1. Rules of Grammar
English 9

2. capitalization When do we capitalize?
Capitalise the first person pronoun.
Mary and I are no longer friends.
My boyfriend and I are going to the movies tonight.
I love my English class so much that I am going to feel lost without it next semester
Capitalise the first word of a sentence
The grammar test was very easy.
Where did you buy your iPad?
How in the world are you going to cope without Ms. Fournier as a teacher next semester?

3. CAPITALIZATION Capitalise proper nouns What is a proper noun?
* A proper noun is a name that identifies a particular person, place or thing.
The names of people: The new student’s name is Christine Jones.
The names of countries and continents: Everyone knows that China is the largest country in Asia.
The names of pet animals: When I get a kitten, I will name him Toby.
The names of towns and cities: My grandma lives in Chilliwack, but was born in Liverpool.
The names of planets: The Earth is much smaller than Jupiter.
The names of rivers: The river between Surrey and Coquitlam is the Fraser.
The names of lakes: Does Ogopogo live in Lake Okanagan?
The names of streets: I live on Kew Drive, but I used to live on Polk Street.

4. CAPITALIZATION More proper nouns:
The names of buildings: Have you ever visited the Empire State Building?
The names of mountains: I like to ski at Mount Baker.
The names of businesses: I think Microsoft has a very successful enterprise.
The names of organisations: My mother works for the United Nations.
The names of sports teams: Do you like the Canucks?
The names of days/months: I was born on April 2nd, 1979, a Monday.
** careful – names of seasons are NOT capitalized!

5. Capitalization
The names of holidays / festivals: Which is your favourite holiday: Christmas or Easter?
The names of periods of time: Life was hard and short in the Middle Ages.
The names of religions: The most common religion in India is Hinduism.
The names of languages / nationalities: Can you speak Russian?
Note: Languages and nationalities are always capitalised, both when used as nouns and when used as adjectives. (The French are a proud people. - I love French wine.)

6. Capitalization Capitalize the first word of direct speech or dialogue
My mother asked, "Where have you been?"
I said, “None of your business!”
She then said, “You are grounded until the end of the semester”
Those are the easy rules…
“I”
First word in a sentence
Proper nouns
First word of direct speech or dialogue

7. Capitalization
It does begin to get a little bit more complicated after that…
Capitalise titles that come before names:
Prime Minister Trudeau gave a speech at my school today.
However… if the title does not appear BEFORE the person’s name, it is not capitalized…
Justin Trudeau, our new prime minister, gave a speech at my school today.
Common examples are nurses, doctors, professors, presidents, senators, judges and anyone who can be formally addressed with a title before their name

8. CAPITALIZATION Capitalise compass points if they are regions:
Do you like living in the South?
There are many car factories in the Northeast
.. but do not capitalise them if they are directions:
I saw a flock of birds heading south.

9. capitalization
Capitalise family words when they are titles or substitutes for a person's name:
Just then Mother called me on my iPhone.
The man at the edge of the photo is Uncle Pete.
.. but do not capitalise them if they come after a possessive adjective (something that shows ownership or belonging):
Have you met my mother?
The man at the edge of the photo is my uncle Pete.

10. Capitalization
Capitalise building words when they are part of a specific building:
I was born in Royal Columbian Hospital.
My meeting last night was held in the Elm Room at Winslow Centre.
.. otherwise do not capitalise them:
He went to the hospital after his car accident.
Capitalise brand names:
My next car will be a Mercedes.
.. but do not capitalise the nouns that follow them:
I got an Apple laptop for my birthday.

11. Capitalization
Capitalise geographical features when they refer to a specific feature:
The Pacific Ocean is the largest body of water on Earth.
.. otherwise do not capitalise them:
Which is the largest ocean?
Places or geographical features
Have you ever visited Sydney Opera House?
During my trip to Europe, I went to the Eiffel Tower, the Colesseum, the Trevi Fountain, and the Anne Frank House.

12. Objectives FOR GRADE 9:
Be able to correctly implement correct capitalization structures
Most of the time, independently
Most of the time, using notes and support
Occasionally, independently
Occasionally, using notes and support
2. Be able to correctly identify and correct capitalization structures
3. Be able to correctly justify the rule implemented when using correct capitalization

13. Work for today
Individual, no talking or discussion with anyone. If you have questions, you may ask Ms Fournier or Kendall. No phones. They should be out of sight (in your bag). You may use your notes for this assignment. I will be collecting it for a grade at the end of class. If you are not finished, I will still collect it, and you may work on it tomorrow during silent reading time at the beginning of class tomorrow