Transcript Grammar for Life - Hillsdale Public Schools

Grammar
for Life
Rules and Examples
Master Your Modifiers
Definition: A modifier is a word or group of words that modifies,
or describes, another word or group of words in a sentence. A
modifier should always appear next to the word or words it
modifies.
Incorrect Example: Smothered in gravy, Derek ate his turkey.
Correct Example:
Option 1: Derek ate his turkey, which was smothered in gravy.
Option 2: Derek ate his smothered in gravy turkey.
Concept: Vary Your Sentences
Rule: Move a prepositional phrase to the beginning of a
sentence so the sentence does not sound awkward.
Incorrect: Sally takes a ballet class at the end of each
week.
Correct: At the end of each week, Sally takes a ballet
class.
Vary Your Sentences
You can form a compound sentence by linking two regular
sentences together.
You can use the following words to join sentences:
FANBOY – for, and, nor, but, or, your -also, however,
although, therefore, and.
Ex:
Incorrect: My brownie was delicious, I ate it all.
Correct: My brownie was delicious, therefore, I
ate it all.
Vary Your Sentences- Rule # 4
• Rule # 4: Combine two or more sentences by placing the
clause in the middle of one of the sentences:
Incorrect Example: Jasmine
loves to eat chicken. She is fat
and lazy.
Correct Example: Jasmine, my fat
lazy cat, loves to eat chicken.
By: Emily Del Villar and Charlotte Atkinson
Redundancy
• Rule: Do not use unnecasary repitition in
your writing to keep it clear and effective.
• Definition: The use of words or data that
could be omitted without loss of meaning
or function; repetition or overlapping,
especially of words.
• Incorrect: We have to go to soccer at 2:55
P.M., after school, after our classes are over.
• Correct: We have to go to soccer at 2:55
P.M., after school.
Use a pair of commas in the
middle of a sentence to set off
words or phrases that are not
essential elements to the
sentence.
Incorrect: Suzy my friend
went to the mall to buy a new
outfit for the first day of school.
Correct: Suzy, my friend, went
to the mall to buy a new outfit
for the first day of school.
Comma Sense
Rule: Use commas to separate items in a series of three
or more things.
Incorrect: When I make an ice cream Sunday I make sure
to put on sprinkles cherry’s chocolate syrup and whip
cream.
Correct: When I make an ice cream Sunday I make sure
to put on, sprinkles, cherry’s ,chocolate syrup, and whip
cream.