Tips for Success: How to Find the Subject(s) and Verb(s) of a Sentence

To find the subject of a sentence, ask yourself “who” or “what” performed the action of the verb.Example: At Freshmen Fling on Thursday, Brittany and Brandon met with all their first semester teachers.Subject (s) = Brittany and Brandon

To find the verb of a sentence, ask yourself “what did the subject do?”Example: Mr. Goins welcomed all the freshmen to North Surry High School and briefly explained the discipline policy.Verb(s) = welcomed and explained

Remember, a subject or a verb is NEVER in a prepositional phrase. Prepositional phrases show the relationship between a noun and another word in the sentence. That relationship can be positions/locations (where something is done), time (when something is done), or even with whom something is done. A prepositional phrase ALWAYS begins with a preposition (check list of prepositions to be sure word begins prepositional phrase) and ALWAYS ends with a noun (person, place, thing) or a pronoun (word that takes the place of a noun).

Recognizing prepositional phrases in the above examples: Draw a line through the prepositional phrases in the two examples given above. Check your preposition list (preposition handout) if you need help.1) At Freshmen Fling, on Thursday, with all their first semester teacher = 3 prepositional phrases2) to North Surry High School = 1 prepositional phrase

Tips for Success: A sentence’s structure may signal the location of its subjects and verbs.

You will usually see these three types of sentences: Statements Questions Commands

Statements (Declarative Sentences)A Statement (or Declarative Sentence) “states” a fact and ends with a period.

Example: Mr. Goins is the principal of North Surry High School.

Subject = Mr. Goins Verb = is

What is relationship between the location of the subject(s) to the verb(s) in a statement?

Rule for finding the subject(s) or verb(s) in a Statement: In a Statement (or Declarative Sentence), the

SUBJECT usually comes BEFORE the VERB.

*EXCEPTION to the rule governing statements* (Subjects in Unusual Locations)

Example: There are only 90 days in a semester.

Subject(s) = 90 days Verb(s) = are

Rule governing exceptions: If the sentence BEGINS with a words such as “there,” the subject is found

AFTER the verb.

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Inverted Subjects (or Inverted Word Order)An inverted subject is occasionally found in a Statement (Declarative Sentence). This occurs only when the subject follows a verb.Example: Beside the barn stand silos filled with grain. Subject = silos

Questions (Interrogative Sentences) A Question (Interrogative Sentence) asks a question and must always end with a question mark.

Example #1: Why are you nervous today? Subject(s) = you Verb(s) = are

Example #2: Did you come to Freshmen Fling on Thursday to meet your first semester teachers?

Subject(s) = you Verb(s) = did come

What is relationship between the location of the subject(s) to the verb(s) in a statement?

Rule for finding the subject(s) or verb(s) in a Question: In a Question (or Interrogative Sentence), the

SUBJECT usually comes AFTER or BETWEEN the VERB(s).

Commands (Imperative Sentences)A Command (or Imperative Sentence) tells someone/something to do something and may end with either a

period or an exclamation point depending on the “forcefulness” of the situation.

Example #1: Call 911! Subject(s) = “you” understood Verb(s) = call

Example #2: Clean your room. Subject(s) = “you” understood Verb(s) = clean

Rule for finding the subject(s) or verb(s) in a Command: In a Command (or Imperative Sentence), the

SUBJECT(s) does/do NOT appear in the sentence. In a Command, the SUBJECT is ALWAYS the

understood “you.”

Directions: Identify each sentence as a statement, question, or command. Then circle the subject(s) and underline the verb(s) in each sentence.

1. Open your textbook to page 125 and read the poem “Cats.”

2. Did Brandon ask you to carry his books to class for him, Amanda?

3. At the ball game between North Surry and Mt. Airy, my parents sat on the wrong

side of the gym!

4. Have Aaron and Matthew left for college yet?

5. Sit down and don’t say a word to me for the remainder of the period.

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Prepositions

aboard beneath in throughoutabout beside inside tillabove besides into toacross between like towardafter beyond near underagainst but (except) of underneathalong by off untilamong concerning on uparound down out uponat during over withbefore except past withinbehind for since withoutbelow from through

Bold-printed words are commonly used prepositions.

Prepositions show relationships between a noun and another word in the sentence. That relationship can be position, time (when something is done), location (where something is done), or even with whom something is done. The noun that follows the preposition is called the object of the preposition.

For example: Daniel gave his ticket to Angie, not Alex or me.The preposition “to” signals the prepositional phrase. To find out where the prepositional phrase ends, ask to what, to where, to whom.

**The preposition may have more than one object.For example: Cheryl is friends with Luke and Theo.

**The object of the preposition may have adjectives in front of it.For example: She walked across the muddy field.

**A sentence may have more than one prepositional phrase.For example: We bought groceries for supper at the store across the street from our house. (This sentence has 4 prepositional phrases!).

**Every sentence may not have a prepositional phrase.For example: I wrecked my parents’ car.

**The prepositions listed above are sometimes adverbs!For example: I sat down in my seat. Remember: A prepositional phrase MUST end with a noun or a pronoun; the subject and verb will NEVER be in a prepositional phrase.

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Compound prepositions are two or more word working together as a one-work preposition. Here are some commonly used compound prepositions:

according to in back of

ahead of in case of

along with in front of

as for in place of

as of in regard to

aside from in spite of

as well as Instead of

away from next to

because of on account of

by way of out of

due to owing to

except for up to

in addition to prior to

with the exception of

Punctuation Rule regarding compound prepositions: compound prepositional phrases must be set off from the rest of the sentence using commas!

“Sight” Verbs (words that you should recognize on sight as being verbs)

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am, is, are, was, were, be, being, beendo, does, did, donemay, might, musthave, has, hadshall, shouldcan, couldwill, would

Sometimes these 24 verbs work with a main verb to form the verb phrase, but sometimes the verbs work alone.

Read the examples below.

In some sentences, the verb is one word. Example: Meg visited Boston.

In other sentences, the verb is two or more words.Example: Meg will visit Boston again.

If a helping verb is used in a sentence, it will ALWAYS come somewhere BEFORE the main verb (but not necessarily directly before the main verb).Example: Is the garage key hanging by the back door?

Some “sight” verbs or “helping” verbs may be the only verbs (the main verbs) in the sentence.Example: I am a teacher. You are a student.

Tip to Finding the Verb of the Sentence:To find the verb of the sentence, ask yourself what the subject did or what the action/ “do” word is in the sentence.

Singular and Plural Personal Pronouns

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Subordinating Conjunctions (pg. 456)

The following words signal dependent clauses (adverb clauses). Remember if a dependent clause (adverb clause) begins the sentence, you MUST use a comma at the end of the dependent clause.

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Singular

Nom

inative Case (subjects)

O

bjective Case (objects: after verb

Possessive Case (show

ownership)

or at end of prepositional phrases)First Person:

Im

em

y, mine

Second Person:you

youyour, yours

Third Person:

he, she, ithim

, her, it his, her, hers, its

PluralN

ominative C

ase (subjects)O

bjective Case (objects: after verb

Possessive Case (show

ownership)

or at end of prepositional phrases)First Person:

we

usour, ours

Second Person:you

youyour, yours

Third Person:

theythem

their, theirs

Personal pronouns have different forms depending on their num

ber—singular or plural—

and their gender—m

asculine, fem

inine, or neuter (neither masculine nor fem

inine). Most personal pronouns also have different cases

–nominative/subjective, objective, or possessive—

to show how

they are used in a sentence.

Nom

inative case pronouns act as subjects or predicate nominatives (noun/pronouns follow

ing a linking verb and renam

ing the subject).O

bjective case pronouns act as objects; they generally come after the verb or end prepositional phrases.

Possessive case pronouns show ow

nership. Notice possessive pronouns do N

OT

use apostrophes.

after before unless

although if until

as in order that when

as if since whenever

as long as so that where

as soon as than wherever

because though while

NOTE: Remember that after, before, since, until, and as may also be used as prepositions to begin prepositional phrases, not dependent clauses. Can you tell the difference between a prepositional phrase and dependent clause? Let’s see…

“After” introducing a prepositional phrase: When the opponent fumbled the football, Chad ran after the ball.

(When the opponent fumbled the football = dependent clause because the subordinating conjunction “when” comes before the subject and verb)

(Chad ran after the ball= independent clause; this part of the sentence could “stand alone” as a sentence.)

“After” introducing a dependent clause: After I practiced football, I went home. (After I practiced football = dependent clause because the subordinating conjunction “when” comes

before the subject and verb) (I went home = independent clause; this part of the sentence could “stand alone” as a sentence.)

COMMA RULE: * Notice if the sentence begins with a dependent clause, you must put a comma at the end of the dependent clause. What follows the commas should be the independent clause!

Relative Pronouns may also signal a dependent (subordinating) clause. So also be on the lookout for these words: who, whom, whose, which, and that.

* Subordinating conjunction (begins dependent clause); dependent clause is NOT required to begin sentence; however, if dependent clause does begin sentence, you must use a COMMA!

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Correcting Run-on Sentences: Connecting Words and How to Punctuate Them

Oftentimes students write in short sentences without connecting the sentences together. This creates a disjointed and choppy effect, and frequently gets in the way of showing connections between ideas, as well as sentences. Occasionally students who write this way also fall into the habit of creating inadvertent sentence fragments.

Run-on Sentence: tw

o or m

ore sentences incorrectly joined w

ith only a comm

a (no FA

NB

OY

S word) or no

punctuation at all.

Com

ma Splice: tw

o sentences incorrectly joined w

ith only a comm

a (no FA

NB

OY

S word).

Exam

ple: People love peace, they hate w

ar.

Semicolon

People love peace; they hate w

ar.

, + FAN

BO

YS

People love peace, but they hate w

ar.

; conjunctive adverb , People love peace; how

ever, they hate w

ar.

* Com

plex Sentence (begin one sentence w

ith subordinating conjunction) B

ecause people love peace, they hate w

ar.

Fused Sentence: two or

more sentences incorrectly

joined with no punctuation

(and no FAN

BO

YS w

ord) at all.E

xample: People love

peace they hate war.

Two Sentences

People love peace. They hate w

ar.

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To create a better flow, four types of connecting words can be used: conjunctive adverbs, subordinating conjunctions, coordinating conjunctions, and transitions.

1. The first type of connecting words are conjunctive adverbs (to "conjunct" simply means to "join").  Conjunctive adverbs often fall in mid-sentence.  If you join two "independent clauses" (i.e., sentences) using one of these words, use a semicolon before it and a comma after it.

Correct example:  I prefer to eat my dinner at the dining room table; instead, I usually eat in front of the television. (The word "instead" is a conjunctive adverb.)

Here's a list of conjunctive adverbs:    

also anyway consequently finally furthermore

hence however incidentally indeed instead

likewise meanwhile moreover nevertheless next

nonetheless otherwise still then therefore thus

2. Second, are subordinating conjunctions.  (To subordinate implies that something is of less importance than something else or that something depends on something else.)  If a subordinating conjunction falls in mid-sentence, there is usually no comma used.  If it starts a sentence, there is a comma after the introductory phrase (right before the subject and verb).

Correct example:  After eating dinner in front of the television all week, I decided to change locations. (The word "after" is a subordinating conjunction. Here it begins a sentence, leading to an introductory phrase. Notice that the comma falls right before the subject and verb.)

Compare:  I decided to change locations after eating dinner in front of the television all week. (Notice that there is no comma before the "after" in this second example. Because it falls in mid-sentence, there is no introductory phrase which would require a comma.)

Here's a list of subordinating conjunctions:  

after although as as [far/soon] as as if as though because before even if

even though how if inasmuch as in case [that] in order that insofar as in that lest

no matter how now that once provided [that] since so that supposing [that] than that

though till unless until when, whenever where, wherever whether while why 

3. Third, are coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS) (of equal importance instead of lesser importance).  Put a comma before a coordinating conjunction only if it joins two independent clauses.

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Correct example:  I ate dinner in front of the television every night, and I finally got tired of it.

Compare:  I ate dinner in front of the television every night and finally got tired of it.  (This sentence lacks a subject after the "and," so there is no comma.)

List of coordinating conjunctions:  

and so

yet but

or for nor

 4. If your high school English teacher told you that coordinating conjunctions always had commas before them, he/she was wrong. Get over it!  And if the same teacher told you that you couldn't start a sentence with "and" or "but," then he/she was also wrong. Look it up in your handbook. "And" and "but" are very effective transitions when used properly and not overused.

5. Finally, there are transitional phrases, which usually begin a sentence and are followed by a comma:  

after all  as a result  at any rate at the same time 

by the way  even so  for example  in addition 

in fact  in other words  in the second place  on the contrary  on the other hand 

Correct Example: It snowed six inches last night. As a result, school is cancelled today.

Use transitional phrases between paragraphs to create a logical flow in your writing. Use them within paragraphs, too. Avoid overusing a particular phrase.

Learning how to use these words will help you communicate clearly and with emphasis.  But take care to punctuate them correctly because incorrect punctuation will frequently confuse your reader or even change the meaning of a sentence. 

Fragment / Incomplete Sentence

Fragment: A sentence fragment generally lacks a subject, a verb, or both and/or it does not express a complete thought. For each example below, identify the error which results in a sentence fragment.Example: Enjoyed riding the roller coaster. Error: missing a subject

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After I left the movies with Amber. Error: incomplete thought

On the nightstand beside my bed. Error: missing both a subject and a verb

A greyhound above the entrance to North Surry High School. Error: missing a verb

Suggestions for Success: You can join a sentence (S) with a fragment (F) when the fragment is an incomplete thought if the

independent clause (S) and the fragment (F) are related ideas which complement one another. You can join a fragment missing a subject (F – subject) with a fragment missing a verb (F - verb) if the

two fragments are related ideas which complement one another. You can join a sentence (S) with another sentence (S) only when the second sentence begins with a

FANBOYS word (For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So). *Remember to place a comma BEFORE the FANBOYS word joining two independent clauses!

Three ways to correct fragments are as follows:S + F (Inc. thought)F (- subject) + F (- verb)S + FANBOYS + S

Directions: First, identify each of the following as a fragment (F) or a sentence (S). Next, identify the error which results in a sentence fragment. Finally, correct the fragments by pairing them with other fragments or sentences (see above).

____ 1. And its height is 481 feet. ERROR: ____________

____ 2. Continue to amaze the modern-day viewer. ERROR: ____________

____ 3. Egyptian pyramids have four triangular sides. ERROR: ____________

____ 4. Is counted one of the seven wonders of the world. ERROR: ____________

____ 5. Is evidence of the skillful, patient mathematicians and builders. ERROR: ____________

____ 6. Its square base measures 756 feet on each side. ERROR: ____________

____ 7. The colossal size of the pyramids and the fact that they conform to a strict geometrical

plan. ERROR: ____________

___ 8. The Great Pyramid, which is the largest one. ERROR: ____________

____ 9. These permanent architectural structures of the past. ERROR: ____________

____10. Which meet at a point at the top. ERROR: ____________

Correcting Sentence Fragments

Pairs: ____ + ____; ____ + ____; ____ + ____; ____ + ____; ____ + ____

Noun of Address

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What is a Noun of Address? Can a Noun of Address be a subject? Are all names Nouns of Addresses? Does a Noun of Address always come at the beginning of the sentence? Is any special punctuation required to set off a Noun of Address from the rest of the sentence? Read and See!

Noun of Address = talking to person and using his/her name in your sentence

Statement using a Noun of Address: Kasey, I saw you at ProHealth yesterday with Leah.Explanation: Someone is speaking to Kasey. Notice the comma that sets off the noun of address from the rest of the sentence.

Statement using a name, not a Noun of Address: I saw Kasey at ProHealth yesterday with Leah.Explanation: Someone is talking about, but not talking to, Kasey.

Command using a Noun of Address: Meet me at ProHealth at 3:00 today, Kasey.Explanation: Someone is speaking to Kasey. Notice the Noun of Address does not always begin the sentence.

Command using a name, not a Noun of Address: Don’t meet Kasey at ProHealth at 3:00 today.Explanation: Someone is talking about, but not talking to, Kasey.

Question using a Noun of Address: Will you meet me at ProHealth at 3:00 today, Kasey?Explanation: Someone is speaking to Kasey.

Question using a name, not a Noun of Address: Will Kasey meet me at ProHealth today at 3:00?Explanation: Someone is talking about, but not talking to, Kasey.

Parenthetical Expressions

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Parenthetical expressions are side remarks that add information or relate ideas.

The following are commonly used parenthetical expressions:

after allas a matter of factat any rateconsequentlyfor examplefor instancegenerally speakinghowever

I believe I guessI hopeI knowI supposeI thinkin factin my opinion

in the first placemoreoverneverthelessof courseon the contraryon the other handthereforeto tell the truth

Punctuation Rule: Use commas to set off parenthetical expressions.

Sometimes the parenthetical expression is contained within one sentence.For example: As a matter of fact, Romeo doesn’t even love Juliet at the beginning of the play.

Hint: Remember a parenthetical expression may come at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.

Parenthetical expressions CANNOT be used as conjunctions to join two independent clauses (sentences).INCORRECT USAGE: The Montagues and the Capulets are mortal enemies, nevertheless, Romeo and Juliet secretly marry within 24 hours of first meeting.

Correct usage: The Montagues or the Capulets are mortal enemies; nevertheless, Romeo and Juliet secretly marry within 24 hours of first meeting.

Correct usage: The Montagues or the Capulets are mortal enemies. Nevertheless, Romeo and Juliet secretly marry within 24 hours of first meeting.

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How to Prove First Six Comma Rules: Introductory Dependent Clause, Introductory Participial Phrase, Comma and FANBOYS, Three or More Items in a Series (list), Noun of Address, and Introductory Succession of Prepositional Phrases.

1. Introductory Dependent Clause Put a box around the subordinating conjunction (should be the first word in the sentence), circle the subject(s) and underline the verb(s) of the dependent clause.

Example: After Santiago catches the marlin, he must lash it to the side of the skiff to get it home.

2. Introductory Participial Phrase Draw an arrow from the participial (should be the first word in the sentence—looks like a verb, but acts as an adjective) to the word it describes.

Example: Straining with all his might, Santiago holds the line for three days before he get the chance to harpoon the marlin.

3. Comma and FANBOYS Circle the subject(s) and underline the verb(s) of EACH independent clause.

Example: Santiago views the Mako shark as a noble opponent, but he sees the shovel-nose shark as a predator.

4. Three or More Items in a Series (List) Number each item in the list. Example: Santiago catches a tuna, a dolphin, and two flying fish to eat during his journey.

5. Noun of Address Put a big X over the noun of address.

Example: After his journey Manolin asks the old man, “How much did you suffer, Santiago?” Santiago’s only reply is “[p]lenty.”

6. Introductory Succession of Prepositional Phrases The sentence begins with more than one prepositional phrase in a row. Mark through each prepositional phrase. Make sure I can see where each prepositional phrase begins and ends. Put the comma at the end of the last prepositional phrase. Do not get this rule confused with three or more items in a series!

Example: In the middle of the Gulf Stream in his tiny skiff, Santiago finally catches the 1,500-pound marlin.

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*How to Prove the Five New Comma Rules: Appositive, Parenthetical Expression, Nonessential Participial Phrase, Two or More Adjectives Preceding a Noun, and Set Off a Quote

1. Appositive (a noun or pronoun that renames, defines, or identifies the subject)

*Write the word “noun” over the appositive. Then draw an arrow from the appositive to the word it renames, defines, or identifies. An appositive usually comes between the subject and the verb; therefore, you may need to add two commas when applying this comma rule.

Example: Santiago, an old Cuban fisherman, has been fishless for 84 days before he hooks a 1,500-pound marlin.

2. Parenthetical Expression (a side remark that adds information or relates ideas; also known as transitions or conjunctive adverbs—CONSULTYOUR LIST!):

*Highlight the parenthetical expression.

Example: Santiago is, in fact, a very lucky person to survive his battle with the marlin and numerous shark attacks.

3. Nonessential Participial Phrase (a participial phrase that may be omitted from the sentence without changing the sentence’s meaning—extra information).

* Draw an arrow from the participial (the word that looks like a verb, but acts as an adjective) to the word it describes (usually the subject of the sentence). A nonessential participial phrase usually comes between the subject and the verb of the sentence; therefore, you may need two commas when applying this comma rule.

Example: Santiago, straining with all of his might, begins to see black spots.

4. Two or More Adjectives PRECEDING (coming before) a Noun:

*Write an “A” above the first adjective, a “B” above the second adjective. Continue this pattern for any other adjectives that PRECEDE the noun. Join EACH adjective (“A,” “B,” etc.) with a plus sign (+). Circle the NOUN (person, place, thing) the adjectives modify/describe. Remember the noun you circle should come AFTER the adjectives you have labeled with A, B, C, etc. Hint: if you can join the two adjectives with the word “and” and if you can flip flop the top adjectives preceding the noun, only then do you need a comma.

Example: An old, wrinkled fisherman spends his days fishing in the Gulf Stream and his nights dreaming about the lions playing on the beach.

A wrinkled, old fisherman spends his days fishing in the Gulf Stream and his nights dreaming about the lions playing on the beach.

5. Set Off a Quote *Circle the quotation marks that enclose the quote. If a comma or period comes at the end of a quote, it (comma or period) must always be within the closing quotation mark.

Example: The boy asks, “How much did you suffer?” “How much did you suffer?” the boy asks. (Notice no comma used if phrased this way) “Plenty,” the old man said.

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How to Prove Last Six Comma Rules

Signal Words: The following RELATIVE PRONOUNS may signal a clause: who, whom, whose, which, and that. You must decide if the clause is essential or nonessential!NOTE: An adjective clause beginning with “that” is usually essential and should not be set off with commas!

Nonessential Clause (a clause that is not necessary, not essential, to understand the sentence. USUALLY the nonessential clause acts as an interrupting element and comes between the subject and the verb of the sentence. Therefore, two commas are usually needed to set off the nonessential clause from the rest of the sentence.)*Circle the RELATIVE PRONOUN which begins the nonessential clause and underline the verb of the nonessential clause.

Example: Manolin, who is Santiago’s friend and former fishing partner, is often referred to as the boy to emphasize his youth and inexperience as a fisherman.

Essential Clause (clause is essential to the meaning of the sentence and CANNOT be set off with commas)*Circle the RELATIVE PRONOUN which begins the nonessential clause and underline the verb of the nonessential clause.

Example: The fishermen who mocked Santiago for having been fishless for 84 days are convinced of the old man’s skill when he catches a 1,500-pound marlin all by himself.

Essential Participial Phrase (participial phrase is essential to the meaning of the sentence and CANNOT be set off with commas)*Draw an arrow from the participial to the word it describes (usually the subject, right?)

Example: The fish fighting Santiago for three days and two nights is a 1,500-pound marlin.

Contrasting Element (sharp contrasts beginning with words such as “not,“ “but,” and “unlike.”)*DOUBLE underline the word signaling the contrasting element and draw an arrow from the contrasting elements.

Example: Santiago catches the marlin far out to sea, not near the shore.

Date*Circle the COMPLETE DATE.

Example: On Monday, September 1, 1952, Ernest Hemingway’s novella The Old Man and the Sea, which sold 5.3 million copies within two days, appeared in print in Life magazine.

Geographical Information*Draw a figure eight around the geographical information.

Example: Santiago lives near Havana, Cuba.

Punctuation: Colon

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The following rules and examples will help you know when and where to use the colon as a punctuation mark.

Use a colon to signal the reader that a series of words, phrases, or clauses follows a complete sentence (list). Example: The baseball coach claimed that the team’s success stemmed from four things: consistent hitting, solid pitching, good fielding, and excellent teamwork.

EXCEPTION TO RULE FOR LIST (This is tested on EOC): DO NOT use a colon if the list immediately follows a verb or a preposition!

Examples: When I went to the store, I bought pizza, chips, bread sticks, salsa, soda, and cookies. I went to the dance with Adam, Chelsey, David, and Savannah.

Use a colon to signal the reader that a second complete sentence explains a closely related preceding sentence (explanatory sentence).

Example: The supervisor’s remark was straight to the point: I won’t tolerate workers who show up late.

Use a colon to signal the reader that a name or description follows a complete sentence when you want to put a lot of emphasis on that item (formal appositive).

Example: The preoccupied student didn’t notice the principal standing right behind him: Mr. Goins. Use a colon to introduce a long or formal quotation after a complete sentence (quote). Example: In his book, Language is Sermonic, rhetorician Richard Weaver described how language may influence us: Sophistications of theory cannot obscure the truth that there are but three ways for language to affect us. It can move us toward what is good; it can move us toward what is evil; or it can, in hypothetical third place, fail to move us at all. (60)

Use a colon to separate titles and subtitles: Example: Richard Nixon : The Tarnished President

Use a colon to express time:Example: The accident occurred at approximately 1:45 p.m. on Tuesday.

Use a colon to end a salutation of a business letter:Example: Dear Gentlemen:

Use a colon with references to periodicals to separate volume from page number:Example: Business News 61: 12

Use a colon for Biblical references to separate chapter and verse:Example: John 3:16

Words/Labels used to signal important ideas:Example: Warning: This product is for external use only.

Punctuation: Semi-colon

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The semicolon is used to separate coordinate elements, usually independent clauses. It functions more like a weak period than like a strong comma.

Use a semicolon between independent clauses if the clauses are closely related, but not joined by a coordinating conjunction (FANBOYS).

EXAMPLE : You should apply for that job; you have the qualifications, and you are not happy in your present job.

Use a semi-colon before a conjunctive adverb (transitional word or parenthetical expression) that joins the clauses of a compound sentence. EXAMPLE: The Chinese government will not permit the sale of a giant panda; however, sometimes one will be lent to another country as a goodwill gesture.

Use a semi-colon to separate the items of a series if one or more of these items contains commas. EXAMPLE: Many of the candidates, particularly the third party candidates, were virtually excluded from media coverage; but the more enterprising ones--for example, Eileen Smith (the Green Party candidate) and Lance Richards (the Libertarian candidate)--managed to stir up publicity with aggressive confrontations of the major parties' candidates.

Punctuation: Hyphen

Use a hyphen between the words that make up a compound adjective when the modifier is used before a noun.

Examples: eighteen-speed mountain bike, after-school tutorial, hard-working student

Use a hyphen in compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine Example: fifty-seven candles

Use a hyphen in fractions Example: one-third of the population

Use a hyphen with any word using the prefixes “self-,” “all-,” “mid-,” “ex-,” “pro-,” “great-,” and the suffixes “-elect, ” and “-free.” Example: self-employed, all-American, ex-students, post-war, mid-December, pro-United Nations, great-grandfather, senator-elect, and oil-free

Use a hyphen in certain compound nouns Example: mother-in-law

Subject / Verb Agreement Rules

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Singular means ONE; Plural means TWO or MORE.Subject/Verb Agreement means the subject and verb are the SAME.

Subject/Verb Agreement Rules Singular subjects take singular verbs, and singular verbs usually end with an “s.”Example: Lee hates chocolate.

Plural subjects take plural verbs, and plural verbs usually do not end with an “s.”Example: However, Kasey and Leah love chocolate.

Exception to Subject/Verb Agreement Rule Although the personal pronouns “I” and “you” are singular, they require a plural verb.Example: I like chocolate! (like = plural verb)

You are my best friend. (are = plural verb)

Subjects and Verbs must agree in two ways:

in number: singular vs. plural in person: first, second, or third person

Question: How do we know we have disagreement between the subject and verb?

The following are six situations in which subject-verb disagreement errors can be more difficult to spot.

1. When the subject and verb are separated Find the subject and verb and make sure they agree. Ignore the words in-between because they do not affect agreement.

Outlaw RehabilitatedThe characters in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night lives in a world that has been turned upside-down.

The characters in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night live in a world that has been turned upside-down.

 2. Compound subjects

If the two subjects are joined by “and” the verb will be plural in most situations

o Exception: when the joined subjects are preceded by “each,” “every,” “no,” “nothing,” or “many a” Example: Every dog and cat has been vaccinated.

o Exception: If words joined by “and” refer to a single thing (often with foods or music), the subject is singular. Examples: My friend and co-worker is waiting. (one person); Country and Western isn’t my favourite music. (one type of music); Macaroni and cheese tastes best hot, not cold. Bacon and eggs is my favorite breakfast food.

o Exception: COMPOUND SUBJECT FOLLOWED BY EACH: When the indefinite pronoun each follows a compound subject, the subject is usually plural. Example: Justin, Meredith, and Cody each have a different recollection of the event. 

If the subjects are joined by “Neither (subject 1) nor (subject 2)” or “Either (subject 1) or (subject 2)” or “Not only (subject 1) but also (subject 2),” the verb agrees with the subject closer to the verb (subject 2).

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 Outlaw RehabilitatedChristie and Prin is characters from Laurence’s The Diviners.

Christie and Prin are characters from Laurence’s The Diviners.

Neither Edna’s neighbours nor her husband agree with her decision.

Neither Edna’s neighbours nor her husband agrees with her decision.

 3. Indefinite Pronouns Singular indefinite pronouns (each, either, neither, one, no one, no body, nothing,

anyone, anybody, anything, someone, somebody, something, everyone, everybody, everything, another, other, little, much) use singular verbs.

Plural indefinite pronouns (both, few, many, others, and several) use plural verbs. All, most, any, none, more, some, and enough can be either singular or plural

depending on the situation (You’ll have to look at the noun or pronoun that ends the prepositional phrase following the indefinite pronoun.)

 Outlaw RehabilitatedEach of Sylvia Plath’s “bee poems” use the theme of beekeeping to express aspects of the human condition.

Each of Sylvia Plath’s “bee poems” uses the theme of beekeeping to express aspects of the human condition.

Both of the main characters in Waiting for Godot believes Godot is the purpose of life.

Both of the main characters in Waiting for Godot believe Godot is the purpose of life.

4. Collective nouns These are nouns that are singular in form, but plural in meaning.

o Examples: band, minority, majority, class, community, dozen, o family, public, team, jury, faculty, herd, audience, fleet, flock, squadron,

swarm, club, company, army, group, etc. When they act as one entity, use a singular verb. When they do separate things, use a plural verb, BUT it is easier to reword the

sentence. For example, write “the members of the team” instead of “the team.” Outlaw RehabilitatedThe majority of English majors read Conrad’s Heart of Darkness while at university.

The majority of English majors reads Conrad’s Heart of Darkness while at university.

 5. Plural nouns that are singular in meaning

Some plural nouns such as athletics, economics, politics, civics, mathematics, sports, news, mumps, and measles take singular verbs.

Some words ending in –s such as glasses, pants, trousers, slacks, pajamas, pliers, shears, binoculars, tweezers, scissors, clothes, thanks, and congratulations require plural verbs unless they're preceded the phrase pair of (in which case the word pair becomes the subject).

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All of the children is afraid of the dark. All of the children are afraid of the dark.

All of the candy in the treat bags have All of the candy in the treat bags has been eaten.been eaten

Politics are an issue in R. K. Narayan’s The Man-eater of Malgudi.

Politics is an issue in R. K. Narayan’s The Man-eater of Malgudi.

 6. Titles When used in sentences, the titles of books, plays, poems, movies are singular.

 Outlaw RehabilitatedSalman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children are my favourite novel.

Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children is my favourite novel.

7. Amounts Words stating amounts are USUALLY singular.Examples: Twenty dollars is too much to pay for a hamburger.

Two hours is too long to wait to see the doctor. Three-fourths of the movie was boring.

Exception: Sometimes, however, the amount is thought of as individual pieces/parts and needs a PLURAL verb.

Examples: Five of the dollars that you spent were mine. Two of the hours were spent in a hot, crowded gym. Three-fourths of the songs were new.

Tips for making Subject/Verbs Agree when dealing with amounts: 1. If the number is followed by a noun, the amount is singular. Example: Two dollars is all I have with me. 2. If the number is followed by a prepositional phrase, the amount is USUALLY

plural. Example: Two of the dollars were his, not mine.

(exception) One of the dollars was his, not mine. 3. If the amount is a fraction, the prepositional phrase following the fraction will

determine the agreement. Example: Two-thirds of the pie was eaten. Two-thirds of the eggs were broken.

8. Predicate nominatives (the noun following a linking verb that renames or further identifies the subject)

A verb should always agree with its subject, not the predicate nominative.Example: Three pieces of candy are the prize. subject = three pieces (plural) verb = are (plural)

Example: The prize is three pieces of candy.Subject = prize (singular) verb = is (singular)

9. Subjects in Unusual Locations: Sometimes the subject comes after the verb. Example: There are maps hanging on the wall in World History. Subject = maps Verbs = are

Example: On the floor under my bed is the lost library book. Subject = book Verb = is

Example: Should Brandon stay for tutoring? Subject = Brandon Verb = should stay

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Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Rules: The same rules governing subject-verb agreement apply to pronoun-antecedent agreement: a singular antecedent requires a singular pronoun and a plural antecedent requires a plural pronoun.

Antecedent: the noun to which the pronoun refers.

1.  A phrase or clause between the subject and verb does not change the number of the antecedent.     Example: The can of lima beans sits on its shelf.   2.  Compound subjects joined by and always take a plural referent.      Example: Jones and Smith made their presentation.

Compound subjects joined by or/nor/but also agree with the antecedent closer to the pronoun.    Example: Neither the director nor the actors did their jobs.      Example: Neither the actors nor the director did his or her job.                 3.  Indefinite pronouns as antecedents

Singular indefinite pronoun antecedents take singular pronoun referents.  SINGULAR: each, either, neither, one, no one, nobody, nothing, anyone, anybody, anything, someone,

somebody, something, everyone, everybody, everything, little, much, another, other              Example: Each of the clerks does a good deal of work around his or her office.         

Plural indefinite pronoun antecedents require plural referents.             PLURAL: several, few, both, many, others            Example: Both do a good job in their office.                   

Some indefinite pronouns that are modified by a prepositional phrase may be either singular or plural. 

           “WISHY-WASHY” (EITHER SINGULAR OR PLURAL): some, any, none, all, most, more             Examples: Some of the sugar fell out of its bag.            Examples: Some of the marbles fell out of their bag.                                                                             4.  Collective Nouns (group, jury, crowd, team, etc.) may be singular or plural, depending on meaning.     Example: The jury read its verdict.                               In this example, the jury is acting as one unit; therefore, the referent pronoun is singular.      Example: The jury disagree among themselves.                  In this example, the jury members are acting as twelve individuals; therefore, the pronoun is plural.       5.  Plural form subjects with a singular meaning take a singular referent.  (news, measles, mumps, physics, etc)     Example: The news has lost much of its sting two days later.                                            6.  Titles of single entities. (books, organizations, countries, etc.) take a singular referent.      Example: The Grapes of Wrath made its characters seem realistic. Example: The United States cherishes its democracy.                        7.  Every, Each, No, Nothing, or Many a before a noun or a series of nouns requires a singular pronouns.    Example: Every cow, pig, and horse had lost its life in the fire. Example: Many a girl wishes she could sing like Tina Turner.

8.  The number of vs A number of before a subject:

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The number of is singular. Example: The number of volunteers increases its ranks daily. A number of is plural. Example: A number of volunteers are offering their help.

Rules of Capitalization

Rules of CapitalizationCapitalization is one way to call attention to important, meaningful words. The most familiar uses of capitalization are at the beginning of sentences and for proper nouns, like names. The other uses of capitalization most often distinguish general nouns from specific ones. In general, the words that are capitalized fall into the following categories:

Names of people Personal titles Nationalities Religions Geographical names and structures Organizations Historical events First words and titles

Rule: Capitalize proper nouns and proper adjectives.A proper noun is the name of a specific person, place, thing, or idea.

Example: I am a freshmen at North Surry High School.A proper adjective is an adjective formed by a proper noun.

Example: I love Italian food.Unlike proper nouns and adjective, common nouns are not capitalized.

Example: I love to eat my high school cafeteria’s food.

Rule: Capitalize people’s names and initials.Ernest Hemingway R. L. Stein John F. Kennedy

Rule: Capitalize titles and abbreviations for titles used before people’s names or in direct address.Chief Justice Sandra Day O’Conner Ms. EdwardsSenator Ted Kennedy Dr. Lionel Warren, Jr.

Rule: Capitalize a title used without a person’s name if it refers to a head of state or a person in another important position.

the President of the United States the Secretary of Statethe Chief Justice of the Supreme Court the Pope

Rule: Capitalize the titles indicating family relationships when the titles are used as names or parts of names.

Example: Uncle Arnold and Mom teased Grandma about her fear of cats.

Note: If the title is preceded by an article (an, and, the) or a possessive pronoun (my, his, her, ours, etc.) or a possessive adjective, do not capitalize the title indicating family relationships.

Example: My mom’s dream is to travel to Africa.

Rule: Capitalize the names of races, languages, nationalities, and religions and any adjectives formed from these names.

Caucasian Spanish Vietnamese Mexican restaurant

Rule: Capitalize all words referring to God and religious scriptures.the Lord Allah the Bible Jesus Christ

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Rule: Always capitalize the pronoun “I.” Billy and I ran in the marathon.

Rule: In a geographical name, capitalize the first letter of each word except articles and prepositions.Continents: North America, Asia, AustraliaBodies of Water: Gulf of Mexico, Niagara Falls, the Pacific Ocean, Ohio RiverLand Forms: Cape Cod, Mohave DesertWorld Regions: the Middle East, Southeast AsiaPublic Areas: the Alamo, Pilot Mountain State Park, the Old North BridgePolitical Units: Nevada, Surry CountyRoads, Highways: U.S. Highway 52, Interstate 77, the Appalachian Trail, Rodeo Drive

Rule: Capitalize names of sections of the country or the world, and any adjectives that come from those sections.

The South has many historic battlegrounds. John has a Midwestern accent.

Rule: Capitalize the names of the planets in the solar system and other objects in the universe, except words like sun and moon.

Pluto Halley’s Comet a phase of the moonNote: Capitalize the word “earth” only when it is used in conjunction with the names of other planets. The word “earth” is not capitalized when the article “the” precedes it.

Example: From the vantage point of space, astronauts have said the earth is a beautiful planet.

Rule: Capitalize the names of specific monuments, bridges, and buildings.the Jefferson Memorial First Baptist Church the Golden Gate Bridge

Rule: Capitalize all words except prepositions and conjunctions in the names of organizations and institutions. Also capitalize abbreviations of these names.

Democratic Party Kennedy High School Securities and Exchange Commission

Rule: Capitalize the names of historical events, documents, and periods of time.Trojan War Bill of Rights the Renaissance the Battle of Gettysburg

Rule: Capitalize the names of months, days, and holidays but not the names of seasons unless they are personified.

April Friday Thanksgiving spring

Rule: Capitalize the abbreviations B.C., A.D., A.M., and P.M.1200 B.C. 2005 A.D. 8:15 A.M. 7:30 P.M.

Rule: Do not capitalize the general names of school subjects. Only capitalize those school subjects that are specific or followed by a number or a language.

English Algebra I Introduction to T. & I. physics

Rule: Capitalize class names only when they refer to a specific group or event or when they are used in direct address.

The freshmen are collecting canned goods for the Freshmen Class food drive.

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Rule: Capitalize the first word of every sentence.The guitarist had blisters on his fingertips.

Rule: Capitalize the first word of a direct quote.Abraham Lincoln said, “No man is good enough to govern another man without that man’s consent.”

Rule: Capitalize the first word in the greeting of a letter. Also capitalize the title, person’s name, and words such as Sir and Madam.

Dear Sir or Madam: Dear Ms. Whitaker, Dear Alice,

Rule: Capitalize the first, last, and all important words in titles. Do not capitalize conjunctions, articles, or prepositions with fewer than five letters.

Book Title The Old Man and the SeaNewspaper The Mt. Airy NewsPlay Romeo and JulietTelevision Series FriendsShort Story “The Last Rung on the Ladder”Song “Dust in the Wind”Work of Art The Judgment of Paris

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Parallel Structure or Parallelism

Parallel structure means using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance. This can happen at the word, phrase, or clause level. The usual way to join parallel structures is with the use of coordinating conjunctions such as "and" or "or."

1. Words and Phrases With the -ing form (gerund) of words: Example: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and bicycling.

With infinitive phrases: Example: Mary likes to hike, to swim, and to ride a bicycle. Mary likes to hike, swim, and ride a bicycle.

(Note: You can use "to" before all the verbs in a sentence or only before the first one.) Do not mix forms.Example 1Not Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle. Parallel: Mary likes hiking, swimming, and riding a bicycle.

Example 2Not Parallel: The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and in a detailed manner. Parallel: The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and thoroughly.

Example 3Not Parallel: The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and his motivation was low. Parallel: The teacher said that he was a poor student because he waited until the last minute to study for the exam, completed his lab problems in a careless manner, and lacked motivation.

2. Clauses

A parallel structure that begins with clauses must keep on with clauses. Changing to another pattern or changing the voice of the verb (from active to passive or vice versa) will break the parallelism.

Example 1Not Parallel: The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and to do some warm-up exercises before the game. Parallel: The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, that they should not eat too much, and that they should do some warm-up exercises before the game. Parallel: The coach told the players that they should get a lot of sleep, not eat too much, and do some warm-up exercises before the game.

Example 2Not Parallel: The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that there would be time for him to show his slide presentation, and that questions would be asked by prospective buyers.(passive voice used here, notice “by prospective buyers”) Parallel: The salesman expected that he would present his product at the meeting, that there would be time for him to show his slide presentation, and that prospective buyers would ask him questions.

3. Lists after a colon (TIP: Be sure to keep all the elements in a list in the same form.)Not Parallel: The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and looking up irregular verbs.

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Parallel: The dictionary can be used for these purposes: to find word meanings, pronunciations, correct spellings, and irregular verbs.

Double Negatives

A double negative is the nonstandard usage of two negatives used in the same sentence so that they cancel each other and create a positive. In Shakespeare's day, double negatives were considered emphatic, but today, they are considered grammar mistakes.

Negative Words: The following list contains words that are regarded as negative. If you use them in your sentences once, your statements will be negative.

no none barely scarcely never

nobody nothing hardly seldom except

no one nowhere merely but (used as only) just

not neither rarely only

There are a few rules to keep in mind when making a sentence say "No."

1. Double negatives are nonstandard. Avoid two negative words in the same clause.

Incorrect: I don't want no seconds. (Both don't and no are negatives.)

Correct: I don't want any seconds. Correct: I want no seconds.

This rule does not include negative interjections at the beginning of a sentence or clause, since those are grammatically separate. Correct: No, I don't want any seconds.

2. Do not use but in a negative sense with another negative.

Incorrect: He didn't want but one good manuscript.

Correct: He wanted but one good manuscript. Correct: He wanted only one good manuscript.

3. Words like barely, hardly, and scarcely have a negative sense and should not be used with another negative. In effect, this creates a double negative.

Incorrect: He couldn't hardly speak. Correct: He could hardly speak.

Incorrect: We were not barely able to see the stage. Correct: We were barely able to see the stage.

Sentence Meaning

Positive Construction negative + negative

I hardly have none. I have some.

I don't want nothing. I want something.

Negative Construction I hardly have any. I have few.

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negative + positive I don't want anything. I want nothing.

Misplaced or Dangling Modifier

A modifier, or modifying phrase, is a word or phrase that explains or describes or “modifies” a word.

MISPLACED MODIFIERS are words, phrases, or clauses that do not point clearly to the word or words they modify. They have been separated from the words or phrases they modify.

EXAMPLE: Like so many American men, the day came when Hank wanted a sports car.Explanation of Mistake: Since the day is the subject, the sentence implies that the day is like American men. This is unintentionally funny and should be revised.

Possible Corrections: (1) Like so many American men, Hank eventually wanted a sports car. (2) The day came when Hank, like so many American men, wanted a sports car.

EXAMPLE: Santa is a short man with a bushy moustache weighing 200 pounds.Explanation of Mistake: This sentence suggests that the man’s moustache weighs 200 pounds.

Possible Corrections: (1) Santa is a short man weighing 200 pounds and sporting a bushy moustache. (2) Santa is a short man with a bushy moustache, and he weighs 200 pounds.

EXAMPLE: Allison took a walk on the pier wearing her new shoes.Explanation of Mistake: This sentence suggests that the pier, not Allison, is wearing new shoes.Possible Correction: Wearing her new shoes, Allison took a walk on the pier.

A DANGLING MODIFIER (also called a dangling participle) is a modifier that “dangles” from the beginning or the end of a sentence because the WORD IT MODIFIES DOES NOTAPPEAR in the sentence.

EXAMPLE: Eating six corn dogs, nausea overwhelmed Jane.Explanation of Mistake: This sentence suggests that nausea ate six corn dogs.

Possible Corrections: (1) Eating six corn dogs, Jane felt overwhelmed with nausea. (2) Nausea overwhelmed Jane after she ate six corn dogs.

EXAMPLE: Diving in the ocean in search of dinner, we saw the pelican.Explanation of Mistake: This sentence suggests that we were the ones, not the pelican, diving in the ocean in search of dinner.

Possible Correction: We saw the pelican diving in the ocean in search of dinner.

LIMITING MODIFIERA limiting modifier such as only, even, almost, hardly, nearly, and just should be placed in front of the word or words they modify.Incorrect: Jason only wants to take one class this semester.Correct: Jason wants  to take only one class this semester.

*Tip for Success: To avoid misplacing your modifiers, make sure they’re as close as possible to the

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word they are explaining or describing.

The APOSTROPHE

The apostrophe has three uses: 1) to form possessives of nouns2) to show the omission of letters3) to indicate certain plurals of lowercase letters.

Apostrophes are NOT used for possessive pronouns or for noun plurals, including acronyms.

Forming possessives of nouns

To see if you need to make a possessive, turn the phrase around and make it an "of the..." phrase. For example: the boy's hat = the hat of the boy

three days' journey = journey of three days

If the noun after "of" is a building, an object, or a piece of furniture, then no apostrophe is needed!For example: room of the hotel = hotel room

door of the car = car door leg of the table = table leg

Once you've determined whether you need to make a possessive, follow these rules to create one.

• add 's to the singular form of the word (even if it ends in -s): the owner's car, James's hat

• add 's to the plural forms that do not end in -s:

the children's game, the geese's honking

• add ' to the end of plural nouns that end in -s:

houses' roofs, three friends' letters

• add 's to the end of compound words:

my brother-in-law's money

 • add 's to the last noun to show joint possession of an object:

Todd and Anne's apartment

Showing omission of letters (Also called CONTRACTIONS)Apostrophes are used in contractions. A contraction is a word (or set of numbers) in which one or more letters (or numbers) have been omitted. The apostrophe shows this omission. Contractions are common in speaking and in informal writing. To use an apostrophe to create a contraction, place an apostrophe where the omitted letter(s) would go. Here are some examples:

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don't = do not, I'm = I am, he'll = he will, who's = who is, shouldn't = should not, it’s = it is

Forming plurals of lowercase lettersApostrophes are used to form plurals of letters that appear in lowercase; here the rule appears to be more typographical than grammatical, e.g. "three ps" versus "three p's." To form the plural of a lowercase letter, place 's after the letter. There is no need for apostrophes indicating a plural on capitalized letters, numbers, and symbols (though keep in mind that some editors, teachers, and professors still prefer them). Here are some examples:

p's and q's = a phrase indicating politeness, possibly from "mind your pleases and thankyous"?

Nita's mother constantly stressed minding one's p's and q's.

three Macintosh G4s = three of the Macintosh model G4

There are two G4s currently used in the writing classrom.

many &s = many ampersands

That printed page has too many &s on it.

Don't use apostrophes for possessive pronouns or for noun plurals.Apostrophes should not be used with possessive pronouns because possessive pronouns already show possession -- they don't need an apostrophe. His, her, its, my, yours, ours are all possessive pronouns. Here are some examples:

 wrong: his' book correct: his book

 wrong: The group made it's decision. correct: The group made its decision.

(Note: Its and it's are not the same thing. It's is a contraction for "it is" and its is a possesive pronoun meaning "belonging to it." It's raining out= it is raining out. A simple way to remember this rule is the fact that you don't use an apostrophe for the possesives his or hers, so don't do it with its!)

 wrong: a friend of yours' correct: a friend of yours

 wrong: She waited for three hours' to get her ticket. correct: She waited for three hours to get her ticket

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Active / Passive Voice

Active VoiceIn sentences written in active voice, the subject performs the action expressed in the verb; in other words, the subject acts!Examples: 1) The dog bit the boy.

Dog = subject bit = verb 2) Meredith will present her research at the conference.

Meredith = subject will present = verb 3) Andrew opened the door.

Andrew = subject opened = verb 4) Scientists have conducted experiments to test the hypothesis. Scientists = subject have conducted = verb

Passive VoiceIn sentences written in passive voice, the subject receives the action expressed in the verb; the subject is acted upon. The agent performing the action may appear in a “by the …” phrase.

Examples: 1) The boy was bitten by the dog. 2) Research will be presented by Meredith at the conference. 3) The door was opened by Andrew. 4) Experiments have been conducted by scientists to test the hypothesis. Sometimes the use of passive voice can create awkward sentences. Also, overuse of passive voice throughout an essay can cause your prose to seem flat and uninteresting.

Is passive voice ever the preferred voice? Yes, in scientific writing, passive voice is more readily accepted since using it allows one to write without using personal pronouns or the names of particular researches as the subjects of sentences. This practice helps to create the appearance of an objective, fact-based discourse because writers can present research and conclusions without attributing them to particular agents. Instead, the writing appears to convey information that is not limited or biased by individuals or personal interests.

Tips to Recognize Passive VoiceYou can recognize passive-voice expressions because the verb phrase will always include a form of be, such as am, is, was, were, are, or been. The presence of a be-verb, however, does not necessarily mean that the sentence is in passive voice. Another way to recognize passive-voice sentences is that they may include a “by the…” phrase after the verb (the agent performing the action, if named, is the object of the preposition—the noun or pronoun that ends the prepositional phrase.

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Words Often Confused

If you read too hurriedly or experience test anxiety, you could easily overlook words that are often confused. Don’t make careless mistakes.

accept / except The verb accept means “to receive or believe” ; except is usually a preposition meaning “excluding” or “to omit.”

Except for some extraordinary events, I can accept that the Odyssey recounts a real journey.

advice / advise Advice is a noun naming what an adviser gives. Advise is a verb.

The failing student asked his friend Jason for ad vice. Jason advised his friend to attending after-school tutoring.

affect / effect As a verb, affect means “to influence.” Effect as a verb means “to cause, or bring about or accomplish.” Used as a noun, effect means “the result of some action.”

Did Circe’s wine affect Odysseus’ mind? It did effect a change in Odysseus’ men. In fact, it had an effect on everyone else who drank it.

allusion / illusion An allusion is an indirect reference to something or someone. An illusion is a false picture or idea.

“Between a rock and a hard place” is a famous allusion from Homer’s Odyssey. If you are hallucinating, it’s just an illusion, so don’t freak out.

among / between Between is used when you are speaking of only two things. Among is used for three or more.

Between Romeo and Juliet and Othello, I prefer the later. Atticus Finch is among my favorite literary characters.

bring / take Bring is used to denote motion toward a speaker or place. Take is used to denote motion away from such a person or lace.

Bring your cell phone to me, so that I can take it to the front office.

fewer / less Fewer refers to the number of separate, countable units. Less refers to bulk or quantity.

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We have less time and fewer questions on this year’s English I EOC.

its / it’s Its is a possessive pronoun. It’s is a contraction meaning “it is” or “it has.”

The six week tests were formatted like the English I EOC. So its format will be familiar to you. Aren’t you glad that it’s time for the English I EOC.

loose / lose Loose means “free, not restrained"; lose means “to misplace or fail to find.”

Who turned the horses loose? I hope we don’t lose any of them.

precede / proceed Precede means “ to go or come before.” Use proceed for other meanings.

English I precedes English II, III, and IV. If you pass the EOC, you may proceed to the next course, English II.

than / then Use than in making comparisons; use then for references to time.

Brittany is better in English than she is in math. She follows the study tip advice of studying your hardest subject first, so she always completes her Algebra I homework then she is more relaxing when completing her reading and writing assignments for English.

their/there/they’re Their is a possessive pronoun meaning “belong to them.” There is an adverb meaning “at that place” or an expletive used to begin a sentence. They’re is a contraction meaning “they are.”

There isn’t any milk for my cereal, so my parents will buy some while they’re at the store. Of course, they will need it for their coffee, too.

two / too / to Two is a number. Too is an adverb meaning “also” or “very.” Use to before a verb or a preposition.

Jamie had to go to work after school even though she had too much homework to do for the next day. Two chapters is too much to read in one night, don’t you think?

Were/we’re/where Were is a verb. We’re is a contraction meaning “we are.” Where is an adverb indicating place.

Where have you been? We were looking everywhere for you. We’re happy to see you now.

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weather / whether Weather means "conditions outdoors". Whether is an expression of choice between two options.

Do you watch the weather to help you decide whether you should wear short or long sleeves?

Proofreading Skill(s) 1 2 3 4 5 1. Active, not passive, Voice Needed 2. Apostrophe to show possession 3. Capitalize abbreviations 4. Capitalize languages 5. Capitalize PROPER ADJECTIVES 6. Capitalize PROPER NOUNS 7. Capitalize Regions of the Country 8. Capitalize school subjects followed by a number 9. Capitalize title of Literary Work10. Clarity Needed11. Colon to introduce explanatory sentence 12. Colon to introduce list 13. Colon to introduce long or formal quote14. Colon to separate title & subtitle15. Comma--Appositive 16. Comma--BEFORE FANBOYS joining 2 sentences17. Comma--Contrasting Element18. Comma--Geographical Information19. Comma--Intro. Depend. Clause20. Comma--Intro. One-word Response21. Comma--Intro. Participial Phrase22. Comma--Intro. Succession Prep. Phrases23. Comma--Nonessential Clause (who, whom, whose, which, that)24. Comma--Nonessential Participial Phrase (looks like verb, acts like adjective)25. Comma--Noun of Address26. Comma--Parenthetical Expression27. Comma--Three or More Items in a Series/List28. Comma--Two or More Adjectives Preceding a Noun29. Conciseness Needed (to reduce repetition / to reduce wordiness)30. Consistent Verb Tense31. DO NOT capitalize directions32. DO NOT capitalize school subjects33. DO NOT capitalize seasons unless personified34. Double Negatives35. Drawing Conclusions36. Fragment, incomplete sentence37. Hyphenate a compound adjective 38. Misplaced Modifier 39. NO apostrophe needed (plural of word needed instead)40. NO colon--list immediately follows preposition41. NO colon--list immediately follows verb42. NO comma--Dep. Clause at END of sent.43. NO comma--essential clause44. No comma--essential participial phrase 45. NO comma--NOT joining 2 sentences46. NO comma--ONLY joining 2 ITEMS in series47. NO semicolon--not two sentences48. Organization of Paragraph/Essay

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49. Parallelism/Parallel Structure NEEDED 50. Possessive Pronoun BEFORE Gerund51. Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement52. Pronoun Usage 53. Punctuation at end of sentence

Proofreading Skill(s) 1 2 3 4 554. punctuation of TITLE55. Punctuation/Quote56. Run-on Sentence57. Semicolon to avoid confusion (when 1st clause already uses comma(s))58. Semicolon to join two sentences59. Spelling60. Subject/Verb Agreement61. Subject/Verb Agreement--Collective Nouns62. Subject/Verb Agreement--Compound Subjects joined with "and"63. Subject/Verb Agreement--Compound Subjects joined with "or/nor" 64. Subject/Verb Agreement--Indefinite Pronouns65. Subject/Verb Agreement--s/v separated with a clause or phrase66. Subject/Verb Agreement--subject in unusual location67. Subject/Verb Agreement--Title 68. Supporting Detail(s)69. Variety of Sentence Structures70. Word Choice/Word Meaning71. Words often confused (for example: its/it's; there, they're, their)

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