Grammar Rules
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Run-on sentence: A sentence that has two complete thoughts.
The sentence does not connect the two thoughts with FANBOYS: For-And-Nor-But-Or-Yet-So
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Sentence Fragment: This does not have one complete thought that makes sense all alone – Something needsto be added to get a full idea.
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Correct: should have, should’ve
would have, would’ve
could have, could’ve
Incorrect: shoulda, should a, shudda, should of
woulda, would a, wudda, would of
coulda, could a, cudda, could of
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’Apostrophe is the comma in the air.
Use an apostrophe when there are letters missing in a contraction.
Didn’t = did not The o is missing from didn’t. The apostrophe goes where the o used to be.
Other contractions: isn’t = is not, let’s = let us, you’ve = you have, that’s = that is
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’Also use an apostrophe when the word (noun) is a possessive noun. Possession is owning.
Example of owning is: The girl’s dress. The ‘stells me that the girl owns the dress.
The dog’s breath is stinky! The monkey’s tricks are funny.
Special possessive noun rules:
1) If the noun is singular, add the apostrophe before the s (Girl’s dress – one girl)
2) If the noun is plural, add the apostrophe after the letter s (The girls’ bathroom – more than one girl.)
3) Extra confusing is the irregular plural noun like children. It is plural but doesn’t have an S. So, put the apostrophe before the s (The children’s playhouse)
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There = place, thing
Their = people - something is owned by a group. If something isn’t owned, don’t use the word “their.”
They’re = they are
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COMMA
Use between the date and the year – like this: February 27, 2010.
Use between city and state – like this: Lincoln, Nebraska
Use when making a list – like this: We bring apples, oranges, grapes, and lemons.
Use a comma to set something apart from the main sentence. Example: Judy, my friend, went shopping.
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Keeping it the Same
Keep the tense the same in a sentence or paragraph. If other words in the reading use ed, then use ed on everything – if most of the words end with an s then make sure they all do.
When there is a list of words or phrases, make them all the same.
Example: The boy ran, jumped, and slid at the playground.
NOT The boy runs, jumped and slid at the playground.
Another Example: I will meet you there, walk you through, and then take you home.
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Too = means an excess (too much) or also (I’m going too)
2 = This is a number. Use it for math and texting. 2 + 2 = 4
Two = the written form of the number 2. Use this when you need the number two (2) in a sentence.
To = the correct spelling for all other uses.
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Letter writing
Friendly letter – Dear Julie, (use a comma at the end of the name)
Business letter – Dear Principal: (use a colon at the end of the name)
The closing – First word capital - all other words lower case. Comma at the end
Sincerely yours,
With love,
Until next time,
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Book or story titles:
Capital letters for the first word, last word and all important words.
Underline or italic the entire title when writing about the book
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Extra words – take them out!
Examples: I like told you yesterday. (take out like)
He is just super great! (take out super or great)
I like my job so totally much. (take out totally)
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“ Quotations”
All words AND punctuation go INSIDE the marks.
Quotation marks are ALWAYS 2 (two) marks, “
Never one mark ‘
Example:“The cat is on my couch!”
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**A pronoun is only right if you can figure out who or what it is talking about.**
The who or what it is talking about is the antecedent
My mom and sister are in Las Vegas. They are having fun!
I just bought 6 pair of pants. They are all size 8.
My teacher has a snake in the room. It is beautiful.
Lyle skipped school today. He is going to get kicked out of math.
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Examples of PRONOUNS: he, which, none, you, I,she, he, it, we, you, their,me, her, him, it, us, them, mine, yours, hers, his, its, ours, theirs, my, this, these, that, those, who, whom, whoever, whomever, whichever, whatever
Example: Which one is right?
She and her brother went to the mall.
Herself and her brother went to the mall.
To figure it out, let each pronoun TALK FOR ITSELF!!
She went to the mallYES
Her brother went to the mallYES
Herself went to the mallNO. . .Sounds funny! So this one is right.
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