The Big Ten of Grammar

1
The Big Ten of Grammar

• Finding and correcting common grammar mistakes
• Adapted from Bradshaw, William B. The Big Ten of
  Grammar Identifying and Fixing the Ten Most
  Frequent Grammatical Errors. Austin, TX Synergy
  Books, 2010.

2
Error 1 When to use I vs. Me

• Correct or Incorrect?
• You are the best thing to ever happen to your dad
  and I.
• It should be
• You are the best thing to ever happen to your dad
  and me.

3
Tip When using I or me after a name or noun,
just take out the name or noun.

• Would you ever say You are the best thing to
  happen to I?
• If you take out the name, your ear can tell you
  what sounds right and what doesnt with just the
  pronoun.

4
Try it

• Correct or Incorrect?
• When you act that way, how can you expect your
  mother or I to trust you?
• Dad let my sister and I drive the car to the
  movies.
• Our friends invited Linda and I to dinner.
• Shirley and I reported to the group.
• Dan and me listened carefully to the directions.

5
The rule

• Pronoun Case
• I is in the subjective case. Use it as the doer
  of an action.
• Me is in the objective case. Objective pronouns
  are used as
• Direct Objects
• Indirect Objects
• Objects of a Preposition
• (and some other objects we wont go into here)

6
Direct Object

• A noun or pronoun that receives the action of a
  verb or shows the result of the action.
• It answers the question What? or Who?
• Ex Mike received a detention because he had his
  cell phone in class.

7
Indirect Object

• Tells to whom or for whom the action of the verb
  is done and who is receiving the direct object.
• There must be a direct object to be an indirect
  object.
• Ex She gave me the report.

8
Object of the preposition

• Prepositional Phrase
• Begins with a preposition (ex to, of, on, in,
  out) and ends with a noun or pronoun.
• The object is the noun or pronoun being related.
• Ex The club did not have a room, so they met in
  the English hallway.

9
Practice

• Fill in either I or me.
• Some students have planned a surprise for the
  rest of the class and _______.
• Would you like to come to the party with Brandon
  and ________?
• I dont think Lauren and ________ will be able to
  come to the party.
• The students gave Ms. Thompson and ______ some
  beautiful presents.
• Prutha and _______ shared a piece of cake.

10
Error 1 Part B Incomplete Constructions

• Which sentence is correct?
• Devon writes better than me.
• Devon writes better than I.

11
Correct Answer

• Devon writes better than I.
• This is called an incomplete construction.
• Notice we are making a comparison between two
  things, and the idea at the end is understood and
  not explicitly stated.

12
Tip With an incomplete construction, complete
the sentence in your head to hear the correct
use.

• Try it
• My older brother runs faster than ____.
• My older brother runs faster than ____ run.
• Vicky has a better tan than ____.
• Vicky has a better tan than ____ have.
• Mr. Bannecker drives faster than ____.
• Mr. Bannecker drives faster than ____ drive.
• My brother is like ____.
• My brother is like ____ am.

13
Practice

• Fill in either I or me.
• If you are busy like ____, then stay tuned.
• Brian did better than _____ on the exam.
• Charlie works harder than ____.
• It is difficult for a person like ____ to see
  this happening.
• She likes English more than ____.

14
Note

• That last one is a bit tricky. The pronoun you
  choose changes the meaning of the sentence.
• She likes English more than I
• She likes English more than I like English.
• She likes English more than me.
• She likes English more than she likes me.
• Be careful with the pronouns you choose. You
  dont want to hurt anyones feelings!

15
Recap of Error 1

• Many people use I when they should use me.
• This happens often when another persons name or
  another noun is also being used in the sentence.
• Tip 1 Eliminate the other persons name or the
  noun in order to hear whether you should use I or
  me.
• Tip 2 In incomplete constructions, complete the
  sentence in order to hear which pronoun is
  correct.
• It is important to learn how to hear what you are
  saying even as you are creating a sentence.
  Practice using the correct pronouns to get used
  to it.

16
Error 2 He/him she/her

• Which sentence is correct?
• I talked with he and his wife.
• I talked with him and his wife.

17
Tip Use the same tricks as in error 1

• Try it
• I talked with ____ and his wife
• Take out the specific noun and use just the
  pronoun I talked with him.
• Now try an incomplete construction
• No one runs as fast as ____.
• Complete the sentence in your head No one runs
  as fast as he (runs).

18
Practice

• Choose the correct pronoun.
• ___ and her little friend got home at the time
  promised. (Her/She)
• Marys grandmother reminds me of ____ and your
  mother. (her/she)
• Her son is taller than ____. (her/she)
• Everyone wants to be better than ____. (him/he)
• He said to his wife, Most of the people here are
  younger than ___. (us/we)

19
Recap of Error 2

• Just like with I or me, we can listen for the
  correct use of pronouns like him, her, he, and
  she.
• Use the same tips from Error 1 to help you find
  the correct pronoun.
• One of the best ways to learn to listen is by
  reading the many examples out loud.

20
Error 3 Quotation Marks and Other Punctuation

• In errors 1 and 2, learning rules of grammar
  were not necessary for speaking and writing
  correctly.
• With punctuation, it is important to know rules
  since you cant listen for the correct answer.

21
Three rules of quotation marks that have NO
exceptions.

• Commas or periods always come before closing
  quotation marks of quoted material.
• In this city, you will find some Republicans,
  some Democrats, and some Independents.
• He said no, and she said yes.
• There are no ifs, ands, or buts.

22
Three rules, continued

• Colons and semicolons always follow closing
  quotations marks of quoted material.
• Some people call themselves Republicans some
  call themselves Democrats and some call
  themselves Independents.
• Every line of every verse ends with the same word
  in Charles Wesleys Easter hymn Christ the Lord
  is Risen Today Alleluia!

23
Three rules, cont.

1. Question marks and exclamation points always
   follow closing quotation marks unless the
   question mark or exclamation point belongs to the
   material being quoted, in which case the question
   mark or exclamation point comes before the
   closing quotation markswhew.

24
Lets explain that last one

• This can be a confusing one. Lets look at some
  examples.
• Did she say, How many people are here?
• Since the entire sentence is a question, the
  question mark belongs at the very end of the
  sentence, after the quotation marks.
• She said, How many people are here?
• The entire sentence is not a question. Only the
  quoted material is a question.

25
Practice

• Identify if the sentences are correct or
  incorrect. If the sentence is incorrect, correct
  the placement of punctuation.
• He said no, and she said yes.
• Who asked, Did you make that decision?
• He said no she said yes and some said
  neither yes nor no.
• That house is a Wow!
• She screamed, Stop the car!

26
Recap of Error 3

• Remember the three rules relating to quotation
  marksthese rules dont have exceptions in
  American English.
• Commas or periods always come before closing
  quotation marks.
• Colons and semicolons always follow closing
  quotation marks of quoted material.
• Question marks and exclamation points always
  follow closing quotation marks unless the
  question mark or exclamation point belongs to the
  material being quoted.

27
Error 4 Ing wordsthing or action?

• Which one is correct?
• I appreciate Nancy working so hard when I was on
  vacation.
• I appreciate Nancys working so hard when I was
  on vacation.

28
The Rule

• Correct I appreciate Nancys working so hard
  when I was on vacation.
• When an action word ending in ing is
  immediately preceded by a persons name or a
  personal pronoun, the noun or pronoun is usually
  in the possessive case.

29
Examples

• Incorrect I am grateful for you taking time to
  see me.
• The rules of English call for using the
  possessive your in this case.
• Correct I am grateful for your taking time to
  see me.

30
Personal PronounWord used as a substitute for a
name

• I or me
• You
• He or him
• She or her
• We or us
• They
• It

• My
• Your
• His
• Her
• Our
• Their
• Its

31
More examples with personal pronounscorrect or
incorrect?

• She expressed gratitude for me taking time to see
  her.
• I appreciate him being so careful.
• I think its worth your making the effort to
  resolve the problem.
• She wont like me being gone for so long.
• I appreciate your coming home for Thanksgiving.

32
Focus on the Act

• Here, the focus is on the act, not the actor.
• When the attention focuses on the act, the ing
  word is a gerund and acts as a noun.
• Ex She expressed gratitude for my taking time to
  see her.
• What is the gratitude for? For my action, not me.

33
Focus on the actor

• When the focus is on the actor and not the act,
  the ing word is considered a verb.
• Use the regular form of the noun or pronoun.
• Ex The police officer called to the man crossing
  the street on a red light.
• The police officer called out to the man, not to
  the act.

34
Practice

• Correct or IncorrectConsider the emphasis on the
  act or on the actor. Edit incorrect sentences.
• Your using a cane makes me feel better about
  leaving you alone.
• A mans walking two dogs faces many problems.
• I dont know which is more alarming him not
  knowing that it was a problem or him not doing
  anything about it.
• We appreciate you staying with us and hope you
  will return.
• I am watching Alice baking a cake.

35
Recap of Error 4

• If an action word (verb) ending in ing is being
  used as a noun, the noun or pronoun that
  immediately precedes it should be possessive.
• If the ing word is used as a verb, the noun or
  pronoun that immediately precedes it is not in
  the possessive case.
• If the act is emphasized, the possessive case is
  used. If the actor is emphasized, the possessive
  case is not used.

36
Error 5 That or Which?

• Which one is correct?
• Dans red car that is parked in the garage has a
  flat tire.
• Dans red car, which is parked in the garage, has
  a flat tire.

37
Essential vs. Supplementary

• Correct Answer
• Dans red car, which is parked in the garage, has
  a flat tire.
• Why?
• Use which when you are adding information that is
  supplementary to something already said.
• Red car is enough to distinguish which car we are
  discussing. In the garage is extra.
• Use that when you are adding essential
  information.

38
Which vs. That, cont.

• More examples
• Dans car that is parked in the garage has a flat
  tire.
• Here, the location of the car is important
  because we have no other indicator of which of
  Dans cars has a flat tire.
• The front side of the house, which faces south,
  needs to be painted.
• The direction the house faces is interesting, but
  it is not essential to the sentence. The front
  side makes it clear which side of the house
  needs to be painted.

39
A note about punctuation

• Notice that all of the examples using which
  phrases (expressions or groups of words) are set
  off by commas.
• That phrases are not set off by commas.
• A broader rule
• When you use phrases that are not essential in
  the sentence, they should be set off by commas.

40
Examples

• My husband, Jack, is tall and has curly hair.
• The sentence has already identified the person as
  my husband, so naming him is just extra (unless
  you have more than one husbandwhich is illegal)
• The house we live in, located on Second Street,
  is for sale.
• The subject is the house we live in, so where
  it is located is supplementary.
• When setting off nonessential expressions,
  remember BOTH commas!

41
Practice

• Correct the sentence in terms of which vs.
  that and appropriate comma use.
• The master bedroom that is on the first floor has
  several windows.
• My new computer that I take with me when
  traveling is really easy to use.
• My daughter Jane is in high school.
• Cars, which have hybrid technology, get great gas
  mileage.
• My boss at work, Mildred Brown is very competent.

42
Recap of Error 5

• If it is information that is essential to the
  meaning of what is being said, you should use
  that without commas.
• If it is information that is supplementary, you
  should use which and set off the group of words
  with commas.
• In referring to nonessential, supplementary
  expressions in general, all such expressions
  should be set off by commas.

43
Error 6 Misusing the ApostrophePart 1 Plurals

• Which one is correct?
• The Smiths are going on vacation.
• The Smiths are going on vacation.

44
Forming Plurals

• Correct Answer The Smiths are going on vacation.
  
• General rules for making nouns plural
• If a noun does not end in s, make it plural by
  adding s.
• If a noun does end in s, make it plural by adding
  es.
• Do not make nouns plural by adding an apostrophe
  and an s (s)
• This rule is still true for family names and
  other proper nouns.
• NOTE There are exceptions to this rule with
  irregular words like child (children) or lady
  (ladies)

45
Examples

• The Kellys bought a new house.
• The Harrisons drove to the grocery store this
  morning.
• The Robertses are going on vacation.
• The Joneses play checkers frequently.
• NOTE If it sounds too odd to you to say
  Joneses or Robertses, simply reword the
  sentence to say The Roberts Family.

46
Part 2 Possessives

• The possessive case shows ownership, belonging,
  possession, or relationship.
• General rules for making nouns possessive
• Form the possessive of singular nouns by adding
  s.
• Form the possessive case of plural nouns already
  ending in s by adding just the apostrophe.
• Form the possessive of plural nouns not ending in
  s by adding s.

47
Examples

• Robert Burnss poems represent some of the best
  of eighteenth-century literature.
• Charless friends went to the ball game with him.
• The Joneses car is in the garage.
• The womens department is located on the second
  floor.
• The Smiths marriage appears to be on the rocks.

48
Pronouns

• For definite personal pronouns, the possessive is
  formed by changing the spelling of the word. Do
  not add an s.
• Ex My, mine, yours, ours, his, hers
• For indefinite pronouns, the possessive is formed
  by adding s.
• This is somebody elses umbrella.
• Everybodys arguments should be considered.

49
Practice

• Correct apostrophe use in the following sentences
  if needed.
• Our charity car wash will service cars, vans,
  and 4x4s.
• Bob Jones cat scratches when you try to pet her.
  
• The dogs collar is leather.
• Ws legacy is yet to be determined.
• Its a pretty dog, but its paws are dirty.

50
Recap of Error 6

• Remember the rules for making nouns plural and
  possessive.
• Do Not use apostrophes to make nouns plural.
• Personal pronouns do not use an apostrophe to
  form the possessive case, but indefinite pronouns
  do.

51
Error 7 Tricky VerbsLay, Lie, Lain, Laid

• Which is the correct command for a dog?
• Lay down.
• Lie down.

52
Lay vs. Lie
Parts of lie (recline) Parts of lay (put or place)
Present Lie Present Lay
Past Lay Past Laid
Past Participle Lain Past Participle Laid

• Correct answer Lie down.
• Lie to recline (or to fib)
• Lay to put or place
• To decide on which one to use, try to use the
  word place instead of lay or lie. If it works,
  use lay. If it doesnt, use lie.

53
Examples

• Please lay the books on the table.
• If you replace lay with place, it works.
• Will you please tell your dog to lie down and
  stop barking?
• The trick doesnt work here.
• I lay down on the bed earlier this afternoon.
• The past tense of lie is lay.
• I laid my daughter on the bed so she could take a
  nap.
• This is the correct use of the past tense of lay.
  You placed her down to take a nap.

54
Examples with the past participle

• The books, having been laid on the table a week
  ago, are covered with dust.
• This is something done to the books, not done to
  or for themselves. Using placed here works, so
  we need the past participle of lay.
• Having lain in bed all afternoon, I feel rested
  this evening.
• Putting placed here doesnt work, so we need
  the past participle of lie.

55
Practice

• Correct the sentences if needed.
• Sometimes I lay in bed and watch television.
• My dog has lain there quietly for two hours.
• The cat laid in the mud after it rained last
  week.
• Having lain the overdue essay on the teachers
  desk, the student walked quietly back to his
  seat.
• The python has laid there for several minutes,
  watching the frightened mouse paw at the cage.

56
Recap of Error 7

• Lie is used when referring to something one is
  doing to or for himself or herself.
• Lay is used when referring to something that one
  is doing to or for someone or something other
  than himself or herself.
• Use the place test to help determine whether to
  use lie or lay.

57
Error 8 Less or Fewer?

• Which one is correct?
• My new car uses less gallons of gasoline than my
  old one.
• My new car uses fewer gallons of gasoline than my
  old one.

58
Less vs. Fewer

• Correct Answer My new car uses fewer gallons
• Use fewer when you refer to individual units that
  can be counted.
• Use less when referring to bulk or quantity.
• Ex My new car uses less gasoline than my old
  car.
• Fun note Grocery store express lanes are
  incorrect in labeling the checkout 20 items or
  less.

59
Practice

• Correct the sentences if needed.
• Our new stove uses fewer electricity than our old
  one.
• Less than fifteen applicants responded to the
  advertisement.
• I have less money in my pocket today.
• I have less customers this year and less money.
• My brother has fewer than five one-dollar bills
  in his wallet.

60
Recap of Error 8

• Less is used to refer to bulk or quantity.
• Fewer is used to refer to individual items or a
  number that can be counted.
• Using the correct term can help to add clarity to
  your comparisons in speaking and writing.

61
Error 9 Commas and Semicolons in a Series

• Simple series
• Elements in a series of three or more normally
  are separated by commas.
• The final two items in the series should be
  joined by a conjunction (usually and or or)
• A comma should always be used before the
  conjunction joining the final two elements of the
  series (serial comma or Oxford comma).

62
Simple Series Examples

• The morning is cool, crisp, and windy.
• You could get there by taking the bus, riding on
  a train, flying in an airplane, or driving your
  own car.
• He was tall, thin, and handsome.
• NOTE The AP Stylebook is the only reference that
  says not to use the serial comma. Just get in the
  habit of using it.

63
Trickier Examples

• The menu consisted of appetizers, soup or salad,
  the main course, dessert, and coffee or tea.
• Dont separate two nouns that are joined with a
  conjunction that should actually be just one item
  in the series.
• For breakfast they had bacon and eggs, toast and
  jelly, and coffee.
• No commas are needed if all of the items in a
  series are joined by conjunctions.

64
Complex Series (AKA Super lists)

• If the individual elements of a series involve
  internal punctuation, or when the elements are
  long or complex, the elements of the series
  should be separated by semicolons instead of
  commas.
• If the conjunction is included at the end, use a
  semicolon before it rather than a serial comma.

65
Complex Series Example

• Mr. Johnson drives a Cadillac, which is black and
  has large, silver wheels Mrs. Johnson drives a
  Lexus, which is silver and has regular wheels and
  tires and their son, James, drives a Jeep Grand
  Cherokee, which is dark red and has oversized
  wheels and tires.

66
Names of Companies

• The serial comma is usually omitted in the
  company name.
• Many times, the and connecting the final two
  names in a series is omitted.
• Sometimes, no commas will be used to separate
  names in a company.
• Examples
• Quinn, Franklin Brown, LLC, Attorneys at Law
• Sandberg, Sandberg, Goldman, CPAs
• Johnson, Miller and Anderson, Medical Doctors

67
Commas with Addresses and Dates

• When using the name of a city or town with a
  state, use a comma to separate the two and a
  comma after the state (if the sentence
  continues).
• St. Louis, Missouri
• In month-day-year style dates, use a comma before
  and after the year (if the sentence continues).
• Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809,
  near Hodgenville, Kentucky, to Thomas Lincoln and
  Mary Hanks.

68
Practice

• Insert the needed punctuation.
• The dress comes in different colors brown black
  blue and pink.
• John was working in the garden Mary was working
  in the house and the children were playing and
  eating candy bars.
• I am not sure if the pep rally is at the high
  school or at the field house or at the civic
  hall.
• During the rain, the most experienced of the
  hunters remained in the tent with the camping
  equipment and stayed dry another camper slept in
  his sleeping bag outside the tent, but by morning
  was soaked and a third camper stayed dry by
  sleeping in the cap of the truck.
• The graduation dance was in St. Louis Missouri on
  May 15 2009.

69
Recap of Error 9

• Items in a series of three or more are normally
  separated by commas.
• Use the serial comma before the conjunction
  joining the final two elements.
• Use a semicolon to separate items in a complex
  series.

70
Error 10 Commas between Adjectives

• Which one is correct?
• The long hot summer days cause one to be lazy.
• The long, hot summer days cause one to be lazy.

71
Rule

• Correct The long, hot summer days
• When a noun is preceded by two or more
  adjectives, a comma separates the adjectives if
  they are equal in rank (they modify the noun in
  the same way or to the same degree).
• If the adjectives are not equal in rank, no comma
  is used.
• Try to put and between the adjectives and see
  if it makes sense.

72
Examples

• The ripe, juicy apple is really good to eat.
• The apple is both ripe and juicy, so you need the
  comma.
• At bedtime she told the children a quiet short
  story.
• Short and story go together, and quiet modifies
  short story, so no comma is used.

73
Practice

• Insert and/or omit commas when needed.
• She sleeps with her young black cat.
• She told her children not to play in the dark
  deserted alley.
• Bill is a pleasant loyal friend.
• The old, stone wall is built of native stones
  taken from the fields.
• He believes in attending traditional, religious
  services.

74
Recap of Error 10

• Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives
  preceding a noun if the adjectives are of equal
  rank.
• Try using and to decide whether or not you need
  the comma.