Essential Grammar Rules Terri J. Mosley Tazewell High School English 11

Mixed-up Words 1. There / Their / They’re all different. There: a place or location Example: My little boy is over there on second base. Their: belonging to more than one person (possessive of them) Example: Their dog is so sweet. They’re: contraction of they are Example: They’re going to the park.

Mixed-up Words 2. Who’s / Whose Who’s: contraction of who is Example: Who’s going to the game tonight? Whose: the possessive of who /whom Example: That girl, whose blog is awesome, went to a blog conference.

Mixed-up Words 3. You’re / Your You’re: contraction of you are Example: You’re going to pass the test as long as you study. Your: the possessive of you Example: Your writing is in need of editing.

Mixed-up Words 4. It’s / Its It’s: contraction of it is Example: It’s going to be a great day. Its: the possessive of it Example: The chameleon changes the color of its skin.

Mixed-up Words 5. Then / Than Then: shows a sequence of events Example: We went to the store; then we went home. Then: used with “if”, shows a probability or a condition Example: If you clean your room, then you can go to the movies. Than: used for comparison Example: My son is more competitive than my daughter.

Mixed-up Words 6. To / Two / Too To: used with the infinitive of a verb OR as a preposition Example: I need to go to the store. Two: a number (2) Example: Two minds are better than one. Too: also or more Example: I want to go, too. Example: I have too many errors in my essay.

Words / Not Words 7. Words Not Words Going to Gonna / Gunna Have to Haveta / Half to Kind of Kinda Am not / Are not Ain’t Could have / Should have Could of / Coulda / Should of / Shoulda You / Are U / R Want to Wanna Got to Gotta

Words / Not Words 8. “A lot” is always two words. Example: I love my students a lot.

Capitalization 9. The pronoun “I” is always capitalized, even when it is in a contraction. Example: When I was in high school, I liked math more than English. Example: I’m going to the store later. Example: Don’t you remember when I told you I’d be at your recital.

Capitalization 10. Months, days of the week, and holidays are capitalized, but seasons are not. Example: My birthday is in August. Example: My birthday was on a Wednesday. Example: Do you have a family dinner on Thanksgiving? NOT: My birthday is in the Summer.

Capitalization 11. The names of towns, cities, states, countries, planets, buildings, ships, monuments, and companies are capitalized. Example: The Sears Tower in Chicago is enormous. Example: Does your mom work for Apple, Inc.?

Capitalization 12. The first word of a sentence is always capitalized, and every sentence ends in an end mark. Just because you have a capital letter at the beginning and a punctuation mark at the end does not mean you have a complete sentence.

Capitalization 13. Capitalize “president” when it is used as a title (before a name) or as in “President of the United States.” Example: Hundreds of people came to hear President Obama speak. Example: Hundreds of people came to hear the president speak. Example: George Washington was the first President of the United States.

Capitalization 14. Adjectives (words that describe a noun) created from proper nouns are capitalized, but not the nouns they describe. Examples: Mexican food American people Tazewell High School parking lot

Capitalization 15. Acronyms do not require periods, but they are capitalized. Example: He is a member of the CIA. Example: Scott had to train for many months to join the SWAT team. Example: Do you have a VIP pass for the concert?

Commas 16. Use a comma to separate a city and a state or a city and a country. If the phrase comes at the beginning or in the middle of a sentence, put a comma after the state. Example: Tommy grew up in Huntsville, Alabama, where he learned to play baseball. Example: Christopher Columbus set sail from Palos, Spain.

Commas 17. Use a comma to separate the numbers (day and year) in a full date. You do not need a comma if you just write the month and the year. Example: My daughter’s birthday is February 22, 2002. Example: My daughter was born in February 2002. NOT: My daughter was born in February, 2002. NOT: My daughter was born on February, 22, 2002.

Commas 18. Put a comma after a full date (after the year) if it does not end the sentence. (Month Day, Year) Example: On September 11, 2001, the United States was attacked by terrorists.

Commas 19. Use a comma to separate items in a series of three or more. The comma before the “and” is considered optional; however, I suggest you use it. Example: My brothers are Ron, Matthew, Jon, and Patrick. Example: Susie drove the truck to the farm, fed the animals, and rode the horses. NOT: My brothers are Ron Matthew Jon and Patrick. NOT: Your teachers are Mrs. Mosley, and Mrs. Simpkins.

Commas 20. Use a comma to separate extra information in a sentence, including introductory phrases. Extra information is information that is added to a sentence without changing the meaning of the sentence. If you take out extra information, the meaning of the main sentence doesn’t change. Example: When you go to the store, will you pick up a loaf of bread? Example: Elvis, the King of Rock and Roll, still has many fans. Example: My brother, Elijah, joined the National Guard. Example: All football players who are seniors are going to eat after the game.

Commas 21. Put a comma after a name if it is followed by a title and a comma after the title if it does not end the sentence. Example: Go see John Smith, M.D., for a prescription. Example: Trey’s real name is George Glayde Brown, III. Example: Have you heard Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., give his “I Have a Dream” speech?

Titles 22. Titles of books and movies are underlined or italicized, but not both. Do not use quotation marks on these titles. Example: The Great Gatsby is a classic novel. NOT: Have you read “The Hunger Games”? NOT: Michaela loved Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Titles 23. The titles of short stories, poems, and songs are punctuated with quotation marks. Example: “The Scarlet Ibis” is one of my favorite stories. Example: Elvis had a hit song when he recorded “Hound Dog.” Example: Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken” is an inspiration.

Titles 24. Capitalize all words in a title except for articles (a, an, the) and small words such as “of” in the middle. Example: I read Gone With the Wind this summer. NOT: I read Gone with the Wind this summer. NOT: I read Gone With The Wind this summer.

Numbers 25. Use words instead of digits for numbers that take two words or less to spell out, and digits instead of words for numbers that require three words or more to spell. Example: Please make thirty copies of this test for me. NOT: Please make 30 copies of this test for me. Example: When you go to the store, pick up 160 paper plates. Example: There were six kids in my family.

Numbers 26. When you must begin a sentence with a number, spell out the number. Example: Four hundred and fifty motorcycles joined in the parade. NOT: 450 motorcycles joined the parade.

Numbers 27. Use digits for dates, ages, and addresses. The time of day followed by a.m. or p.m. is always expressed in digits. Example: We will meet at 6:00 p.m. on October 3. Example: We will meet tomorrow at six o’clock in the morning.

Apostrophes 28. An apostrophe is used to show ownership or to make a contraction. NEVER use an apostrophe to create a plural. Example: I’m the best teacher you’ll ever have. NOT: I love all my cousin’s equally. Example: Go to Joe’s house and borrow some milk. NOT: I received a letter from the Smith’s.

Apostrophes 29. To show possession for a plural noun ending in “s,” only add an apostrophe after the “s”. Example: The team manager collected all the players’ helmets.

Apostrophes 30. To show possession for a singular noun ending in “s,” add an apostrophe and “s”. This also applies to names ending in “s”. Example: Go to the Simmons’s house to borrow milk. Example: Dennis’s bag is in the car.

Complete Sentences 31. Complete sentences need a subject and a verb. Example: Tommy slept. Example: I love summer, but I never seem to have enough time to do all I want to do.

Complete Sentences 32. Be careful of words that create a sentence fragment (incomplete sentence), even if you have a subject and a verb. A fragment is a group of words that do not complete a thought. Fragment: When Tommy slept. Fragment: Because we are so smart. Fragment: Except when I fall asleep on the couch.

Complete Sentences 33. A run-on sentence is a group of words that contains more than one independent clause (complete sentence) and is not punctuated correctly. No punctuation – Today is Veterans Day we will have an assembly at 11:00. Comma splice – Today is Veterans Day, we will have an assembly at 11:00. Conjunction only – Today is Veterans Day and we will have an assembly at 11:00.

Complete Sentences Conjunctions For But And Or Nor Yet So

Complete Sentences 34. To fix a run-on sentence, add a period and capitalize, add a comma and a conjunction, or add a semicolon. Period & Capitalize: Today is Veterans Day. We will have an assembly at 11:00. Comma & FANBOYS: Today is Veterans Day, and we will have an assembly at 11:00. Semicolon: Today is Veterans Day; we will have an assembly at 11:00.

Dialogue / Quotation Marks 35. To punctuate dialogue, put quotation marks around the exact words the person said. Example: “Everybody is a genius,” said Albert Einstein. “But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing it is stupid.”

Dialogue / Quotation Marks 36. If you paraphrase what someone said, do not use quotation marks. Example: Sage told me that Eric is going to Pizza Hut after school.

Dialogue / Quotation Marks 37. When you write dialogue, start a new paragraph each time you switch speakers, even if it is not a complete sentence. Example: “What are you doing after school?” Nick asked. “Nothing,” replied Jake. Jimmy said, “I’m going to Pizza Hut.”

Dialogue / Quotation Marks 38. In most cases, the quotation mark goes AFTER the punctuation mark. (Remember: Q&A – Quotes go After) Example: “Quit reading over my shoulder, please,” she asked politely. Example: She asked politely, “Quit reading over my shoulder, please.”

Dialogue / Quotation Marks 39. Separate a direct quote from the rest of the sentence using commas. Think of the other part as extra information, whether it comes at the beginning, middle, or end. Example: “He that is good for making excuses,” said Benjamin Franklin, “is seldom good for anything else.”

Dialogue / Quotation Marks 40. If the quote is a complete sentence, you need to capitalize the first word, even if it isn’t at the beginning of the sentence. Example: Babe Ruth said, “Every strike brings me closer to the next homerun.”

Dialogue / Quotation Marks 41. When a quote ends in a question mark or an exclamation point but does not end the sentence, lower case the word following the quote. Example: “Are you working today?” asked Jackson.

Dialogue / Quotation Marks 42. Titles are not considered quotes. Do not put a comma before the quotation mark in most cases. Also, do not use a comma to separate a partial quote. Example: My favorite sit-com is “Friends.” Example: My boss told me he “didn’t like my kind.”

Miscellaneous 43. When a sentence ends in an abbreviation, use only one period. Example: The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C. NOT: The capital of the United States is Washington, D.C..

Miscellaneous 44. Use “who” when referring to a person; use “that” when referring to an object. Example: That is the car I want. Example: She wanted a friend who would keep her secrets.

Miscellaneous 45. You never “seen” anything! You can SEE something, you may HAVE SEEN something else, but you will never “SEEN” anything. I promise. Example: I saw her this morning at McDonald’s. NOT: I seen her this morning at McDonald’s.