Articles, conjunctions, and prepositions By Mr. Faulkner

Articles There are only two articles: “a” and “the” They are used as a kind of adjective to give additional information about a noun “A” is an indefinite article because it goes with an indefinite or general noun. “The” is the definite article because it denotes a specific noun. Examples: “a chair” – This does not tell me specifically which chair so “a” is the indefinite article. “the book” – This tells me specifically which book so “the” is the definite article.

Articles (continued) Identify the articles in the following sentences: 1. The duck swims on the lake. 2. It was a great book. 3. A breeze blew threw the town. 4. The dog sat on a rock.

Conjunctions A conjunction is a word which conjoins (connects) parts of a sentence. Examples: and, but, or, so, yet, for, etc., etc. Identify the conjunctions in the following sentences: 1. Batman and Gordon protect Gotham. 2. Our options were hot dogs or hamburgers. 3. The night was calm but loud. 4. He went swimming and hiking.

Conjunctions (continued) Coordinating Conjunctions are the ones that connect two Independent Clauses together – which helps makes a compound sentence. Coordinating Conjunctions can be remembered using F.A.N.B.O.Y.S.: F-For A-And N-Nor B-But O-Or Y-Yet S-So Identify the coordinating conjunctions in the following sentences: 1)The boy barely studied, but he still made an A. 2)She did not want to miss out, so she went to the meeting. Most CC’s are accompanied by a comma when they connect two independent clauses so look for the comma!

Conjunctions (continued) A Subordinating Conjunction comes at the beginning of a Dependent Clause in a complex sentence. Example: Because it was raining outside, Jim grabbed his umbrella. Independent Clause – “Jim grabbed his umbrella” – it CAN stand on its own – it’s independent. Dependent Clause – “Because it was raining outside” – it CANNOT stand on its own – it’s dependent. “Because” is the Subordinating Conjunction.

Conjunctions (continued) Common Subordinating Conjunctions: after, although, as if, because, before, even though, if, unless, rather than, until, though, till, etc., etc.

Conjunctions (continued) Remember: Coordinating Conjunctions (CC’s) connect 2 Independent Clauses. Subordinating Conjunctions (SC’s) connect 1 Independent Clause to 1 Dependent Clause. Identify the conjunctions in the following and tell whether they are Coordinating or Subordinating: 1. Unless we act now, all is lost. 2. Although we may stumble, we do not always fall. 3. Alex has a great arm, but he cannot catch well. 4. Sheila walked to the store and she purchased milk. 5. Even though he tries hard, Rick sometimes fails. 6. He ran across rooftops, yet he was not fast enough.

Prepositions A preposition is a word describing a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element. A preposition is the first word in a prepositional phrase; the last word is a noun we call the object of the preposition (OP). Example: Bob met Jim at the meeting. The prepositional phrase is “at the meeting” “At” is the preposition (Prep) “meeting” is the object of the preposition (OP)

Prepositions (continued) There are about 150 prepositions in English. Here are just a few: About, above, across, around, at, before, behind, below, beneath, besides, during, except, for, from, inside, into, of, on, over, since, to, under, upon, with, etc., etc., etc.

Prepositions (continued) Identify the prepositional phrases in the following sentences. Then, label the preposition and the object of the preposition. 1. At the game, she cheered. 2. A troll lives under the bridge. 3. There was a cabin by the sea. 4. In the woods, we played hide-and-seek. 5. During the storm, the family went down the cellar steps and waited. 6. Despite the warnings, we still went across the street to the haunted house.

Important announcement! There will be a Major Grade Grammar Test next class! This test will cover: Nouns and Pronouns Verbs Adjectives and Adverbs Articles, Conjunctions, and Prepositions