LearningExpress - Junior Skill Builders: Grammar in 15 Minutes a Day

Copyright 2008 LearningExpress. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. Published in the United States by LearningExpress, LLC, New York. Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file with the Library of Congress. ISBN: 978-1-57685-662-8 Printed in the United States of America 1098765432 First Edition For information on LearningExpress, other LearningExpress products, or bulk sales, please write to us at: 224 W. 29th Street 3rd Floor New York, NY 10001 Introduction English is a very complex language, but luckily there is a users manual dedicated to the rules of English, referred to as grammar and usage.

This is a huge set of guidelines that helps clarify the multifaceted, dynamic parts of our language (maybe you have studied many of them already at school). Understanding the inner structure of sentences and writing doesnt have to be mind numbing; it can be fun and challenging if you approach it with the right mindset. You will only benefit from your hard efforts to make heads or tails of English grammar and usage, and will especially reap the rewards in your writing and speaking, now and forever. Think about how often you writeessays for school, notes and e-mails to your friends, even lists (wish lists, grocery lists, to-do lists... the list goes on!) These all require writing, just in different ways. Essays are more formal (really requiring the most of your grammar knowledge and astuteness).

Other types of writing can be less formal, maybe even downright informal, and are made up of slang, emoticons, and abbreviations that would boggle the mind of any adult, but be perfectly discernible to you and your friends. Thats the beauty and versatility of language. And as long as you understand that there is a time and place for everything, laid-back is okay... really... adaptability is the key. And so is having a basic, but grounded, understanding of the inner workings of English (although, trust me, no one expects you to be a walking grammar book).

Making a determined and consistent effort to learn and apply some of the rules in this book will help you create good habits that will stay with you when it countslike for term papers in high school and college, and letters to prospective employers when you begin job hunting in the future. These circumstances, and others, hinge on someone being able to understand and appreciate what you say and how you say it, whether your words are written or spoken. Now, before you move on through the book, complete the grammar pre-test to see what you already know and what you might need to learn, relearn, or just brush up on. Then, tackle the lessons, one by one, or on an as-needed basis. Lets get started! SECTION 1 Parts of Speech When we speak and write, we put words together in familiar patterns. In these patterns, called sentences, every word plays a specific and necessary role, sometimes several roles.

The English language categorizes these roles into eight sections:
Nouns: one of the two fundamental components of the English language, and is divided further into six special parts. Pronouns: words that take the place of a noun that must agree in three ways number , gender, and person . Verbs: called the movers and shakers of written and spoken language, they are the second fundamental component of the English language, and are divided into three special parts. Verbs can be written in a number of different tenses. Adjectives: can add color and imagery, or be mechanical and uncomplicated, just by answering four simple questions. Prepositions: help express a relationship of time or space between certain words in a sentence. Conjunctions: connect words and phrases in three different ways coordinating , correlative, and subordinating . Interjections: words that help a writer or speaker express emotion. Interjections: words that help a writer or speaker express emotion.

SECTION 2 Parts of a Sentence The eight parts of speech can be found within a sentence, but the parts of a sentence (subject, predicate, direct object, and indirect object) do not necessarily directly correspond with the parts of speech. For instance, the subject in a sentence can be a noun, a pronoun, a phrase, or a clause. Construction of a good sentence is essential for basic communication. In this section, you will learn how these components come together to do just that.
Subject: one of the two fundamental components of the basic sentence, subjects tell the listener and the reader whom or what the sentence is about. Directobject: as one of two complements, the direct object receives the action from the action verb of the sentence, and answers whom or what about that action verb. Indirectobject: these depend on the direct object for existence, and tell the reader or listener to or forwhom or to or forwhat the direct object is given or performed. Indirectobject: these depend on the direct object for existence, and tell the reader or listener to or forwhom or to or forwhat the direct object is given or performed.

SECTION 3 Building a Sentence The basic components of a sentence are essential, but they can be boring if theyre the only elements that have been given to the reader or listener. Variety and embellishment are important, too, if one is to become a good writer or effective speaker.
Phrases: strings of two or more subject and predicate free words that add information, detail, and bring cohesiveness to ideas within a sentence. Clauses: like phrases, they also add details to the sentence, except they need the help of a subject and predicate. Sometimes clauses can be called sentences, themselves! Sentence combining: want to make your sentences more complex and advanced? Learn how to combine like sentences, add phrases and clauses, and youre on your way. Fragments and run-ons: they stick out like a sore thumb and can compromise your communication goals.

Avoid them and know how to spot them for correction. SECTION 4 Agreement Like the run-on sentence or sentence fragment, poor subjectverb agreement and antecedentpronoun agreement can tarnish the messages youre communicating to listeners and readers. Recognizing these mistakes is the first step to correcting them, and ultimately steering clear of them altogether.
Subjectverb agreement: singular subjects belong with single verbs, and plural subjects belong with plural verbsverbs and subjects must be compatible in number and person. Pronounantecedent agreement: pronouns help us avoid having to repeat the same noun over and over again; however, knowing what or whom the noun is refer ring to in the first place is also essential. Balance is the key.

Agreement in gender , number, and person is vital for clarity. SECTION 5 Punctuation Punctuation marks lead the reader through sentences much like road signs lead a driver along the road. Proper placement of the numerous punctuation marks used in the English language is necessary, and not doing so can drastically alter the meaning of your sentence.
Endmarks: periods , question marks, and exclamation points indicate to the reader that the sentence is complete and that he or she should briefly pause before moving on to the next sentence. Commas: commas perform many functions. Colons and semicolons: these are two of the trickiest punctuation marks. Colons and semicolons: these are two of the trickiest punctuation marks.

They can introduce and emphasize items, or connect and separate items. Quotation marks: these are found mainly in dialogue; they also distinguish someones exact words for the reader.