Student Name: ______Hour: ______Date: ______

Grammar Basics

Start here if you aren't sure about the basic elements of grammar: the different types of words and how they function, as well as the different ways in which you can put words together.

Parts of Speech

1. ______ a person, place, or thing. It can be the subject or object of a sentence. Examples:

2. ______ a word that replaces or stands for ("pro" = for) a noun. Examples:

3. ______ an action word. Examples:

4. ______ a word that describes or modifies a noun. It helps the reader to answer questions such

as "______," and "______". Examples:

5. ______ a word that describes or modifies a verb. Examples:

NOTE: It also can modify an adjective. For example, "She was very tall." 'Very' is an adverb modifying 'tall,' which in turn is an adjective modifying 'she'. Adverbs ______, but not ______, end in "______". However, not every word ending in "______" is an adverb. For example: "friendly" is an adjective. “The girl has a friendly personality.”

6. ______ (literally "pre-position") a word that indicates the relationship of a noun (or noun

phrase) to another word. A common grammar error that writers often make is

ending a sentence with a preposition. Examples:

7. ______ a word that joins sentence elements such as ______, ______, or ______.

There are three types: ______, ______,

and ______. Examples:

8. ______ a word or phrase showing ______or ______which has no

______relationship to any other words or part of a sentence.

They are often punctuated by ______and are used

infrequently. It is best to ______the use of them in ______writing

other than direct quotations. Examples:

Putting Words Together

PHRASE

an expression (can be a single word, but usually more) which contains a single thought but ______a subject and a predicate. Words make up phrases; phrases make up sentences. By some definitions, a phrase cannot contain a ______.

PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE

A phrase beginning with a preposition. Heh, heh. You could have figured that out, right? Example:

I am sitting in the bushes. / "I am sitting" is a complete sentence unto itself; it contains a subject ("___") and a verb ("______"). The phrase "in the bushes" is a prepositional phrase ("_____" being the preposition) that expands upon the basic concept.

NOTE: A prepositional phrase may come before or after the independent clause (the basic sentence). If a prepositional phrase comes at the ______of a sentence, you must place a

______after it. If it comes at the ______of a sentence, no additional ______is necessary.

CLAUSES

A clause is a group of related words. A clause has ______a subject and a predicate. There are

______types of clauses.

______Clause - An independent clause can stand ______as a sentence. Here

is an example: We walk to school. This sentence expresses a complete thought and can stand alone.

______Clause - A dependent clause ______stand alone as a sentence. Here is an example: When the cake is done baking. This clause does not express a complete thought

and cannot stand alone.

SENTENCES

The sentence is the basic unit of writing. A sentence should have a subject and a predicate. The subject is the noun to which the sentence's verb refers; the predicate is the verb plus whatever other parts modify or elaborate on it. Example:

My mother sings. / "My" is a possessive ______; "mother" is the ______(noun); "sings" is the ______.

There are several types of sentences. The major ones are:

1. ______= ______

Examples:

2. ______= ______

Examples:

3. ______= ______

Examples:

4. ______= ______

Examples:

Common Errors in Sentence Structure

RUN-ON SENTENCE

A sentence that is too long and should be broken into two or more sentences. One sentence should present one basic concept; if it presents more than that, it may be a run-on. A large number of "______"s, "______"s, and similar joining words is one warning sign of a run-on.

SENTENCE FRAGMENT

A phrase that is acting like a sentence but is incomplete. Examples:

My favorite color. / This is not a sentence because it contains no ______.
Walking very slowly. / This is not a sentence because it contains no ______.
On the table. / This is not a sentence because it contains neither a ______nor a ______.

More about Verbs

PASSIVE vs. ACTIVE VERBS

A verb is active when the subject performs the verb. A verb is passive when the subject is the recipient of the verb. In general, passive verb construction is considered "wimpy" or nonspecific.

Xena was watched by the villagers. / Xena is the ______of the sentence, but the ______is "watch" and Xena is not doing the watching; therefore the verb is passive and "the villagers" is the ______. This construction is not ideal.
The villagers watched Xena. / Now the villagers are the ______, Xena is the direct ______, and the ______is active. This is better than the previous example.

NOTE: If a form of the verb “______” is used as the principle verb of the sentence, the

sentence is passive.

CONJUGATION

To conjugate a verb is to state the form the verb takes for each person. For example, conjugate each of the following infinitive verbs in the present tense and then indicate whether they are regular or irregular.

Verb / I / You / He/She/It / They / We / Regular or Irregular?
to have
to be
to study
to love

TENSES

______

______

Verb Tense: / Example:
Present
Past
Future
Present Perfect
Past Perfect
Future Perfect
Present Progressive
Past Progressive
Future Progressive
Present Perfect Progressive
Past Perfect Progressive
Future Perfect Progressive

Miscellaneous

DIRECT vs. INDIRECT OBJECT

An object is a noun that is the recipient of the verb in the sentence. It's easier to demonstrate than to explain:

Xena grabbed her sword.

Xena is the ______, because she performs the ______. "Grabbed" is the verb; "her" is a possessive ______; the sword is the direct object because the grabbing is performed upon it. For example:

Xena put her sword on the table.

Xena is the subject; "put" is the verb; the sword is the ______object; the table is the ______object.

PERSON

Tells whom the speaker (or writer) is speaking (or writing) about. Person is usually indicated to the reader through the use of specific pronouns. For example:

1st Person / 2nd Person / 3rd Person
When should I use first person? / When should I use second person? / When should I use third person?

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