Grammar Warm-Ups with

1
Grammar Warm-Upswith This I Believe statements

• adapted from Laying the Foundation, Grade Ten and
  
• the Capital Community College Foundations Guide
  to Grammar and Writing

2
Parts of Speech

• words that function in a certain way
• Noun person, place, thing, state, quality
• functions as subject of a verb
• object of verb or preposition
• Verb action, state, or relation between two
  things
• functions as the main part of the predicate
• Adjective
• modifies (develops) the meaning of a noun,
  usually by describing a quality of that noun
• what kind, which one, how many?
• compare things (more, most)
• might be upgraded (very), downgraded (somewhat),
  or intensified (really)
• Adverb
• modifies (develops) the meaning of a verb,
  adjective, or adverb
• tells place, time, manner, circumstance, degree,
  cause

3
Phrases

• groups of words that lack subjects or verbs
• function as one of the parts of speech
• types include
• absolute phrases noun/pronoun participle
• if the participle is a form of to be, it may be
  omitted
• do not act as any part of speech, may be deleted
  without changing the meaning
• commas (or higher punctuation) on both sides
• appositive rename the word it follows (may be
  another type of phrase)
• function as a noun
• commas (or higher punctuation) on both sides
• gerund gerund (verb ending in ing) modifiers,
  objects, or complements
• function as nouns
• infinitive infinitive verb modifiers
• function as noun, adjective, or adverb
• participial (form of a verb that ends in ing or
  ed)
• function as adjectives
• commas (or higher punctuation) on both sides
• prepositional preposition noun (w/ optional
  modifiers)
• function as noun, adjective, or adverb

4
Phrases Absolute

• noun/pronoun participle
• if the participle is a form of to be, it may be
  omitted
• do not act as any part of speech, may be deleted
  without changing the meaning
• commas (or higher punctuation) on both sides
• Write a poem using four absolute phrases
• Absolute phrase as subject, finish with a
  concrete detail
• Absolute phrase as subject, finish with a
  concrete detail
• Absolute phrase as subject, finish with a
  concrete detail
• Absolute phrase as subject, finish with a
  concrete detail

5
Phrases Appositive

• renames the word it follows (may be another type
  of phrase)
• functions as a noun
• use commas (or higher punctuation) on both sides
• Write a poem using four appositive phrases
  describing something important
• Noun appositive
• Noun appositive
• Noun appositive
• Noun appositive
• Finish by revealing what you are describing

6
Gerund Phrases

• gerund (verb ending in ing) modifiers,
  objects, or complements
• function as nouns
• Write a poem using four gerund phrases
• Gerund phrase as subject, finish with a rhyme
• Gerund phrase as subject, finish with a rhyme
• Gerund phrase as subject, finish with a rhyme
• Gerund phrase as subject, finish with a rhyme

7
Infinitive Phrases

• the infinitive is the most basic form of a verb
• to (root of verb)
• to be, to do, to run, to sing, to feel, etc ad
  infinitum
• infinitive verb modifiers
• function as noun, adjective, or adverb
• Write a poem using infinitive phrases
• infinitive phrase as an adjective
• infinitive phrase as a noun
• infinitive phrase as an adverb
• infinitive phrase as a noun
• infinitive phrase as an adjective
• Challenge use the same infinitive in each line

8
Participial Phrases

• A participle is form of a verb that ends in ing
  (present participle) or ed (past participle
• function as adjectives
• take commas (or higher punctuation) on both sides
• Write a poem using participial phrases
• independent clause (sentence)
• participial phrase
• participial phrase
• participial phrase
• participial phrase

9
Prepositional Phrases

• preposition noun (w/ optional modifiers)
• prepositional phrases function as adjectives or
  adverbs and sometimes as noun complements.
• a noun complement is like a modifier, but it
  cannot be deleted from the sentence. Teachers are
  fond of books.
• Some of the most common prepositions
• at, on, in, to, for, since, of, about, with,
  against, from, around, under, over, like, as,
  behind, outside
• Write a poem using prepositional phrases
• one prepositional phrase as a noun complement
• two prepositional phrases as adjectives
• three prepositional phrases as adverbs (can
  modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs)
• four prepositional phrases

10
The Be-VerbThe most inflected verb in English
Inflected words change form but retain their
core meaning

• Present tense
• I am
• You are
• He/she/it is
• We are
• Yall are
• They are

• Past tense
• I as
• You were
• He/she/it was
• We were
• Yall were
• They were

• Future tense
• I will be
• You will be
• He/she/it will be
• We will be
• Yall will be
• They will be

Other inflected words good, better, best more,
many, most
11
Comparatives Superlatives

• these adjectives describe a hierarchy
• comparatives compare two things
• superlatives compare three or more things
• base word ? comparative ? superlative
• base ? -er ? -est
• old ? older ? oldest
• few ? fewer ? fewest (used for things you can
  count)
• they are often inflected (the form changes, but
  the meaning doesnt)
• good ? better ? best
• more ? many ? most
• less ? lesser ? least (used for things you cant
  count)

12
Fun with Phrases

• Write a sentence that begins with
• a present participial phrase
• a present participle is a verbal with an ing
  ending
• a verbal has the form but not the function of a
  verb
• that acts as an adjective
• a past participial phrase
• a past participle begins with and ed verbal
• an absolute phrase
• a gerund phrase as the subject
• a gerund is a verbal with an ing ending
• that acts as a noun
• an infinitive as the subject
• an infinitive is the most basic form of a verb
• to the stem (to cook, to eat, to be)

13
Advanced Phrase Poem Absolute and Prepositional
Phrases

• Write a poem that contains these phrases on each
  line
• absolute phrase
• absolute phrase
• absolute phrase
• independent clause
• prepositional phrase
• prepositional phrase
• prepositional phrase prepositional phrase
• prepositional phrase
• prepositional phrase

14
Advanced Phrase Poem Appositive and Participial
Phrases

• independent clause with absolute phrase
• participial phrase
• participial phrase
• participial phrase
• participial phrase
• participial phrase

15
Advanced Clause/Phrase Poem Subordinate Clause
with Infinitive and Prepositional Phrases

• subordinate clause
• independent clause
• infinitive phrase prepositional phrase
• infinitive phrase prepositional phrase
• infinitive phrase prepositional phrase
• infinitive phrase prepositional phrase
• infinitive phrase prepositional phrase
• independent clause

16
Simple Sentences

• Independent clauses
• have a subject and a verb
• express a complete thought
• may include modifiers and complements
• may include phrases
• Create an independent clause that includes one
  noun and one verb.
• add one or more adjectives
• add one or more adverbs
• add one or more prepositional phrases
• add one or more infinitive phrases
• add one or more absolute phrases
• add one or more appositive phrases
• add one or more gerund phrases
• add one or more prepositional phrases

17
Simple Sentences with Compound Subjects and Verbs

• A simple sentence consists of an independent
  clause
• have a subject and a verb
• express a complete thought
• A compound subject consists of
• two subjects joined by a coordinating conjunction
  (and, or, for, nor, so, but, yet)
• Mary and Bill ate cake.
• Write a simple sentence about something you
  believe with
• two or more subjects
• a verb
• two phrases (absolute, appositive, gerund,
  infinitive, participial, prepositional)
• A compound verb consists of
• two verbs joined by a coordinating conjunction
• Mary writes and teaches others to write.
• Write a simple sentence about something related
  to your first sentence with
• a subject
• two or more verbs
• two phrases (absolute, appositive, gerund,
  infinitive, participial, prepositional)

18
Conjunctions

• These words join (or conjoin) other words,
  phrases, or sentences.
• from the Latin conjugere
• con together
• join ? junc
• tion noun

19
Coordinating ConjunctionsFANBOYSfor, and, nor,
but, or, yet, so

• nor
• used with negative expressions
• neither nor
• so
• therefore
• but
• unexpected contrast
• with the exception of
• what came before is wrong
• yet (stronger than but)
• in addition
• even
• still
• now
• can combine with but or and

• and
• one idea comes after the other or next
• surprise!
• one idea depends on the other (conditionally)
• one idea is a comment on the other
• or
• only one, excluding the other
• alternative
• refine, restate, correct
• negative condition or alternative
• for
• stronger version of because or since

20
Correlative Conjunctions

• These words function as pairs.
• Be sure the structures after each correlative
  conjunctions are parallel
• both . . . and
• Both Mary and Bill worked on the project.
• both proper noun and proper noun
• not only . . . but also
• Mary and Bill not only worked on this project
  together, but also worked on another one.
• not only verb prepositional phrases beginning
  with on, but also verb prepositional phrases
  beginning with on
• not . . . but
• Sad to say, it was not Mary but Bill who did the
  work.
• not proper noun, but proper noun
• either . . . or
• Either Mary or Bill may earn credit.
• either proper noun, or proper noun
• neither . . . nor
• Neither Mary nor Bill completed the project by
  deadline.
• neither proper noun, nor proper noun
• whether . . . or
• Whether Mary did the work or Bill did the work
  doesnt matter.

21
Conjunctive Adverbs

• addition
• again, also, and, and then, besides, equally
  important, finally, first, further, furthermore,
  in addition, in the first place, last, moreover,
  next, second, still, too
• comparison
• also, in the same way, likewise, similarly
• concession
• granted, naturally, of course
• contrast
• although, and yet, at the same time, but at the
  same time, despite that, even so, even though,
  for all that, however, in contrast, in spite of,
  instead, nevertheless, notwithstanding, on the
  contrary, on the other hand, otherwise,
  regardless, still, though, yet
• emphasis
• certainly, indeed, in fact, of course
• example
• or
• illustration
• after all, as an illustration, even, for example,
  for instance, in conclusion, indeed, in fact, in
  other words, in short, it is true, of course,
  namely, specifically, that is, to illustrate,
  thus, truly
• summary
• all in all, altogether, as has been said,
  finally, in brief, in conclusion, in other words,
  in particular, in short, in simpler terms, in
  summary, on the whole, that is, therefore, to put
  it differently, to summarize
• time sequence
• after a while, afterward, again, also, and then,
  as long as, at last, at length, at that time,
  before, besides, earlier, eventually, finally,
  formerly, further, furthermore, in addition, in
  the first place, in the past, last, lately,
  meanwhile, moreover, next, now, presently,
  second, shortly, simultaneously, since, so far,
  soon, still, subsequently, then, thereafter, too,
  until, until now, when

22
Fun with Very Simple Sentences

• Write a sentence that
• begins with the subject
• begins with an article (a, an, the) and the
  subject
• begins with an adjective and the subject
• begins with an adverb before the subject

23
Compound Sentences

• Independent clauses
• have a subject and a verb
• express a complete thought
• Write two independent clauses, about something
  you believe, that are related to each other. Each
  should have
• a subject
• a verb
• two phrases (absolute, appositive, gerund,
  infinitive, participial, prepositional)
• Compound sentences consist of two independent
  clauses joined into one.
• joined by a semicolon
• may begin with a conjunctive adverb
• joined by a comma and coordinating conjunction

after all also consequently for example for instance furthermore however in fact in general indeed moreover nevertheless still then therefore
, and (plus) , or (only one) , for (because, since) , nor (negative) , so (therefore) , but (contrast, exception) , yet (in addition, still, at this time, nevertheless)
24
Beginning with a Coordinating Conjunction

• Some teachers tell you not to do it because these
  same conjunctions can join phrases.
• Its not correct. And creates sentence fragments.
• However, it is perfectly acceptable to begin an
  independent clause (complete sentence) with a
  conjunction.
• This intensifies the sentence.
• Some teachers say you shouldnt begin with but.
  But theyre wrong.

25
Complex Sentences

• Dependent or Subordinate Clauses
• must have information added to complete a thought
• begin with a subordinating conjunction
• Some Common Subordinating Conjunctions
• Write two independent clauses, about something
  you believe, that are related to each other.
• Subordinate one to the other by using a
  subordinating conjunction
• Add another dependent clause to your sentence

and after as as though as long as as if because before even if even though if if only in order that now that once rather than since so that than that though till unless until when whenever where whereas wherever while
26
Then v. Than

• Than is a subordinating conjunction that compares
  things
• often, only the subject is stated and the
  predicate is implied
• My teacher is a better writer than I am.
• Then is an adjective that tells when.
• it means next
• it can move to different places in a sentence
• it does NOT take a comma!
• Learn the difference between then and than then
  you will be a better writer.

27
Like v. As

• As is a subordinating conjunction
• as if, as though
• It is as if you were the teacher.
• Like is a preposition that describes similarities
• This story is like Oedipus Rex.
• if you are listing similarities, use such as.
• This school has many prestigious alumni, such as
  Bill, Mary, and Mark.

28
The Implied That

• is a subordinating conjunction
• that can sometimes, but not always, be omitted.
• Silly Sally knew that her paper would earn an F.
• Silly Sally knew her paper would earn an F.
• (That can also function as a pronoun, adjective,
  adverb, or as the plural of those.)

29
Beginning with Because

• The word because always introduces a dependent
  clause.
• Because I can
• Therefore, it cannot take a period.
• But if connected to an independent clause, it can
  strengthen a sentence.
• Because I can, I will.
• I will because I can.
• Note that the because-clause takes a comma when
  it introduces an independent clause.

30
Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses

• Dependent clauses (a.k.a. subordinate clauses)
  are either restrictive or nonrestrictive.
• Restrictive clauses modify the noun they come
  after
• often use the word that but never which
• Nonrestrictive clauses do not change the meaning
  of the word they modify
• often use the word which but never that
• set them apart using commas or higher punctuation

31
Compound-Complex Sentences

• Write three (3) independent clauses, that are
  related to each other, about something you
  believe
• Write three (3) dependent clauses that are
  related to the independent clauses.
• Form a compound-complex sentence using two
  independent clauses and one or more of the
  dependent clauses.
• Join independent clauses with comma
  coordinating conjunction or semicolon

32
(No Transcript)
33
Fun with Inverted Sentences

• Write a sentence that begins with
• an adverbial clause
• Finally I understand why my teachers get so mad
  at me.
• a noun clause
• To walk away when anothers speaking is a most
  egregious form of discourtesy.
• a predicate adjective
• This I believe courtesy is respect.
• a verb
• Speak he did, but not until I asked his opinion.

34
More Fun with Inverted Sentences

• a predicate adjective
• Disrespectful was the girl who put her head on
  her desk.
• a subordinate clause
• Although they were talking about what the teacher
  was discussing, they were still disrespectful
  because they were not listening to her.
• several prepositional phrases
• Despite the rudeness of chattering brats in the
  back of the room, the good student listened
  carefully and took efficient, effective notes.
• postpones the subject
• There exists among civilized people one ultimate
  rule courtesy.

35
Fun with Sentences

• Write a sentence
• that begins with an interjection
• Aha! I finally understand what youre trying to
  say. Thank you for your patience.
• in which repetition plays a role.
• We should be courteous to those outside the home,
  we should be courteous to family, but above all,
  we should be courteous to ourselves.
• that asks a rhetorical question.

36
Advanced Sentence Structures

• Loose/Cumulative
• begins with an independent clause
• adds phrases and clauses after
• a cumulative sentence adds lots of phrases and
  clauses
• Periodic
• begins with phrases and clauses
• ends with independent clause and a period
• Balanced/Cumulative
• phrases and clauses balance each other because of
  
• structure
• meaning
• length
• Antithetical
• two statements that are balanced but opposite

37
Fun with Advanced Sentence Structures

• Write a loose sentence
• Write a cumulative sentence (with lots of phrases
  afterward)
• Write a periodic sentence
• Write a balanced sentence
• Write an antithetical sentence

38
Syntax Techniques Natural and Reversed Sentences

• Syntax arrangement of words and grammatical
  elements in a sentence.
• Natural order of a sentence subject predicate
• Reversal
• Antimetabole the arrangement of ideas in the
  second clause is a reversal of the arrangement in
  the first. It adds power.
• Although courtesy is a form of respect, respect
  is not a prerequisite for courteous behavior.
• Inversion elements of a sentence are reversed.
  Most often, the predicate comes before the
  subject.
• Before a calm demeanor comes a calm voice.
  Control your voice and you control your emotions.
  
• Juxtaposition normally unassociated words or
  phrases are placed next to one another. Creates
  surprise or demonstrates wit.

39
Syntax Techniques Repetition

• Repetition words, sounds, and ideas are repeated
  to create emphasis.
• Anadiplosis repeat the last word of one clause
  at the beginning of the next. It ties the
  sentences together.
• This provides strong transitions
• Anaphora repeat the same word or group of words
  at the beginning of clauses. It establishes a
  strong rhythm and produces a powerful emotional
  effect.
• Epanalepsis repetition at the end of a clause of
  a word (or form of a word) that occurred at the
  beginning of the clause. It makes the sentence or
  clause stand out.
• Epistrophe repetition of the same word or group
  of words at the ends of successive clauses. It
  sets up a strong rhythm and emphasizes the
  repeated word(s).

40
Syntax Techniques Parallelism

• Parallelism grammatical or structural similarity
  between sentences or parts of sentences. Elements
  that are equally important are equally developed
  and similarly phrased.
• likeness of form helps readers perceive the
  likeness of content or function
• gives equal emphasis to each parallel element
• Antithesis place one idea next to an opposing
  idea. Provides a balanced contrast of ideas.
  Give me liberty or give me death.

41
Practice Parallelism

• Write a sentence about something you believe that
  has at least three parallel gerunds or
  participles.
• Write a sentence about something you believe that
  has at least thee parallel phrases (absolute or
  adverbial).
• Write a sentence about something you believe that
  has at least three parallel, dependent clauses.
• Write a sentence about something you believe that
  has correlative conjunctions and parallel
  structures.
• Write a sentence using antithesis

42
Paralleism Lincolns Gettysburg Address
43
Parallelism Gettysburg Address, Contd
44
Syntax Techniques Polysyndeton and Omission

• Omission
• Asyndeton omission of conjunctions. It speeds
  the pace of the sentence.
• Ellipsis omission of a word or words that are
  readily supplied by the context. It creates an
  elegant or daring economy of words.
• Polysyndeton delebarate use of many
  conjunctions. Emphasizes quantity or mass of
  detail. Creates flowing, continuous sentence
  pattern. Slows the pace of the sentence.

45
Syntax Techniques Rhetorical Fragments and
Questions

• Rhetorical Fragment a sentence fragment used
  purposely. It makes the statement extremely
  strong.
• Rhetorical Question a question that does not
  require an answer. It draws attention to its
  point and is stronger than a direct statement

46
Transitions

• Conjunctive Adverbs
• indicate subtle and intricate relationships
• Conjunctive connectors
• first, second, etc
• Repetition of key words
• anadiplosis repeat the last word of one clause
  at the beginning of the next. It ties the
  sentences together.
• Pronouns
• Correctly used, they promt the reader to sum up
  what has come before
• Parallel structures

47
Punctuation Hierarchy

• Period space Capital Letter
• Semicolon
• comma
• dash (use for emphasis only)
• parentheses

48
Complement v. Modifier

• Both develop the meaning of the words they are
  attached to
• Modifiers are not necessary to a sentence. They
  can be omitted.
• Complements are necessary for the sentence to
  make sense.
• Linking verbs always need complements
• My sister is an absolute bear! (noun complement)
• My sister is mean. (adjective complement)