Noun: person, place, Noun: person, place, thing, or ideathing, or idea Proper noun: name of a specific Proper noun: name of a specific

person, place, thing, or idea – person, place, thing, or idea – should be CAPITALIZEDshould be CAPITALIZED

Common noun: a general noun – Common noun: a general noun – should NOT be capitalizedshould NOT be capitalized

Examples of common Examples of common nounsnouns actoractor singersinger magazinemagazine authorauthor schoolschool

Examples of proper Examples of proper nounsnouns Johnny DeppJohnny Depp Britney SpearsBritney Spears Sports IllustratedSports Illustrated Nicholas SparksNicholas Sparks Hazel Green High SchoolHazel Green High School

Singular, Plural, and Singular, Plural, and Collective NounsCollective Nouns singular: only onesingular: only one plural: more than one (usually but plural: more than one (usually but

not always end in “s” or “es”)not always end in “s” or “es”) collective: names a group, and collective: names a group, and

can be thought of as plural or can be thought of as plural or singular depending on the singular depending on the meaning in the sentencemeaning in the sentence

Examples of Singular Examples of Singular Nouns and their Nouns and their PluralsPlurals cat – catcat – catss desk – deskdesk – deskss child – childchild – childrenren box – boxbox – boxeses student – studentstudent – studentss holiday - holidayholiday - holidayss

Examples of Collective Examples of Collective NounsNouns class – used as singularclass – used as singular

My first block class My first block class isis always on time. always on time. class – used as pluralclass – used as plural

The class turned in The class turned in theirtheir homework. homework. committee – used as singularcommittee – used as singular

The committee The committee wantswants our attention. our attention. committee – used as pluralcommittee – used as plural

The committee have gone The committee have gone theirtheir separate ways.separate ways.

Compound NounsCompound Nouns

One-word compound nouns: form One-word compound nouns: form the plural like other nounsthe plural like other nounsblackberry = blackberriesblackberry = blackberriespenknife = penknivespenknife = penknives

Hyphenated compound nouns: Hyphenated compound nouns: make the most important word make the most important word pluralpluralfather-in-law = fathers-in-lawfather-in-law = fathers-in-law

Singular & Plural Singular & Plural VerbsVerbs verbs in singular form for singular verbs in singular form for singular

nouns = oppositenouns = opposite verbs in plural forms for plural verbs in plural forms for plural

nouns = oppositenouns = opposite

ex. The ex. The boyboy walkswalks to school. to school. The The boysboys walkwalk to school. to school.

Verb Tense: When Do Verb Tense: When Do I…I… Present tense: this is what I do nowPresent tense: this is what I do now

I walk, I run, I carry, I yell, I teachI walk, I run, I carry, I yell, I teach Past tense: this is what I did Past tense: this is what I did

yesterdayyesterdayI walkI walkeded, I r, I raan, I carrn, I carriedied, I yell, I yelleded, I , I ttaughtaught

Future tense: this is what I Future tense: this is what I willwill do do tomorrowtomorrowI I willwill walk, I walk, I willwill run, I run, I willwill carry, I carry, I willwill yell, I yell, I willwill teach teach

Verb ShiftVerb Shift

If it is happening now, it should keep If it is happening now, it should keep happening now.happening now.

I I wokewoke up late this morning and up late this morning and brushedbrushed my teeth in a hurry. my teeth in a hurry.NOTNOTI I wokewoke up late this morning and up late this morning and brushbrush my teeth in a hurry.my teeth in a hurry.

This applies to sentences AND to This applies to sentences AND to paragraphs.paragraphs.

Subject / Verb Subject / Verb AgreementAgreement P. 380P. 380 P. 575P. 575 Recognize prepositional phrases Recognize prepositional phrases

and MARK THEM OUT!and MARK THEM OUT!

Pronoun / AntecedentPronoun / Antecedent

Number & GenderNumber & GenderThe The girlsgirls forgot forgot theirtheir lunches. lunches.That That manman dropped dropped hishis wallet. wallet.They mean…They mean…The girls forgot the girls’ lunches.The girls forgot the girls’ lunches.That man dropped that man’s That man dropped that man’s wallet.wallet.

Pronoun MistakesPronoun Mistakes

Our’s, her’s, their’s are not wordsOur’s, her’s, their’s are not wordsOurs, hers, theirsOurs, hers, theirs

Subtract, subtract:Subtract, subtract:when you have more than one or when you have more than one or with prepositional phrases (used with prepositional phrases (used the pencil)the pencil)

Say it out loud (at least until Ms. Say it out loud (at least until Ms. Jacobs tells you to shush)Jacobs tells you to shush)

Active & Passive VoiceActive & Passive Voice

ByBy If the subject is DOING something If the subject is DOING something

it is ACTIVE.it is ACTIVE. If the subject is getting something If the subject is getting something

done TO it the verb is PASSIVE.done TO it the verb is PASSIVE. If you hit something, you are If you hit something, you are

active.active.If you get hit by something, you If you get hit by something, you are passive.are passive.

ModifiersModifiers

Most of these start with a clause and a Most of these start with a clause and a comma…HINT!comma…HINT!

Can you think of a way to take the Can you think of a way to take the sentence as a bad English teacher’s joke?sentence as a bad English teacher’s joke?

Hanging on the wall, John liked his new Hanging on the wall, John liked his new poster. poster. John is not hanging on the wall, is John is not hanging on the wall, is he?he?

By paying attention in class, the test was By paying attention in class, the test was really pretty easy. really pretty easy. Who is paying Who is paying attention in this sentence? No one.attention in this sentence? No one.

Commonly Confused Commonly Confused Words (p. 653)Words (p. 653) Already means it has happened onceAlready means it has happened once

All ready means she can finally leaveAll ready means she can finally leave Lose means you can’t find it or you don’t Lose means you can’t find it or you don’t

find itfind itLoose means not tight (like those baggy Loose means not tight (like those baggy pants)pants)

Principal means main or Mr. FanningPrincipal means main or Mr. Fanningprinciple means ethicsprinciple means ethics

Affect is a verb meaning to changeAffect is a verb meaning to changeor influenceor influenceeffect is a noun, like SFXeffect is a noun, like SFXeffect is a verb meaning to causeeffect is a verb meaning to cause

Clear, Vivid LanguageClear, Vivid Language

Does she want “nice” flowers, or does she Does she want “nice” flowers, or does she want the deepest red flowers with the most want the deepest red flowers with the most romantic vase and the most delicious romantic vase and the most delicious smell? Nice could mean a lot of things.smell? Nice could mean a lot of things.

Would you rather be (or have your Would you rather be (or have your boyfriend be) “attractive” or, as you say, boyfriend be) “attractive” or, as you say, “swole”? Attractive could be a lot of things.“swole”? Attractive could be a lot of things.

Use the five senses: sight, sound, smell, Use the five senses: sight, sound, smell, taste, touchtaste, touch

Avoid extra words (PIN number, ATM Avoid extra words (PIN number, ATM machine, the brand new car I just got)machine, the brand new car I just got)

Formal / Informal Formal / Informal LanguageLanguage Formal: business, the president, Formal: business, the president,

how would you want to talk to how would you want to talk to your great-grandmother’s your great-grandmother’s preacher in front of the whole preacher in front of the whole church, a job applicationchurch, a job application

Informal: txt/sms, passing notes, Informal: txt/sms, passing notes, IM, slang…swole, ain’t, ballin’, IM, slang…swole, ain’t, ballin’, holla, trippin’holla, trippin’

Sentence StructureSentence Structure

Run-on, and on, and on, and on…Run-on, and on, and on, and on… Sentence fragments: I think they.Sentence fragments: I think they. Comma splice: You take two Comma splice: You take two

sentence, you stick them together.sentence, you stick them together. Fragments: missing a subject or a Fragments: missing a subject or a

verbverb CS: add a conjunction, make it two CS: add a conjunction, make it two

sentences, or change the comma to sentences, or change the comma to a semicolon ;a semicolon ;

Parallelism / Parallel Parallelism / Parallel StructureStructure -ed, -ed, -ed-ed, -ed, -ed

-ing, -ing, -ing-ing, -ing, -ingnoun, noun, nounnoun, noun, noun

I like huntI like huntinging, fish, fishinging, and camp, and camping.ing. I like to hunt, fish, and camp.I like to hunt, fish, and camp.

NOTNOT I like to hunt, fishI like to hunt, fishing, ing, and campand camping.ing.

CapitalizationCapitalization

NamesNames First words: sentences and First words: sentences and

quotationsquotations Titles Titles

CommasCommas

Items in a seriesItems in a series Direct address, appositives, Direct address, appositives,

parenthetical expression (pencil)parenthetical expression (pencil) Introductory adverbial clauses (pencil)Introductory adverbial clauses (pencil) Instead of a period, if the quotation Instead of a period, if the quotation

doesn’t end the sentencedoesn’t end the sentence Before conjunction in compound Before conjunction in compound

sentence (remember the comma splice)sentence (remember the comma splice)

;; : :Semicolon and ColonSemicolon and Colon Series, when you are already Series, when you are already

using commasusing commas Instead of a comma spliceInstead of a comma splice Before a conjunctive adverbBefore a conjunctive adverb

Introduce a list…NEVER following Introduce a list…NEVER following a verba verb

““Quotation Marks” and Quotation Marks” and UnderliningUnderlining ““quotation marks” if it is short quotation marks” if it is short

(think a piece of the whole)(think a piece of the whole) UnderliningUnderlining if it is long (think of if it is long (think of

the big piece made of the little the big piece made of the little ones)ones)

““quotation marks” if the words quotation marks” if the words are the exact ones said by are the exact ones said by someonesomeone

ApostropheApostrophe

Possessive singular nouns:Possessive singular nouns:my only dog’s bowlmy only dog’s bowl

Possessive plural nouns:Possessive plural nouns:my two dogs’ bowlsmy two dogs’ bowls

If two things are possessing, they both If two things are possessing, they both have to show ithave to show itMr. Case’s and Mrs. Brady’s roomsMr. Case’s and Mrs. Brady’s rooms

When letters are missing in When letters are missing in contractions: don’t, can’t, won’t, contractions: don’t, can’t, won’t, musn’t, isn’tmusn’t, isn’t

Logical ProgressionLogical Progression

IntroductionIntroduction ConclusionConclusion SequenceSequence TransitionsTransitions Irrelevant (unimportant) or Irrelevant (unimportant) or

redundant (you already said that) redundant (you already said that) sentencessentences