerated.
2.To set off slang and foreign words or phrases. Example: You have to give that girl “props” for her excellent Website. (Props = respect or recognition).
- Word Choice: The “of” Error
1.Do not substitute the preposition of for the verb have. Do not use: could of, or should of.
2.Use could have, should have.
- Word Choice: Using lay and lie correctly
1. to lay / to put or place something down / lay(s) / laid / laid / laying
2. to lie / to rest or recline / lie(s) / lay / lain / lying
- Word Choice: Their, There, and They’re
1.Use their when something belongs to someone. Example: Their books were on the floor.
2.Use there when giving directions. Example: Put the books over there.
3.Use they’re for they are or they were. Example: They’re going to get all their books over there and put them here.
- Word Choice: you’re and your
1.Use you’re for you are. Example: You’re going to be a great student because you study every day.
2.Use your when something belongs to you. Example: Your bicycle is in the street.
- Capitalization Rules
1.Capitalize names of particular persons, places, and things. Example: Molly Alexander, Pocatello, the EiffelTower.
2.Capitalize titles of rank when they come before a person’s name. Example: Mrs. Alexander.
3.Do not capitalize the names of the seasons of the year unless they are personified: I love spring the best. Personified: When will Spring’s lips warm the icy hands of Winter?
4.The words north, south, east, and west are capitalized only when they refer to sections of the country, not directions. I live in the Northern part of the United States. You must drive north to reach my state.
5.The names of school subjects are not capitalized unless they are names of languages. Example: I speak Spanish and English. Please take out your language book.
6.All words that refer to a specific deity and sacred books are capitalized. Example: God, Bible.
- Rules for Titles
1.All principal words in titles are capitalized. Do not capitalize prepositions, coordinating conjunctions, and articles unless they begin the title. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
2.Underline the titles of books, magazines, newspapers, and films. (Italics may take the place of underling if you are using a word processor.)
3.Quotation marks are used to enclose the titles of magazine articles, chapters of books, names of songs, and titles of poems. The poem “Fallen Snow” is one of my favorites.
- Subject-Verb Agreement
1.Normally, when two or more subjects are connected by and, the subject is plural and requires a plural verb. Example: Adam and Jim like this class.
2.If the two subjects form a unit, the subject is then singular and requires a singular verb. Example: Chicken and dumplings is my favorite food.
3.Two singular subjects joined by or are considered singular and require a singular verb. Madeline or Christianna can run to the store.
4.When one of the subjects is singular and the other is plural, the verb agrees with the subject that is nearer. Example: Ice cream and popsicles are my favorite food.
5.The subject of the sentence is never affected by intervening phrases that might come between it and the verb. Example:
6.A collective noun that is singular requires a singular verb. Example: The choir is on the stage.
7.If the collective noun indicates by its usage that the individual members are acting separately, then a plural verb is required. Example: The choir
8.A plural noun that shows weight, extent, or quantity is singular and takes a singular verb. Example: Ten dollars is the price of this tape.
- Words
1.Homonym: One of two or more words spelled and pronounced alike but different in meaning (as cleave meaning “to cut” and cleave meaning “to adhere” (they are also antonyms).
2.Homophone: One of two or more words pronounced alike but different in meaning or spelling (as the words to, too, and two).
3.Homograph: One of two or more words spelled alike but different in meaning or pronunciation (as the bow of a ship, a bow and arrow).
4.Antonyms: two words with opposite meaning (run, walk).
5.Synonym: two words that have similar meaning (collect, gather).
Molly AlexanderPage 112/15/2018