LA, module 1, week 3, grade 8, Language arts, Grammar, module 1, grade 8

That I have been to almost every week for the last ten years.

Fragment

Before you go to bed.

Fragment Corrected: Before you go to bed, please finish frosting the cake.

He told me he was from Atlanta Georgia therefore I expected him to have a southern accent.

He told me he was from Atlanta Georgia therefore I expected him to have a southern accent. He told me he was from Atlanta, Georgia; therefore, I expected him to have a southern accent.

Which sentence is correct?

In our study group, Kara helps me more than Abby does.

This song is more longer than I thought it was.

Incorrect. More longer is a double comparison. Since the word long is only one syllable, we only need to add er to make it comparative. Corrected: This song is longer than I thought it was.

Tom can run further than Lydia. Incorrect. This one is tricky! We use farther when we're talking about physical distance.

Incorrect. This one is tricky! We use farther when we're talking about physical distance.

a word that expresses an emotion or sudden feeling:

Interjection:

Comparing to a Group

Kate reads faster than any student in her grade. This might sound correct to the ear, but is it? Isn't Kate a student in her grade? Can Kate be part of the group that we're comparing Kate to? Corrected: Kate reads faster than any other student in her grade.

Irregular Forms

Keep in mind that some comparative degrees are not formed by adding er or more. Examples: worse, farther/further, better, less, more

Corrected:

Maggie May (a Yorkshire terrier) was my first dog.

My alarm clock was set for the correct time, however, it did not go off.

My alarm clock was set for the correct time; however, it did not go off.

Wrapping a present for my best friend. Is this a complete sentence?

No It does not include a subject, complete verb, or a complete idea. Who is wrapping the present?

What if we tried to use each phrase as a sentence? Would that work?

No. A sentence must have a subject, verb, and complete idea.

What is between the two independent clauses?

Nothing—they are crammed together.

A person, place, thing, or idea

Noun:

How might you compare these two giraffes?

One giraffe is taller than the other giraffe.

Our next science unit is about ultraviolet light invisible light with a wavelength shorter than visible violet light.

Our next science unit is about ultraviolet light (invisible light with a wavelength shorter than visible violet light).

a word that shows a relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence:

Preposition:

a word that takes the place of a noun:

Pronoun:

Which of the following is punctuated correctly?

The concert will feature Casting Crowns, Tenth Avenue North, and Skillet; but Third Day will not be performing.

All of the pronouns are underlined in the following sentence: Abby truly believes she can clean the whole house herself in two hours, but I think someone should help her.

True

The concluding sentence reminds the reader why the information in the paragraph is important.

True

a word that shows action, shows a state of being (a "being" verb), helps, or links:

Verb:

We ______________ popcorn tonight.

We is a plural subject. You could use are making, will make, have made, have been making, made, popped, microwaved, etc.

Comparative Degree

We use the comparative degree to compare two items—perhaps these two birds. How are these two birds different

The best of what? Try to add details so that what you're comparing is clear.

Your painting is the best painting in the show.

Remember to be as clear as you can in your comparisons.

Your painting is the best.

Include a colon

after a complete sentence if what follows clarifies or develops the sentence further.

DO NOT include a colon

after a preposition or verb ("with" is a preposition).

We also use a colon

after the greeting in a business letter. Dear Sir: Dear Mr. Birkoff:

Select the verb that correctly completes the sentence. First, she carefully mixes the ingredients, making sure that they ____ not overly mixed.

are

A clause is a group of related words that has

both a subject and a verb.

Semicolons

can connect two simple sentences (independent clauses) without a coordinating conjunction

The restaurant down the street _________ at 9:00 P.M.

closes

The war raised many significant questions, however, people weren't ready to answer.

comma splice

Either the coach or the football players were interviewed.

correct In #2 above, the coach and the football players are joined by or. Which subject is closest to the verb? Football players. Since the subject is plural, we use the plural form of the verb: were. So this is correct!

Clauses that don't have a complete idea are

dependent clauses.

A phrase is a group of related words that

does not have a subject and a verb.

Select the verb that correctly completes the sentence. As we slowly make our way along the winding road, I ______ a little dizzy.

feel

When they went on vacation to Hawaii three years ago.

fragment

Several of our friends ______ to our church.

go

That was the hardest decision I have ever made. Which word in the sentence above is in the superlative form?

hardest

Dashes can be used in a similar way to

how parentheses are used. We can also use dashes in creative writing to show a break in speech or an unfinished thought.

Neither Joy nor Bethany were playing tennis.

incorrect In #1 above, there are two subjects, Joy and Bethany, joined by nor. Bethany is the subject closest to the verb, and Bethany is ONE person, so the subject is singular. The verb must also be singular. WAS is the past tense singular form of the verb is, while WERE is the past tense plural form of is. Since our subject is singular, we need to use was.

Lily is hiking this afternoon.

independent

can also stand alone as its own sentence.

independent clause

Identify the mood/form of the bold-faced verb. You can find several books for your project at the school's library.

indicative

Select the pronoun that correctly completes the sentence. Katie is traveling with Nick and ___.

me

Choose the three correct answers to complete this statement: Pronouns and antecedents must agree in [option1], [option2], and [option3].

number gender person

Choose the answer to the following question. The object of the preposition should be in which pronoun case?

objective

Dashes can be used as the

opposite of colons!

The pollen is making Nick sneeze so he should stay inside.

run-on

This math class is very difficult it is for advanced students.

run-on

I have been studying for an hour, but I still don't feel prepared yet

sentence

Identify the mood/form of the bold-faced verb. The professor asked that he edit his manuscript.

subjunctive

Which of the following states the entire idea of a paper or essay?

thesis statement

A comma splice is

two independent clauses connected by only a comma.

Colons can't come after

verbs or after prepositions. In the example above, a colon cannot follow the verb "need."

1 Which sentence is correct?

1 Of the two books, this one is more suspenseful.

3 If the movie is good.

3 Dependent

What should be between two independent clauses?

A comma and coordinating conjunction (Remember FANBOYS?) OR A semicolon

a word that describes a noun or a pronoun:

Adjective:

a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb:

Adverb:

Your backpack ________ in the kitchen.

Backpack is the subject. We are talking about only one backpack, so the verb must be singular. You could use many different singular verbs in the blank: sits, is, is sitting, is forgotten, waits, is lying, was, has been, etc.

Be sure to bring a sleeping bag toiletries and snacks on the camping trip however do not bring your phone.

Be sure to bring a sleeping bag, toiletries, and snacks on the camping trip; however, do not bring your phone.

a word that joins words, phrases, or clauses:

Conjunction:

How might you compare your table tennis skills to someone else's?

Example: He plays more skillfully than I play.

While Daniel swam ten laps.

Example: I lifted weights while Daniel swam ten laps.

Fragment Corrected: I do not know why Will has chosen that particular dog breed.

Fragment Corrected: I do not know why Will has chosen that particular dog breed.

That I bought at the zoo yesterday.

Fragment Corrected: The stuffed monkey that I bought at the zoo yesterday is for Cara.

George Washington 1732-1799 was the first President of the United States of America.

George Washington (1732-1799) was the first President of the United States of America.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

I am coming; he is not.

How might you add to the fragment to make it a complete sentence?

I am wrapping a present for my best friend.

The thunderstorm woke up Jennifer, so she was rather tired today.

If you found two clauses, you're correct! Clause #1: The thunderstorm woke up Jennifer Clause #2: she was rather tired today.

Rachel will finish the marathon quickly than Nick will.

Incorrect. We need to add more before quickly to show that we're comparing how Rachel and Nick will finish.

Sean has decided to apply to the University of California at Los Angeles UCLA.

Sean has decided to apply to the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).

She prepared well for her speech today.

Sentence

The sermon that he gave was inspiring.

Sentence

Are these clauses independent or dependent?

Since each clause can stand alone, both clauses are independent.

That we should not be tardy.

That we should not be tardy. Fragment Corrected: Mrs. Williams reminded us that we should not be tardy.

One type of clause is stronger than the other.

The stronger clause is the independent clause.

__________ the bags of groceries still in the car?

The subject is bags, which is plural. What are some plural forms of verbs that will fit in the blank? Are and were. You can't use is or

The tree that Jacob climbed. Is the sentence above a complete sentence? No That Jacob climbed is a clause, but it is a dependent clause. That means we need an independent clause to complete the idea.

The tree that Jacob climbed was extremely tall.

Include a colon

after "the following" or "as follows".

Either Margaret or Mackenzie ________ with the kindergarteners' Sunday school.

helps

We ________ at the budget before we spend money on electronics.

look

Nathan and Kara _______ after school every day.

run

1 When it stops snowing.

1 Dependent

1 Which sentence uses dashes correctly?

1 Outback, Olive Garden, and P.F. Chang's--these are David's favorite restaurants.

1 Neither the cell phones nor the laptop are working.

1 incorrect In #3 above, two subjects, the cell phones and the laptop are joined by nor. The first thing we must do is find the subject that is closest to the verb. In this case, the laptop. Is it singular or plural? It is singular. So we need a singular verb. Is is the singular form; are is the plural form. Is agrees with the subject.

2 Which sentence uses dashes correctly?

2 Alexandra--her head held high--strode to the center of the stage.

2 That you like.

2 Dependent

2 Which sentence is correct?

2 The food looks better than the decorations.

3 Which sentence is correct?

3 Maddie has practiced her speech more than any other students have.

According to the online catalog, our library has the book I need nevertheless I can't find it on the shelf.

According to the online catalog, our library has the book I need nevertheless I can't find it on the shelf. According to the online catalog, our library has the book I need; nevertheless, I can't find it on the shelf.

Which sentences are punctuated correctly? There are TWO correct answers.

After a full day at the beach, we were all ready for some ice cream! We were all ready for ice cream after a full day at the beach!

My mattress is more comfortable than the hotel mattress.

Correct! Comfortable is three syllables, so we add more to show that we are comparing two mattresses.

Sarah is healthier now than she was six months ago.

Correct! Notice that the y in healthy changes to an i before we add er. We are comparing Sarah's current health to her health six months ago.

I am less familiar with that time period in history than she is.

Correct! When we indicate some kind of inferiority in a comparison between two things, we use the word less.

I have been tired all week, nevertheless, I am feeling better today.

Corrected: I have been tired all week; nevertheless, I am feeling better today. (semicolon with transitional word) Corrected: I have been tired all week, but I am feeling better today. (replacing transitional word with coordinating conjunction)