ABCs of English Grammar

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Course Description
Divided up into 15 easy-to-understand lessons, this grammar course concentrates on usage, the mechanics of a sentence, spelling, and a general review of grammatical problem areas. Each lesson focuses on frequent errors, gives examples, suggests strategies, and offers further study guides.
Traditional grammar identifies eight parts of speech in the English language, namely: verb, noun, pronoun, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction and interjection. Each part has a function within a sentence; the function each part of speech serves identifies what part of speech it is. Each part connects to the other in some way to form sentences with meaning and which are grammatically correct. This quick reference does not cover the multitude of grammatical rules of the English language as it pertains to the parts of speech; however, it is a great summary and starting point for future lessons. Don't worry about memorizing every detail in the flowcharts below; we will go over specific details later in the course.
The Verb

The finer points of verbs include the following information.
The last types of verbs are Helping Verbs . There are twenty-three helping verbs. Their sole purpose is to help action verbs and linking verbs. Transitive passive verbs ALWAYS need a helping verb to make a sentence complete. If you can, try to memorize them.
The twenty-three helping verbs are:
be, am, is, are, was, were, been, being, have, has, had, could, should, would, may, might, must, shall, can, will, do, did, does.
Examples of how helping verbs work in a sentence:
The helping verb will is helping kicked; without the action verb kicked, the helping verb will has no clear meaning. Without willthe sentence would read: The ball be kicked by Bob.
Bob was kicked by Bill. (Transitive passive).
The helping verb was is helping kicked in this sentence too. Without it, the sentence would make no sense. Without was the sentence would read: Bob kicked by Bill.
Examples:
The action verb kicked can stand alone: Bob kicked Bill.
The linking verb stay can stand alone: Bob stay here.
The Noun

Here are the finer points of nouns and a few rules to learn and memorize.
Singular versus Plural nouns. Singular nouns name one thing. Plural nouns name more than one thing.
Most singular nouns can be made plural just by adding an s at the end.
Examples: towns, students, flocks, bouquets, ships, cats, flags, pens, dogs, apples, and others.
Here are the exceptions to adding an s at the end of a noun to make it plural.
RULE 1.
If the noun ends with s, ch, sh, x, or z, then add es to make it plural.
Examples: waitress = waitresses, witch=witches, dish=dishes, fox=foxes, and buzz=buzzes.
RULE 2.
If the noun ends with y and the preceding letter is a consonant, not a vowel, remove the y and add ies to make it plural.
Examples: Sky=skies, fly=flies, and try=tries.
RULE 1.
Most words that end with the letter f can be made plural by adding s at the end. Here are the exceptions to that rule:
There are thirteen (13) nouns that cannot be made plural with the letter s . The f is removed and ves is added, and those thirteen nouns are:
Calf, half, knife, life, wife, elf, self, shelf, leaf, sheaf, thief, loaf, and wolf.
The plural forms of those nouns are:
Calves, halves, knives, lives, wives, elves, selves, shelves, leaves, sheaves, thieves, loaves, and wolves.
There are four (4) nouns that end in f that can be made plural by adding s or ves at the end, they are:
Dwarf, hoof, scarf, and wharf.
The plural forms of these nouns are:
Dwarf=dwarfs or dwarves, hoof=hoofs or hooves, scarf=scarfs or scarves, and wharf=wharfs or wharves.
Either plural form is proper and correct.
Concrete versus Abstract nouns (abstract nouns are also called "idea" nouns)
A concrete noun is a noun that you can take in with the five senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, or smell).
An abstract noun or idea noun is something that cannot be observed by the five senses.
Concrete noun examples are: steak, perfume, computer, eggs, apples, phone, sun, breeze, rain, snow, and others.
Abstract or idea noun examples are: love, trust, value, bravery, understanding, empathy, knowledge, and kindness.
The Pronoun

The Adjective

The finer points of adjectives are presented below.
Articles. Articles are a special type of adjective. They are determiners in that they determine the definiteness and specificity of the noun they precede.
There are only three articles: the, a, an.
The is a definite article, because it indicates a specific person, place, or thing:
The book, the apple, and the knowledge.
A and an are indefinite articles because they do not indicate a specific person, place, or thing:
A book, an apple, a knowledge.
Examples:
You should read a book. (Which book? "A" book.)
She read the book. (Which book? "The" book.)
Instead of reading a book, she ate an apple. (Which apple? An apple.)
Proper adjectives. Adjectives that answer the descriptive question, "What kind?" and are also proper names, should be capitalized the same way that proper nouns are capitalized.
Examples:
American values, French toast, Italian bread, and Shakespearian play.
Positives, Comparatives, Superlatives. These refer to the degree or level of the adjective, or are used to compare adjectives.
Examples:
Hot=positive, hotter=comparative, and hottest=superlative.
Cool=positive, cooler=comparative, and coolest=superlative.
In addition to degree or level, comparatives are used to compare two things.
Scott is nicer than Richard.
In addition to degree or level, superlatives are used to compare three or more things.
Scott is the smartest person in the school.
The Adverb

The finer points of adverbs follow.
People often confuse adjectives with adverbs. Remember:
Adverbs modify or describe verbs, adjectives, or another adverb.
Adjectives modify or describe nouns as well as pronouns!
Adverbs answer the question, "How?"
Adverbs often end in ly .
RULE 1.
Good versus Well. Good is an adjective; well is an adverb.
Examples:
She did a good job (good is the adjective describing the noun job).
The Preposition

The finer points of the preposition follow.
The prepositions off, in, and to, are the most frequently used words in the English language.
There is a list of prepositions. There are approximately 150 prepositions in the English language. However, the prepositions used most frequently are as follows:
The Conjunction

The Interjection

The finer points of interjections follow.
Interjections do not always have to come at the beginning of a sentence, although they often do. Sometimes they appear in the middle or at the end of a sentence as well. When interjections appear at the end or middle of the sentence, they should be punctuated with a comma or commas.
Examples:
It's raining again, yikes!
Can you believe,oh boy , that it's raining again?
Interjections can be sounds: Ouch! Ug! Eew! Phew! Shhh!
Examples:
Phew! The baby needs a diaper change.
The baby pulled my hair, ouch!
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Course Lessons
Lesson 1: Introduction to Grammar
Lesson 1 Video
Review Practice Worksheet: optional-WordSearch-Activity-7080.pdf
Take Survey: Reasons for Taking this Course
Complete Assignment: Introduction
Lesson 2: Subject and Predicate
Lesson 2 Video
Review 4 Practice Worksheets
Review 2 Articles: Identifying the Subject and Predicate Exercise; Subject and Verb Agreement
Complete: Lesson 2 Exercise: Subject and Predicate Agreement
Complete: Lesson 2 Exercise: Subject Verb Agreement
Complete: Lesson 2 Exam: Subject and Predicate
Lesson 3: Nouns and Pronouns
Lesson 3 Video
Review 5 Practice Worksheets
Review 2 Articles: Pronoun Central; Compound Nouns
Complete: Lesson 3 Exercise: Find the Subject Noun
Complete: Lesson 3 Exercise: Case of Nouns and Pronouns
Complete: Lesson 3 Exercise: Pronoun Substitution
Complete: Lesson 3 Exercise: Correct Pronoun Use
Complete: Lesson 3 Exercise: Nouns and Pronouns
Complete: Lesson 3 Exercise: Using the Correct Pronoun
Lesson 4: Verb Tenses
Lesson 4 Video
Review 10 Practice Worksheets
Review 3 Articles: Sequence of Tenses; Verb Tense Worksheets; Intro to Verb Tenses
Complete: Lesson 4 Exercise: Find the Verb
Complete: Lesson 4 Exercise: Recognizing Verb Tenses
Complete: Lesson 4 Exercise: Simple Present Verb Tenses
Complete: Lesson 4 Exam: Verbs
Lesson 5: Common Irregular Verbs
Lesson 5 Video
Review 5 Practice Worksheets
Review 2 Articles: Irregular Verbs Exercise 1; Past Participle Practice
Complete: Lesson 5 Exercise: Irregular Verbs
Complete: Lesson 5 Exam: Irregular Verbs
Lesson 6: Adjectives and Adverbs
Lesson 6 Video
Review 5 Practice Worksheets
Complete: Lesson 6 Exercise: Identifying Adjectives and Adverbs
Complete: Lesson 6 Exercise: Adjectives and Adverbs
Complete: Lesson 6 Exercise: Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
Complete: Lesson 6 Exam: Adjectives and Adverbs
Lesson 7: The Phrase
Lesson 7 Video
Review Practice Worksheet: optional-WordSearch-Activity-7082.pdf
Review 2 Articles: Prepositional Phrases: Diagnostic Quiz practice; Grammar Bytes: Recognizing Prepositional Phrases
Complete: Lesson 7 Exercise: Identify the Preposition
Complete: Lesson 7 Exam: The Phrase
Lesson 8: The Clause
Lesson 8 Video
Review 5 Practice Worksheets
Complete: Lesson 8 Exam: The Clause
Lesson 9: Review the Mechanics of a Sentence
Lesson 9 Video
Review 5 Practice Worksheets
Review 2 Articles: Connectives Practice Quiz; Sentence Fragments
Complete Assignment: Sentence Corrections
Complete: Lesson 9 Exercise: Run-On sentences
Complete: Lesson 9 Exercise: Sentence Logic
Lesson 10: The Role of Modifiers
Lesson 10 Video
Review 2 Articles: Modifier Placement; Noun Modifiers
Complete Assignment: Modifiers
Complete: Lesson 10 Exam: Modifiers
Lesson 11: Introduction to Capitalization
Lesson 11 Video
Review 2 Articles: Capitalization; Capitalization Quiz
Complete: Lesson 11 Exam: Capitalization
Lesson 12: Introduction to Punctuation
Lesson 12 Video
Review Article: Punctuation Quiz
Complete: Lesson 12 Exercise: Sentence Punctuation
Complete: Lesson 12 Exam: Punctuation
Lesson 13: Review of Spelling
Lesson 13 Video
Review 6 Practice Worksheets
Review 3 Articles: Ten Tips for Better Spelling; Syllable Quiz; Spelling Rules
Complete: Lesson 13 Exercise: Spelling Review A
Complete: Lesson 13 Exercise: Spelling Review B
Lesson 14: Review of Diction
Review Practice Worksheet: optional-WordSearch-Activity-7089.pdf
Review 2 Articles: Words Commonly Misused or Confused; Word Usage Tips
Lesson 15: Summary and Additional Resources
Take Poll: End of Course Poll
Take Survey: Program Evaluation Follow-up Survey (End of Course)
Complete: The Final Exam
Learning Outcomes
- Recognize the subject and predicate of any sentence.
- Know the differences between nouns and pronouns.
- Be comfortable with forming sentences with the correct verb tenses.
- Recognize irregular verbs.
- Differentiate between adjectives and adverbs and use them properly in sentences.
- Understand what is meant by a Phrase.
- Identify the Clause.
- Break down the mechanics of a sentence.
- Identify the role of modifiers and use them correctly.
- Correctly use capitalization in writing.
- Correctly punctuate sentences.
- Avoid common spelling problems, and
- Demonstrate mastery of lesson content at levels of 70% or higher.
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