1. Grammar Review #2: Pronouns and Punctuation
English B50
Grammar Review #2: Pronouns and Punctuation

2. Pronoun Reference
If you have a pronoun reference problem, it means that who or what your pronoun is referring to (the antecedent is unclear).
The antecedent may be missing or too far from your pronoun.
Ethel told Lucy that her pie was wonderful.
Whose pie is wonderful?
They say the early bird gets the worm.
Who are “they”?

3. Pronoun Agreement
A pronoun and an antecedent should agree in gender and number.
Everyone on the planet deserves clean water to drench their thirst.
“Everyone” is singular, and “their” is plural.
A student should always do their homework.
“student” is singular and “their” is plural.

4. Practice
Working together in small groups, correct the following pronoun reference and agreement problems.
It says in the paper that the legislation passed.
Juan told Mark that his grandmother was sick.
A parent should always listen to their children.
Doctors should do his or her research carefully when selecting a treatment for a patient.

5. Colons
There is one basic rule governing colon use: colons go after independent clauses that are introducing something.
See what I did there? 
As long as what precedes the colon can stand alone as a complete sentence, then the colon will be correct.

6. Examples of Colon Use It can introduce a single word
There is only one way to describe it: perfection
It can introduce a phrase
I live by one motto: never back down.
It can introduce a list
Don’t forget we need some things for dinner tonight: bread, carrots, and peas.
It can introduce a sentence
Justin Trudeau is more than just young and handsome: he is also a kind and compassionate leader.

7. Practice
Working together in small groups, add colons to the following sentences.
If you really want to lose weight, you must do three things eat smaller portions, exercise, and drink lots of water
The cook bought eggs, milk, cheese, and bread.
The gymnasium was decorated for the holiday red, white, and blue streamers were hung from the ceiling.

8. Semicolons
As we discussed when discussing run-ons and sentence fragments, semicolons are used to connect two independent clauses.
I won’t be able to attend the event this weekend; I have too much homework.

9. Semicolons Cont’d
There is one additional semicolon rule, which you will likely use much less frequently.
Use semicolons to separate items in a series when at least one of those items have commas within them.
I love to bake cookies, cakes, and muffins; read horror and romance novels; and watch Face Off.

10. Practice
Working together in small groups, add semicolons to the following sentences.
The average annual rainfall in Death Valley is about two inches nevertheless, hundreds of plant an animal species survive and even thrive there.
For anything worth having, one must pay the price the price is always work, patience, love, and self-sacrifice.
Open until midnight, the computer lab is well used.

11. Apostrophes
Apostrophes are used to mark the missing letters in contractions.
Contractions are combinations of words.
Don’t, can’t, shouldn’t, etc.
Make sure you include these in your writing and that they appear in the correct spot—where the missing letters would have been.

12. Apostrophes Cont’d Apostrophes are also used to mark possession
Sheila’s purse
David’s sweater
Buster’s collar

13. Possession
When you’re marking possession for the singular, the apostrophe goes before the “s”
Cecilia’s binder
When you’re marking possession for the plural, the apostrophe goes after the “s”
The girls’ bathroom
Some words do not take the “s” to form plural
Women
Children
Men
Treat these words like you would the singular, and put an apostrophe and then an “s”

14. Do Not… Use the apostrophe for possessive pronouns
Her’s, your’s, hi’s, it’s, etc.
It’s is always the contraction for “it is”
Use the apostrophe for verbs
She run’s on Thursdays.
Use the apostrophe for plurals
I have two cat’s.

15. Only you can prevent apostrophe abuse…

16. Practice
Working together in small groups, add apostrophes to the following sentences
The tennis players strategy was brilliant.
She couldnt have cared less.
Cholesterol plays an important role in how long we live.