The Mechanics of Writing By: Ms. Shenita N. Luckett

Section 1 Parts of Speech

Noun Definition: part of speech that is used to name person, place, thing, idea, emotion, or quality part of speech that is used to name person, place, thing, idea, emotion, or quality Examples: neighbor (person) neighbor (person) pencil (thing) pencil (thing) happiness (emotion) happiness (emotion) playground (place) playground (place) thought (idea) thought (idea) honesty (quality) honesty (quality)

Pronoun Definition: a word that takes the place of a noun a word that takes the place of a noun must agree in person, gender and number must agree in person, gender and numberExamples: I, me, we, you, he, his, himself, she, her, herself, they, their, our, it, this, these, those, who, which, that, as, each, all, everyone, either, one, both, any, such, somebody, what I, me, we, you, he, his, himself, she, her, herself, they, their, our, it, this, these, those, who, which, that, as, each, all, everyone, either, one, both, any, such, somebody, what

Verb Definition: part of speech that expresses existence, action or occurrence part of speech that expresses existence, action or occurrenceExamples: be (existence) be (existence) run (action) run (action) event (occurrence) event (occurrence)

Adjective Definition: Part of speech that precedes a noun; describes/modifies a noun by specifying, limiting, or qualifying it Part of speech that precedes a noun; describes/modifies a noun by specifying, limiting, or qualifying it Signifying suffixes: Signifying suffixes: -able-able -ous-ous -er-er -est-estExamples: white house white house happiest clown happiest clown joyous occasion joyous occasion questionable answer questionable answer faster car faster car

Proper Adjective Definition: pertains to a noun when the noun refers to a specific person, place, language or specific group pertains to a noun when the noun refers to a specific person, place, language or specific groupExamples: Japanese Japanese Hispanic Hispanic Canadian Canadian

Adverb Definition: a word that describes or modifies a verb a word that describes or modifies a verb Typically answers questions such as how?, in what way?, when?, where?, and to what extent? Typically answers questions such as how?, in what way?, when?, where?, and to what extent?Examples: He sang happily. He sang happily. They treated her well. They treated her well. I ran quickly. I ran quickly.

Practice A word will flash across the screen. Using your answer sheet, identify which part of speech the word is. Then, tell why the word is the part of speech that you identified it to be. You will have 60 seconds to complete each answer.

1. sideways

2. friendship

3. laughable

4. snore

5. hot

6. American

7. tree

8. their

9. is

10. slowly

11. me

12. Christian

Section 2 Sentences

Simple Sentence Definition: ► A sentence containing only one independent clause (one subject, one predicate). Examples: ► The runner jumped. ► The girl ran into her bedroom. ► In the backyard, the dog barked and howled at the cat.

Compound Sentence Definition: ► A sentence composed of at least two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction, comma or semicolon Examples: ► My friends invited me to a party; my parents didn’t let me go. ► Dr. Watson explained his theory, and Sherlock Holmes listened quietly. ► The problem was difficult, but I finally found the answer.

Coordinating Conjunction Definition: ► part of speech that serves to connect words, phrases, clauses, or sentences Examples: For And Nor But Or Yet So

Fragments Definition: ► an incomplete sentence ► dependent clause that cannot stand alone as a full sentence ► Sometimes missing subject or predicate ► To fix this error, join two sentences together, or make one of the sentences dependent to make a complete thought. Example: ► when I get my braces off ► that bounced onto the kitchen floor ► who hiccupped for seven hours afterward ► because they had a test ► was the most terrifying day ever

Run-on Sentence Definition: ► a grammatically faulty sentence in which two or more independent clauses are joined without a word to connect them or a punctuation mark to separate them ► This error can be fixed by adding a coordinating conjunction with a comma or semicolon. Examples: ► I drive she walks. ► It is nearly half past five we cannot reach town before dark. ► The fog was thick he could not find his way home. ► Please turn the light off we are trying to watch a movie the light is distracting us.

Practice Identify the word or group of words that flashes across the screen. Using your answer sheet, you will have 60 seconds to write down your answer, and correct the error if necessary.

13. Wait for me.

14. nor

15. If you need to.

16. I went to Schnuck’s to buy milk, but to my surprise the store was closed.

17. The child accidentally damaged the table when he was running through the house after his mother told him not to he knew he was in big trouble.

18. and

19. I wish you wouldn’t laugh that way.

20. The director could tell that she was nervous when she got in front of the camera she began to sweat and her eye lids quivered.

21. But she wasn’t ready.

22. He dribbled the ball as fast as he could down the field and he finally scored!