Grammar Day
The grammatical skills you learn today will
need to be used correctly in your Mel-Con
paragraphs and future writing assignments, so
pay close attention!
Today’s Focus:
• Comma Splices, Fragments, and Run-ons Review
• Semi-Colon and Colon Review
• Quotes within Quotes
• Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement
Why do we study grammar?
• http://wordsplosion.com/
Comma Splices, Fragments,
and Run-ons Review
What’s wrong with the following?
• The Bears better beat the Packers next time, the offensive
line needs to make sure Cutler does not get sacked.
• Aaron Rodgers accurately throws the ball it will be hard
for the Bears to overcome his strengths.
• Weakening the Packers’ offense.
Semi-Colon and Colon Review
Which of these are correct?
1. Paranormal Activity is more suspenseful than The
Others; however, The Others has a much better twist.
2. The Others includes many gothic elements;
including the supernatural.
3. I have dressed up as: Spiderman, Superman, and
Batman.
4. I have dressed up in the following costumes:
Spiderman, Superman, and Batman.
Quotes within Quotes
• “My favorite song by Taylor Swift is ‘We are
Never Ever Getting Back Together,’” Maggie
said to Emily.
• Emily replied, “In my opinion, Taylor’s best
song is ‘Love Story’ because of its uplifting
tone.”
Pronoun/Antecedent Agreement
What’s an antecedent?
The word that the pronoun replaces.
– Hermione Granger threw her wand onto the floor.
• (“her” renames “Hermione Granger”).
Singular Indefinite Pronouns:
(Indefinite means it refers to something
not specified)
Another
Anybody
Anyone
Anything
Each
Either
Everybody
Everyone
Everything
Little
Much
Neither
Nobody
One
Nothing
Other
No one
Somebody
Nothing
Something
Someone
Is this correct? Everyone likes to go to the park because they like
to swim in the lake. No!!
Everyone likes to go to the park because he or she likes to swim in
the lake.
Plural Indefinite Pronouns:
Both
Few
Others
Several
Many
Singular or Plural Indefinite
Pronouns, depending on the
context:
All
All of the gas is gone.
All of the kids are gone.
(“All” refers to “gas” in the
first sentence and “kids” in
the second)
Any
Any of the jewelry is yours
for the taking.
Any of my cousins are right
for the part
(“Any” refers to “jewelry” in
the first sentence and
“cousins” in the second)
More
More of the plot is revealed
in act three.
More of our plans are going
towards breaking him out of
jail.
(“More” refers to “plot” in
the first sentence and
“plans” in the second).
Most
None
Some
Most of the cake was gone
when I got home.
But most of the cookies
were still there.
(“Most” refers to “cake” in
the first sentence and
“cookies” in the second)
None of information was
included in the packet.
None of the students were
able to finish the homework.
(“None” refers to
“information” in the first
sentence and “students” in
the second)
Some of the information
was in the book.
Some of the students were
able to find it.
(“Some” refers to
“information” in the first
sentence and “students” in
the second)
Singular Nouns that Can Refer to a Man or a
Woman.
Are these correct?
• A person should be able to make up their own mind
about what to wear to the party.
• Often, a doctor will leave their patients waiting for a
ridiculously long time.
Generally, these errors occur
• because the writer is
trying to avoid sexism.
• because when you
don’t know if the
antecedent is male or
female, it seems
logical to use the
pronoun “they.”
When you can, just make the
antecedent plural.
• A person should be able to make up their own mind about
what to wear to the party (incorrect).
– People should be able to make up their own mind about what to wear
to the party (correct).
• Often, a doctor will leave their patients waiting for a
ridiculously long time (incorrect).
– Often, doctors will leave their patients waiting for a ridiculously long
time (correct).
General Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement Rules
•
If two antecedents are joined by either/or, neither/nor, the pronoun
agrees with the antecedent closest to it;
– Either Michael or his friends will bring their video games to the party.
– Either his friends or Michael will bring his video games to the party. (This
sentence is correct, but sounds illogical. Word the sentence like the first
example rather than the second).
•
The pronoun agrees with the antecedent, not the object of the
prepositional phrase;
– Each of the dogs needs its own crate.
Be grammatically correct or…..
M.C grammar and Mrs. Marino will correct you!!
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=TwFCZSd7Fvo