Download Grammar Notes - Holly High School

Grammar Notes
24 November 2008
Definitions:
Phrase: A group of words that are part of a sentence but do
not form a complete thought. It is missing either the
subject or the verb.
Clause: A group of words that are part of a sentence and
contain a subject and a verb but does not form a complete
thought.
Prepositional Phrase:
o A prepositional phrase begins with the preposition, ends with the object
of the preposition and includes any adjectives or articles that modify the
object of the preposition.
o Prepositional phrases can act as adjectives or adverbs.
o Prepositional phrases often tell direction.
o Look for phrases that begin with words such as: in, between, on, under,
around, inside, etc.
o Punctuation note! When a prepositional phrase begins a sentence, you
must use a comma after the phrase.
Example:
I found $20 in my pants pocket.
prep.
object of the preposition
adjective
Appositive Phrases




Appositive phrases
Appositive phrases
sentence.
Appositive phrases
Appositive phrases
o If they come

25 November 2008
are nouns or pronouns with modifiers.
provide additional information and description to the
are placed near the noun or pronoun they describe.
follow the following comma rules:
at the beginning of sentence, comma must follow the phrase.
A well meaning procrastinator, Ryan felt guilty for missing his deadline.
o If they come in the middle of the sentence, comma must come prior and after
phrase.

My favorite teacher, a fine chess player in her own right, has won several state-level
tournaments.
o If they end a sentence, comma must come prior to the phrase.

Harry was rough and tough, a boy going through his chin stuck out a mile.
Why use them:

Create more graceful sentences.

Eliminate repetition.

Create a beat or rhythm in your writing.

Make your writing more interesting.
WU: Underline and punctuate the appositives in the following sentences.
1. Sweetbriar a company known throughout the South is considering a nationwide
advertising campaign.
2. An above-average student and talented musician John made his family proud.
3. The extremely popular American film Titanic was widely criticized for its mediocre
script.
4. The greatest American film ever made Citizen Kane won only one Academy Award.
5. 60 Minutes the TV news magazine program featured a story on the once popular
singer Whitney Houston.
Absolute Phrases
26 November 2008

A sentence part describing the rest of the sentence in which it appears.

Almost complete sentences. As a test, you can make every absolute a
sentence by adding was/were.

Opening word is often a possessive pronoun: my, his, her, its, our, their

Absolute phrases follow the following comma rules:
o If they come at the beginning of sentence, comma must follow the phrase.

Both cradling guns, two men stood watching the station.
o If they come in the middle of the sentence, comma must come prior and
after phrase.

A teenager in a black tank top, a green tattoo flowing across her back, hoisted a
toddler on her hip.
o If they end a sentence, comma must come prior to the phrase.

Mama was out of bed now, her long black skirt over nightgown.
WU: Underline and punctuate the absolute in the following sentences.
1. He looked over to where the huge, filthy birds sat their naked heads sunk in the
hunched feathers.
2. Her whole body shaking tears streaming down her face she burst into great sobs.
3. The little boy stared at her silently his nose and eyes running.
4. Greg his elbows spread wide on the arms of his chair stretched his legs further
under the table and looked at the fire.
5. Bill ran his legs trembling with fear far from the burning house.