1. Using Correct Language
CHAPTER 5
Using Correct Language
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

2. Adjectives and Adverbs
CHAPTER 5: Using Correct Language
Adjectives and Adverbs
Modifiers describe the people, things, and actions in a sentence.
Adjectives are modifiers that describe nouns and pronouns.
I live in the brick house down the street.
Adverbs are modifiers that describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
She spoke quietly.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

3. CHAPTER 5: Using Correct Language
Modifying Phrases
A modifying phrase is a group of words that describes another word in a sentence. It answers the following questions:
Who?
How many?
How?
When?
What kind?
Where?
How much?
Which one?
What?
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

4. Modifying Phrases There are several types of modifying phrases:
CHAPTER 5: Using Correct Language
Modifying Phrases
(Continued)
There are several types of modifying phrases:
A prepositional phrase is a word group that starts with a preposition and ends with a noun or a pronoun.
To get there on time, we have to leave now.
A verbal phrase uses a verbal form to describe a noun.
My paycheck, signed by the president, arrived yesterday.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

5. Modifying Phrases There are several types of modifying phrases:
CHAPTER 5: Using Correct Language
Modifying Phrases
(Continued)
There are several types of modifying phrases:
A renaming phrase (also called an appositive) supplies more information about a noun or pronoun in the sentence.
Kathy, the coordinator of our book club, recommends everything written by Margaret Atwood.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

6. CHAPTER 5: Using Correct Language
Misplaced Modifiers
A misplaced modifier is too far away from the word it describes:
Galloping across the plains, Louise stood and watched the horses.
Move the modifier closer to the word it describes:
Louise stood and watched the horses galloping across the plains.
Turn the modifying phrase into a dependent clause:
As the horses galloped across the plains, Louise stood and watched.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

7. CHAPTER 5: Using Correct Language
Dangling Modifiers
A dangling modifier describes a word that should be in the sentence but isn’t:
Listening to talk radio, a conspiracy seemed almost plausible.
Add a noun that makes sense and change the wording of the sentence slightly:
Listening to talk radio, Bob thought that a conspiracy seemed almost plausible.
When he listened to talk radio, Bob thought that a conspiracy seemed almost plausible.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

8. CHAPTER 5: Using Correct Language
Parallel Structure
When a sentence contains a series of nouns or verbs joined by a conjunction, the elements of the series should all have parallel structure:
The company’s ads are directed at children, teens, and young adults.
Children, teens, and young adults all have the same form.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

9. CHAPTER 5: Using Correct Language
Parallel Structure
(Continued)
To check for parallel structure, look for the conjunction. Then decide what words or phrases the conjunction joins and make sure their forms are alike:
Mike wanted to watch TV, listen to CDs, or going to the movies.
 NOT PARALLEL
Mike wanted to watch TV, listen to CDs, or go to the movies.
 PARALLEL
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

10. CHAPTER 5: Using Correct Language
Unclear Pronouns
An antecedent is the word to which a pronoun refers. Sometimes it isn’t clear what antecedent a pronoun is referring to:
The coach talked to Kobe because he was frustrated by his performance.
WHO?
WHO?
The coach talked to Kobe because the coach was frustrated by Kobe’s performance.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

11. Unclear Pronouns Sometimes a pronoun doesn’t have any antecedent:
CHAPTER 5: Using Correct Language
Unclear Pronouns
(Continued)
Sometimes a pronoun doesn’t have any antecedent:
I’ve complained about my Internet browser’s speed, but they say the problem isn’t the modem.
WHO?
I’ve complained about my Internet browser’s speed, but the tech support people say the problem isn’t the modem.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

12. CHAPTER 5: Using Correct Language
Agreement in Number
A pronoun must agree with, or match, its antecedent in number just as a verb must agree with its subject.
Watch out for agreement problems in paragraphs as well as individual sentences.
Singular pronouns are I, me, my, mine, you, your, yours, he, she, it, him, her, his, hers, its.
Plural pronouns are we, us, our, ours, you, your, yours, they, them, their, theirs.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

13. CHAPTER 5: Using Correct Language
Agreement in Number
(Continued)
To check for agreement in number, follow these three steps:
Find the pronoun’s antecedent.
Decide whether the antecedent is singular or plural.
Make sure the pronoun agrees with it in number.
INCORRECT
SINGULAR
PLURAL
The company posts rules of ethics on their website.
CORRECT
SINGULAR
SINGULAR
The company posts rules of ethics on its website.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

14. CHAPTER 5: Using Correct Language
Agreement in Person
Personal pronouns must agree in person with their antecedent:
First person: I, me, mine, we, us, our, ours
Second person: you, your, yours
Third person: he, she, it, one, him, her, his, its, they, them, their, theirs
INCORRECT
THIRD
FIRST
If a person got caught up on chores, you wouldn’t know what to do.
CORRECT
THIRD
THIRD
If a person got caught up on chores, he or she wouldn’t know what to do.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

15. CHAPTER 5: Using Correct Language
THE END
Practice the skills you learned in this chapter by taking the Chapter Review Quiz or the GED Practice Quiz.
Copyright © 2002 by the McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.