1. An ELA GMAS Crash Course

2. Subjects
Who or what a clause, phrase, or sentence is about.

3. Verbs (Predicates)
What a subject is doing; what is being done to it; state of being
Verbs and subjects must agree in number
2 singular subjects joined by and: verb is plural
2 singular subjects connected by either… or, or neither… nor, the verb is singular
2 plural subjects connected by either… or, or neither… nor, the verb is plural

4. Modifiers Adjectives Adverbs Modify nouns and pronouns
Answer questions which one, what kind, how many, how much
Adverbs
Modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs
Answer questions how, when, where, to what extent

5. Objects
Direct object – noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. I have read the book.
Indirect object – noun or pronoun for whom or to whom something was done. I read the class the entire book.
Object of a preposition – answers the question whom or what after the preposition.

6. Phrases
Prepositional phrases – made up of preposition plus object. Generally show location.
Common prepositions: about, above, according to, along, at, by, down, except, for, in, into, inside, outside, since, within, without.
Participial Phrases – always function as adjectives, adding description to the sentence. The water drained slowly in the pipe clogged with dog hair.
Infinitive phrase – the word “to” plus root verb
Gerund phrase – Verb adds –ing and is used as noun.

7. Clauses Group of related words which contain a subject and verb.
Independent clause: contains subject, verb, makes sense by itself.
Dependent clause: may contain subject and verb, but does not make sense by itself - fragment

8. Conjunctions Conjunctions join words that link parts of sentences
FANBOYS
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So

9. Sentences Kinds: Patterns: Forms
Declarative (statement), Imperative (command), Interrogative (question), Exclamatory (strong feeling)
Patterns:
S+V, S+V+O, S+V+IO+O
Forms
Simple, compound, complex, compound-complex

10. Punctuation

11. Commas 1 Use to separate main clauses
Use to separate items items in a series
Use with introductory elements
Use with dates (December 7, 1941)
Use with addresses (3301 Shoals School Rd, Douglasville, GA)
Use with numbers (1,345,000)

12. Commas 2
Use with parenthetical expressions (John’s car, in my opinion, is a clunker.)
With adjectives (We felt the salty, humid air near the beach.)

13. Semicolons
Join related main clauses when a coordinating conjunction is not used (Sally built a tree house; she painted it blue.).
Work with conjunctive adverbs to join main clauses (I would like to go with you; however, I must visit my grandmother.)
Separate clauses when joined by words such as accordingly, besides, however, afterwards, consequently, furthermore, therefore.

14. Colons End main clauses and introduce modifications Other uses
Frank introduced four kinds of fish into his new aquarium: three angels, six tetras, a pair of Bala sharks, and a spotted catfish.
Other uses
Business letter salutation – Dear Mr. Brown:
Title with subtitle – Dudes, My Story
Biblical citation – Genesis 1:1
Bibliographic entries – Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.

15. Apostrophes Possession Omission
Add ‘s to form the possessive of singular and plural nouns
Add ‘s to form the possessive of singular nouns ending in s
Add only an apostrophe to form the possessive of plural nouns ending in s
Omission
Cannot (can’t), should not (shouldn’t)

16. Quotation Marks Examples of direct quotations
Martha whispered, “I’m scared of the dark.”
“When,” she breathed, “do we get out of here?”
Use quotation marks around article titles, essay titles, short stories, chapter titles, song titles, poems
Underline or use italics on TV programs, movie titles, book titles, CD titles.
Put periods and commas inside quotation marks.

17. Pronouns
Personal pronoun refers to the one speaking (first person – I, we, us), to one spoken to ( second person- you, your) the one spoken about( third person- he, she, they, him)
Reflexive – refers to the subject and functions as a compliment ( yourself, myself, herself)
Intensive – emphasizes a noun or another person( themselves, itself, myself).

18. Pronouns -2
Demonstrative –points out the person, place thing or idea- ( that, this)
Relative – introduces a subordinate clause- (that,
Indefinite – refers to a person or thing that may not be specifically named (everyone, each, anybody, all)
Interrogative – introduces a question –( who, what )

19. Active / Passive Voice
A verb in the active voice expresses the action done by the subject. ( Johnny made a kite.) { subject performs the action}
A verb in the passive voice expresses the action done to the subject. ( The kite was made by Johnny.) { subject receives the action}.

20. Appositives
An appositive is a noun or pronoun placed beside another noun or pronoun to identify or rename it.
The only two eighth-graders, Saul and I, auditioned for the lead role.
The noun is eight-graders, and the compound appositive is Saul and I, renames or identifies the eight-graders.

21. Case Forms
Nominative Case- the subject of the verb should be the nominative case ( Did he and she design the website?) He and she are the subjects of “Did design”- so they are in the nominative case). ( Ex. I, we, you, he, she, it).
A direct object/ indirect should be in the objective case ( The teacher gave us a test.)
us – indirect object , test –direct both in the objective case. (Ex. me, her, you, them, our).

22. Comparing Modifiers good better best bad worse worst many more most
The three degrees of comparison are: positive, comparative & superlative
sharp sharper sharpest (1 syllable words)
delicate more delicate most delicate (2 or more syllables )
Irregular comparison
good better best
bad worse worst
many more most
little less least

23. Propaganda Techniques
Glittering Generalities – use of virtue words (abstract nouns), such as patriotism, Christian, family values
Name Calling – negative words used to create bias in listener’s mind.
Testimonial – celebrity endorsement
Bandwagon – everyone else is doing it, too
Fear-based – disaster will result if you don’t follow a certain course of action