Grammar Review The abbreviated version of things you’ve probably already learned but need to re-learn, in my opinion, based on the errors I’m seeing in your writing

Capitalization & Proper vs. Common Nouns When should I capitalize words? The first word of a new sentence is always capitalized. Proper nouns are capitalized. Proper nouns name specific people, places, objects, ideas, etc. Mary, Oreo, and Paris are examples of proper nouns. Woman, cookie, and city are common nouns and do not need to be capitalized. Names of relationships, but only when they replace a person’s actual name. The pronoun “I” when referring to one’s self. The first word, last word, and all important words in a title.

Checking your Understanding Fix the capitalization errors in the following examples. If there are no errors, write “no errors.” F. Scott fitzgerald’s novel, the great gatsby, is one of the greatest pieces of american literature ever written. “ mother,” Cynthia cried. “what are you doing? i need you.” My favorite city is chicago. My family enjoys drinking ice cold coca colas on the fourth of july. I really enjoyed my trip to Atlanta with my Mother, cheryl.

Commas: the basics Use commas to separate elements in a series. I enjoy cotton candy, Coca Cola, and Caesar salads. Use commas to set off phrases that express contrast. Though I agree he did not behave in an acceptable manner, you didn’t have to respond the way you did. Use commas for typographical reasons: Hartford, Connecticut 2,345 Use commas to set off quotes. Oscar Wilde reminds us, “every saint has a past and every sinner has a future.” Use a comma to separate coordinate adjectives. My boyfriend is tall, dark, and handsome. Use commas when setting off introductory elements. Walking toward the fountain, she suddenly noticed a sparkle in the grass.

Checking your Understanding Insert commas where they’re needed. Once and for all she realized he wasn’t the right man for her. I’m originally from Atlanta Georgia. My favorite foods are pizza tacos and gelato. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby reminds us that money isn’t everything. I don’t like what he says but I admit I agree it’s for the best.

Sentence Fragments “A sentence fragment fails o be a sentence in the sense that it cannot stand by itself. It does not include even one independent clause.” What’s an independent clause? An independent clause can stand alone, and includes a subject and a predicate. Subject: the person, place, or thing in a sentence that is doing something. Predicate: predicates modify a subject. Tim drives a school bus. “Tim” is the subject, because he’s the one driving the school bus. “Drives a school bus,” is the predicate, because it modifies the subject, or tells us what Tim is doing.

Checking your Understanding Identify and repair the sentence fragments. Basically in Cincinnati. She seemed okay in Cincinnati. This one time in Cincinnati. In Cincinnati, just before the concert. Walking all through Cincinnati, attempting to find her car.

Run-on Sentences A run-on sentence has at least two parts, either of which can stand alone, that have been connected improperly. Mom is coming better hide that dress. A common splice is a form of run-on sentence in which two sentences have been connected by a comma, when a period or semicolon should have been used. Mom is coming, better hide that dress.

Checking your Understanding Which of the following sentences are run-ons? Of all my friends, Charlie is the nicest. Charlie, my best friend. Leaving her position at work when we really needed her. I can’t believe she ate the last piece of cheesecake! What a cow.

Nouns and Verbs Nouns are Verbs People Places Things Ideas Are action words Express what a noun is doing

Checking your Understanding Underline the nouns and circle the verbs in the following examples: Dogs love riding in cars. When she moved into her new apartment, Suzie jumped up and down for joy. I hung the pictures carefully on the wall. Don’t do anything stupid, Tommy.