English III
Name___________________________
Grammar Review
Period__________
Part 1. Sentence Pattern Practice.
Directions: The following sentences may or may not need punctuation. Place the correct punctuation where
necessary. Then, explain your rationale for using a comma, semi colon, colon or no punctuation at all.
1.
He was a well-known orator, but unfortunately his audience was bored.
Explanation: I needed a comma before the conjunction “but” because this conjunction is combining two
simple sentences.
2. The baseball game lasted nearly four hours and in the end our team lost.
Explanation:
3. The chocolates that Lynn brought us from Switzerland were delicious the only problem was that they were
full of calories.
Explanation:
4. Clyde and his family have a great sense of humor and I always have a delightful experience when I visit
them.
Explanation:
5. The dinner was cooked and ready to serve however the guests had not arrived.
Explanation:
6.
I however am ready to go.
Explanation:
Part 2. Subject Verb Agreement.
Let’s review Intervening Expressions (Interrupting Cows)
The evidence that they submitted to the judges was convincing.
Evidence is a singular subject so we choose the singular verb was.
Try a few on your own. Underline the subject and circle the correct verb.
1- The new library with its many books and its quiet reading rooms (fills or fill) a long-felt need: students need
places to read quietly.
2- A list of eligible candidates (was or were) posted on the bulletin board; they will be posted until the election.
3- My father, together with my two brothers, (is or are) planning to build a cabin at the lake; however, he
needs to go to Home Depot before they begin.
Part 3. Verb Tense Agreement.
If the passage is in the present tense, keep all the verbs in the present tense.
If the passage is in the past tense, keep all the verbs in the past tense.
Notice the verbs in the first paragraph of chapter 7.
It was when curiosity about Gatsby was at its highest that the lights in his house failed to go on one Saturday night
— and, as obscurely as it had begun, his career as Trimalchio was over. Only gradually did I become aware that the
automobiles which turned expectantly into his drive stayed for just a minute and then drove sulkily away.
Wondering if he were sick I went over to find out — an unfamiliar butler with a villainous face squinted at me
suspiciously from the door.
What does the verb “had begun” show about the sequence of time in the passage?
Part 4. Pronouns.
Always make sure your pronoun agree with its antecedent (the noun it is replacing).
1- We took the train because neither of us wanted to drive (their or his/her) car downtown.
2- Marcia is one of those persons who enjoy (themselves or herself) from first to last at any party.
3- The driver of the car (was or were) creeping along River Road as (he/she or they) could not find a particular
address.
Don’t forget about the Indefinite Pronouns
Some are always singular and some are always plural. Then, there are those that can go either way. So what do you
do with the ones that go either way? Look to the noun closest to the verb.
Singular
Another
Anybody
Anyone
Anything
Each
Either
Everybody
Everything
Much
Neither
Nobody
No one
Nothing
One
Other
Someone
Something
Plural
Both
Few
Many
Others
Several
Either
All
Any
More
Most
None
Some
Singular Example:
Each of the students is responsible for her homework.
Plural Example:
Both students are very successful in English class.
Either Example:
All of the girls turned in their homework. (Girls is plural)
All of the class is responsible for reading The Great Gatsby. (Class is singular)
Let’s try some:
1- Everyone with a seat on the train had made (their or his/her) reservation days ahead.
2- None of the candidates (have or has) made (their or his/her) views clear of the school-bond issue.
3- Several students stated (their or his/her) opinion about the importance of having days off of school.
4- Everybody knows what to do; (they or he/she) (needs/need) to be aware of the importance of working as a
group.
Part 5. Using the grammar rules.
Directions: Write a paragraph of at least 10 sentences. Please use at least 3 sentence patterns, make sure
you use the present tense and that your verbs agree in tense and number. Finally, use at least 2 Indefinite
Pronouns.
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________