English Language Conventions /Grammar Intensive

Transcription

1 English Language Conventions /Grammar Intensive Punctuation Ending Punctuation Period Question mark Exclamation mark Comma $ Semi-colon $ Colon $ Quotation marks $ ^apostrophe $ Parentheses $ Dash $ Brackets $ Ellipses $ Capitalization rules $ Parts of Speech Noun* Proper noun Common noun Collective noun Abstract noun Subject pronoun* Possessive noun Pronouns Reflexive pronoun* Possessive pronoun* Object pronoun* Preposition* (yes- ALL 50 of them!) Conjunction (CC, CA)* subordinating conjunction* Verb Conjugate* (conjugate at least to be and one other verb) Subject-Verb Agreement* Tense-past/present /future/ Adjective Adverb Sentence construction syntax Fragment/Run-on Complex sentence Compound sentence Simple sentence Complex compound sentence Clause Subordinate/depen dent clause Independent/main clause Phrase Infinitive phrase Prepositional phrase Gerund phrase Participial Passive voice/active voice*$ ^parallelism

2 Rationale By practicing writing conventions at a level higher than required by testing you will have a command useful in actual situations calling for written communication and be well-equipped to deal with testing pressures at a Proficient to Advanced level. We are starting with these question types because they do not require significant reading: either you know the way a sentence should be structured according to the rules (and can therefore prove to yourself the right answer), or you know enough to make an gut-guess or you get them wrong.

3 Restudy Basic Lingo Can you recall each term with its definition? These are the most basic terms you must know the definitions of and be able to logically identify to be successful at correcting and writing correct sentences. 1. The set of pronouns can be the subject of a sentence. 2. The action being done by the subject of the sentence. 3. A sentence that is incorrect because it uses too many phrases or clauses, but does not connect them correctly. 4. The noun or pronoun that is doing the action of the sentence. aboard About above across after against along amid among anti around as at before behind below beneath beside besides 5. A word like: between beyond but by concerning considering despite down during except excepting excluding following for from in inside into like minus near of off on onto opposite outside over past per plus regarding round save since than through to that tell the relationship of one noun or pronoun to another noun or pronoun 6. An incomplete sentence that is incorrect because it is missing its subject or verb. toward towards under underneath unlike until up upon versus via with within without

4 Restudy Basic Lingo Can you recalleach term with its definition? These are the most basic terms you must know the definitions of and be able to logically identify to be successful at correcting and writing correct sentences. 7. A group of words that act as a unit to describe or add detail to a sentence; they do not contain a subject-verb combination. 8. A sentence that combines two simple sentences or independent clauses by correctly using a conjunction to join them. 9. A sentence with a subject and verb, but no additional phrases or clauses. 10. A group of words that contain a subject and verb. Some are main or independent and can stand alone. Some are dependent or subordinate and need more information. 11. A sentence that uses phrases or subordinate clauses to extend an add detail to the sentence; a sentence with multiple smaller parts.

5 On the CST & SAT & SAT, the questions look like: 12. Which of the following is the correct way to punctuate the sentence from the passage? A B C D They recognize one another by sight smell, and voice. They recognize one another by sight, smell, and, voice. They recognize one another by, sight, smell, and voice. They recognize one another by sight, smell, and voice.

6 On the CST & SAT & SAT, the questions look like: 13. Read this sentence from paragraph 1 of the report. What is the correct way to rewrite the underlined part of the sentence to maintain consistent verb tense? When Josephine was ten years old, her mother was moving the family west to Los Angeles, California. A had moved B moved C is moving D is moving will move

7 On the CST & SAT & SAT, the questions look like: 14. Read this sentence from paragraph 7 of the report. To satisfy the demands of this new generation of listeners, radio technology was improved by radio manufacturers. Which is the best way to rewrite the selected part of the sentence using the active voice? A. radio manufacturers improved radio technology B. improvements to radio technology were made by radio manufacturers C. improvements by radio manufacturers were being made to radio technology D. radio technology had been improved by radio manufacturers

8 On the CST & SAT & SAT, the questions look like: 15. Read the sentence from paragraph two. Listeners used a primitive set of headphones, which were attached to the box with thin wire called cat whisker, to hear talk and music. What is the correct way to punctuate the selected part of the sentence? A. headphones which were attached, to the box with thin wire, called cat whisker B. headphones which were attached to the box, with thin wire, called cat whisker C. headphones which were attached to the box, with thin wire called, cat whisker D. Leave as is.

9 On the CST & SAT & SAT, the questions look like: Parallel Structure A Option 1 B 16. Read this sentence from paragraph 2 of the report. C Option 2 Option 3 What is Dthe correct Option 4 way to rewrite this sentence using parallel structure? A. By the time Whitman was seventeen years old, he had already worked as a printer s apprentice, he had worked as a compositor, and a teacher. B. By the time Whitman was seventeen years old, he had already worked as a printer s apprentice, a compositor, and a teacher. C. By the time Whitman was seventeen years old, he had already worked as a printer s apprentice, and a compositor, and also worked as a teacher. D. By the time Whitman was seventeen years old, he had already worked as a printer s apprentice, as a compositor, and had worked as a teacher.

10 On the CST & SAT & SAT, the questions look like: active voice A B Option 1 Option Read this sentence from paragraph 1 of the C report. Option 3 Outside D of Option the 4 classroom, most of Whitman s education was received. What is the correct way to rewrite the sentence using the active voice? A. Most of his education outside of the classroom was received by Whitman. B. Whitman received most of his education outside of the classroom. C. By Whitman, most of his education outside the classroom was received. D. Leave as is.

11 On the CST & SAT & SAT, the questions look like: 18. Read this sentence. Mexico, however, should also be mentioned in the same breath, thanks to the following artists Diego Rivera, José Clemente Orozco, and David Alfaro Siqueiros. What is the correct punctuation of the selected part of the sentence? A. artists: Diego Rivera B. artists; Diego Rivera C. artists Diego Rivera D. artists, Diego Rivera

12 On the CST & SAT & SAT, the questions look like: Read this sentence. He went to the University of California and then to Harvard after he got well, where he earned a master s degree. What is the best way to rewrite the sentence to improve the placement of modifiers? A. After he got well, he went to the University of California and then to Harvard, where he earned a master s degree. B. He went to the University of California and then to Harvard, where he earned a master s degree after he got well. C. He went after he got well to the University of California and then to Harvard, where he earned a master s degree. D. To the University of California he went and then to Harvard, where he earned, after he got well, a master s degree

13 On the CST & SAT, the questions look like: Read this sentence. If Howard had not believed in himself and his play if he had not persevered until failure became success he might of given up and pursued a different career. What is the correct way to revise the selected words in this sentence? A. he might of give up and pursue a different career. B. he might of given up, pursued, a different career. C. he might have given up and pursued a different career. D. he might give up and pursue a different career.

14 On the CST & SAT, the questions look like: What is the correct way to combine sentences 14 and 15? (14) Success was instantaneous. (15) This theater was a favorite of audiences and actors alike. A. Success was instantaneous the theater was a favorite of audiences and actors alike. B. Success was instantaneous, and the theater was a favorite of audiences and actors alike. C. The theater was a favorite of audiences and actors alike because success was instantaneous. D. The theater was a favorite of audiences and actors alike, success was instantaneous.

15 On the CST & SAT, the questions look like: Which of the following would improve the structure of sentence 15? A. Infrasounds which animals make are sounds which causes a vibration in the air which is an inaudible sound. B. Infrasounds, inaudible to humans, are vibrations in the air caused by animals. C. Infrasounds are sounds we can t hear that animals make that cause a vibration in the air. D. Infrasounds are sounds humans can t hear that animals make that make a vibration in the air.

16 Verb Conjugation To conjugate is a verb meaning to change the infinitive, or inactive verb form, to match the tense (time), person (first, second, third), and the number (singular or plural) of the subject. Type the subject pronoun and the conjugated verb. to ffffffff Infinitive: to Tense: Present Infinitive: to Tense: Past Person Singular Plural Person Singular Plural 1 st I we 2 nd you you (all) 3 rd he / she / it they 1 st I we 2 nd you you (all) 3 rd he / she / it they