G HERBST 2011 Grammar Crammers 11-20

Convince/Persuade Convince  People are convinced of something or that something  Example: John convinced Martha of his good intentions. Persuade  People must be persuaded to do something  Example: John persuaded Martha to marry him.

Convince/Persuade Exercises Copy the ENTIRE sentence with the correct answer  At the sleep over, they tried to (convince/persuade) him to tee- pee the neighbor’s house.  At the sleep over, they tried to (convince/persuade) him that tee-peeing the neighbor’s house was a great idea.  The lawyer tried to (convince/persuade) the jury to arrive at a guilty verdict.  The lawyer tried to (convince/persuade) the jury of the defendant’s guilt.  Politicians often try to (convince/persuade) the public that their way is the right way.

Dangling Modifiers Avoid modifiers that do not refer clearly and logically to some word in the sentence Examples:  Dangling: Taking our seats, the game started. (Taking does not refer to the subject, game, nor to any other word in the sentence.)  Correct: Taking our seats, we watched the opening of the game. (Taking refers to we, the subject of the sentence.)

Dangling Modifiers Exercises Read and complete the Sentence Construction and Placement of Modifiers worksheet

Hanged/Hung Hang  Present tense  One hangs a picture, a criminal or oneself Hanged  Past tense of hang  Refers to people  Suicide or executions Hung  Past tense of hang  Refers to objects

Hanged/Hung Examples We really need to hang all of the Highlights awards. The awards used to be hung in the hallway. In the book In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, Perry and Dick were hanged for their heinous crime.

Hopefully Definition: in a hopeful manner  Do not use to mean it is hoped, let us hope or we hope  Examples  We hope that we will complete our work in June.  They hopefully prayed for their family to return home safe.

Its/It’s Its  Possessive form of it  Example: The company lost its assets. It’s  Contraction of it and is or it and has  Examples:  It’s (it is) up to you.  It’s (it has) been a long time.

It’s/Its Exercises 1. (It’s, Its) frustrating when you lose something. 2. A spider spins (it’s, its) web. 3. (It’s, its) been foggy lately. 4. Did you know that the female praying mantis eats (it’s, its) mate? 5. You should wear a coat and scarf when (it’s, its) cold outside. 6. Mr. Chesterton always used to say, “(It’s, Its) not funny, but (it’s, its) timely.”

Every day/Everyday Every day  Adverb  Example: She attends practice every day. Everyday  Adjective  Example: That is not an everyday occurrence.

Every day/everyday Exercises 1. Do you think it is true that if I eat an apple (every day, everyday) it will keep the doctor away? 2. While they were separated, Juliet thought about Romeo (every day, everyday). 3. Tsunamis and earthquakes are not (every day, everyday) occurrences. 4. He tries to go to the gym (every day, everyday) of the week. 5. Updating portfolios should an (every day, everyday) habit.

Adviser/Editor Adviser  Refers to those who advise journalism courses  Always adviser never advisor  Examples:  Ms. Murray and Ms. Herbst are our advisers.  Ms. Frutschy is the yearbook adviser. Editor  This is the only spelling of this word—ever

Beginning a sentence with it Do not start a sentence with it Make sure the subject of the sentence is clear Be aware of forms of it that are unnecessarily buried in sentences Examples:  Incorrect: It is a nice car you have in your driveway.  Correct: You have a nice car in your driveway.  Incorrect: Some people like it when the traffic lights aren't working because they can drive right through it.  Correct: Some people like broken traffic lights because they can drive right through the intersection.

Beginning a sentence with it Correctly rewrite the sentences below. 1. It is clear to me that our main problem is the inability to fly without wings. 2. It only happens once every 70 years. Tomorrow night Halley's Comet will appear. Suggested answers: 1. Our main problem is the inability to fly without wings. 2. Halley's Comet only appears once every 70 years, but it will appear tomorrow night.

If I were Only to be used as a subjunctive  When speaking about something that is not true  When being wishful Use “was” when there is an indicative mood  When speaking about something that might be true or surely could have happened

If I were examples Examples:  I wish I were more perceptive.  Being wishful  If I were in charge, I would declare every Friday a holiday.  Every Friday is not a holiday (something that is not true)  Speaker is wishful about making a holiday  There was a storm in Mexico. If Richard was in Cabo, he could have missed the call.  We are supposing that this would surely have been true  We do not hope or wish that he was

Kind of/sort of Do not use these phrases