GRAMMAR REVIEW (FOR THE FINAL EXAM)

OUR MAIN FOCUSES TODAY: Subject-Verb Agreement in Literature Noun-Pronoun Agreement Semicolons Colons Quotations Adverbs Appositives

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT IN LITERATURE The rule: if it happened in the past in our universe (a real historical event) it must be written in the past tense. If it is an event that happened in the story, it must be written in the present tense (as a story makes all moments immortal because you can turn to that page at any moment and find that event is still occurring).

SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT IN LITERATURE Example: Past tense (our universe); In the 1920’s, people spent recklessly. Present tense (book universe): In The Great Gatsby, the characters spend recklessly.

EXAMPLE In Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, one of the main characters never lose faith in the dream, but the other lost his faith entirely. Becomes: In Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, one of the main characters never loses faith in the dream, but the other loses his faith entirely.

NOUN-PRONOUN AGREEMENT The rule: If a noun starts as a plural, the pronoun that replaces it later must also be plural. If a noun starts as a singular, the pronoun that replaces it later must also be singular.

NON-PRONOUN AGREEMENT When the judge questioned the girls, no one wanted to incriminate herself by confessing.

EXAMPLE The characters in Alexie’s Smoke Signals show, in his own way, that dishonesty can undermine a relationship. Becomes The characters in Alexie’s Smoke Signals show, in their own way, that dishonesty can undermine a relationship.

SEMICOLON The rule: if two sentences can stand on their own, but are closely connected, they may be joined by a semicolon.

SEMICOLON The sun shower came on suddenly it was so beautiful, she had to stop and admire it. Becomes The sun shower came on suddenly ; it was so beautiful, she had to stop and admire it.

EXAMPLE Henry David Throeau did not insist that people give up all comforts, instead he said that people should reduce their possessions to only necessary items. Becomes Henry David Throeau did not insist that people give up all comforts ; instead he said that people should reduce their possessions to only necessary items.

COLON The rule: you must use a colon when you are starting a list.

COLON While she was packing for her trip, she took care not to forget three things in particular : her passport, her international cell phone, and her guidebook.

EXAMPLE Arthur Miller’s The Crucible teaches us several things about human nature we are subject to herd mentality most people will give up their integrity to preserve their lives and it is easy to miscarry justice if we believe our cause is just. Becomes Arthur Miller’s The Crucible teaches us several things about human nature : we are subject to herd mentality most people will give up their integrity to preserve their lives and it is easy to miscarry justice if we believe our cause is just

QUOTATIONS The rule: After a character speaks (directly), you must separate your language from the speaker’s with a comma. Every time you begin a new quotation, the first letter must be capitalized.

QUOTATIONS Brian said, “Hey! I thought quotations didn’t’ have commas before them!” “That’s sometimes true,” said Miss I, “But when someone is talking the rules change.” Brian rolled his eyes and said, “That’s dumb.” “Tell me about it,” replied Miss I.

EXAMPLE In The Great Gatsby, Tom Buchanan says “an Oxford Man! then he cries like hell he is!” Becomes In The Great Gatsby, Tom Buchanan says, “an Oxford Man!” Then he cries, “Like hell he is!”

ADVERBS The rule: Whenever you are describing a verb (any action) you must use an adverb rather than an adjective, as adjectives are only used when describing nouns.

ADVERBS When reviewing for their exam the students grinned tired —only a few more days! Becomes When reviewing for their exam the students grinned tiredly —only a few more days!

EXAMPLE The people of Salem looked at Abby grateful at first because they thought she was trying to help the town. Becomes The people of Salem looked at Abby gratefully at first because they thought she was trying to help the town.

APPOSITIVES The rule: when you include extra information, you must separate that information by using commas when it is most relevant. (Rearrange the sentences accordingly)

APPOSITIVES Martha Corey Giles Corey’s wife denied any involvement with witchcraft. Becomes Martha Corey, Giles Corey’s wife, denied any involvement with witchcraft.

EXAMPLES Several Hollywood employees were willing to turn in their “communist” friends to escape the blacklist but others refused to give names at the price of their jobs such as Charlie Chaplin and Pete Seeger. Becomes Several Hollywood employees were willing to turn in their “communist” friends to escape the blacklist but others, such as Charlie Chaplin and Pete Seeger, refused to give names at the price of their jobs.

HOMEWORK FOR FRIDAY: Finish this grammar packet for practice!