Download GRAMMAR NOTES AND PRACTICE * A noun can function as a 1

GRAMMAR NOTES AND PRACTICE
Name:
* A noun can function as a 1) subject, 2) direct object, 3) indirect object, 4) object of the
preposition, and/or 5) predicate nominative.
Here is some practice for those functions:
SECTION 1 - TRANSITIVE and INTRANSITIVE VERBS
A transitive verb (vt) is an action verb that directs its action to an object. It has to have a direct object to complete its meaning;
the meaning of a sentence with a transitive verb is not complete without a direct object. Transitive verbs need to have the WHAT and
WHO attached (that is the direct object – the object which is directly receiving that action). In other words, transitive verbs show
action and are ALWAYS followed by the object which receives the action.
An indirect object is a noun, pronoun, or word group that sometimes appears in sentences that contain direct objects – is usually
between the verb and the direct object.
Examples:
The ravenous mouse craves cheese. The direct object “cheese” tells what the mouse craves.
Alert and ready to flee, the wary deer watched the hunter stride through the woods. The direct object “hunter” tells who the deer
watched.
Erica bought us a chess set. The direct object “chess set” tells what Erica bought. The indirect object “us” tells for whom Erica
bought the chess set.
An intransitive verb (vi) is an action verb that can stand alone in the predicate because its meaning is complete. It does not direct
its action to an object. In other words, intransitive verbs show action but ARE NOT followed by the object. The object may be in
front of the action verb, not behind it.
Examples:
During the summer months, the grass on our front lawn grows very quickly.
The mouse squeaked as it sprinted away from the mischievous cat.
Last Tuesday, the new golf team finally won.
Practice: Directions - Identify whether the underlined word is a transitive or an intransitive verb - label. If it is a transitive verb,
identify the direct object – draw an arrow to the direct object and label it as a D.O. Label any indirect objects I.O.
1.
On Tuesday Avery mailed a letter to her grandmother.
2.
The shelf holds three books and a vase of flowers.
3.
Avery mailed her grandmother a letter.
4.
After staying up the entire night, I slept soundly all day.
5.
The sun rose over the hill.
6.
The rabbit hopped quickly back to its hole.
7.
I took the bus to my grandmother’s house.
8.
I understood her question.
9.
My aunt, a choir teacher, sings gospel music.
10. The sneaky cat slid quietly under the couch.
11. James bought his prom date a corsage of white roses.
12. My aunt, a choir teacher, sings constantly.
SECTION 2 - OBJECT OF THE PREPOSITION
Preposition – a word that shows the relationship of a noun or pronoun, called the object of the preposition, to another word. As a
general rule, the object of the preposition usually follows the preposition, but sometimes it comes before. Think of the object of the
preposition as the WHAT.
Examples:
Melissa is writing ( about her stay) (in the hospital.) about what? her stay
in what? the hospital
(From the beginning) (of the storm), Dorothy was sure she would make it home. from what? the beginning
of what? the storm
Practice: Directions – Circle the preposition(s). Then draw an arrow to the object of the preposition(s). Underline the object of the
preposition(s).
1) In class today, we talked about the requirements in our next research essay.
2) Bill was more than a little irritated when the water balloon fell on him.
3) The scraggly, speckled cat on the fence wanders among the houses.
SECTION 3 – PREDICATE NOMINATIVE
Predicate nominative – a noun, pronoun, or word group functioning as a noun. It completes the meaning of a LINKING VERB.
The predicate nominative is the noun usually following a linking verb that restates or stands for the subject. In the following
examples, the predicate nominative is bold and circled (labeled P.N.), the linking verb is labeled L.V., and the complete subject is
underlined and the simple subject is labeled with an S.
Examples:
S
L.V.
P.N.
At the end of the tournament, Tiger Woods was the leader.
S
L.V.
P.N.
The rude, obnoxious fans were an embarrassment for many of us on the team.
Practice: Directions – underline complete subjects and label simple subjects with an S. Label the linking verb. Circle and label
predicate nominatives with a P.N.
1) When the plot is discovered, Andrea will be a suspect.
2) Before the announcement, they were the favorites to win the contest.
3) Serena’s brother remains the leader in sales for this region.
4) During the heat wave, dehydration became a threat for active citizens.
SECTION 4 – PUNCTUATING TITLES
Practice: Directions - Add underlining or quotation marks to the titles as needed in the following sentences.
1) Walt Disney’s film Fantasia was the first color cartoon to feature classical music.
2) My aunt Lulu always sends me a subscription to National Geographic magazine at Christmas time.
3) The New York Times newspaper had a great article called 49er’s and Raiders Clash.
4) Did you like Langston Hughes’ short story Thank You Madam?
SECTION 5 – PRONOUN ANTECEDENT AGREEMENT
What is a pronoun antecedent? ___________________________________________________
What is pronoun antecedent agreement? ___________________________________________________
PRACTICE: Directions - Circle the answer from the choices provided after each sentence. The word you choose should correctly
fit the blank in the sentence.
1.
A student in that all-women's college should have no fears about ________ future. (her, their)
2.
Neither the director nor the actors did _______ job. (his or her, their)
3.
All of the jewels have lost ______ glow. (their, its)
4.
Everybody in this class has completed ________ homework already. (his or her, their)
5.
No one on this bus seems to know ______ way around this part of New York City. (his or her, their)
6. If a person wants to succeed in corporate life, ____has to know the rules of the game.
7. Each of the clerks does a good deal of work around ________ office.
8. Neither the actors nor the director did _______ job.
9. Both of the clerks keep _________ desks organized.
10.
(they, he or she)
(his or her, their)
(his or her, their)
(his or her, their)
Anyone who needs _____ progress report reprinted will need to stay after class. (his or her, their)
What are some of the rules I need to remember?
SECTION 6 – PREPOSITIONAL PHRASES
PRACTICE: Directions - Circle each of the prepositions and put parenthesis around each of the prepositional phrases in the
sentences below. Identify whether the phrases are functioning as adjective or adverb phrases by labeling and ASKING and
ANSWERING the fitting questions.
1. After school, the boys played a game of baseball at the park.
2. We hid our canoe in the bushes and set up camp by the river.
3. Candy signed her name on the line and passed the paper across the table.
4. The storm caused the tree in our front yard to fall against the house.
SECTION 7– SUBJECT VERB AGREEMENT
What is subject verb agreement? ___________________________________________________
PRACTICE: Directions - Circle the answer from the choices provided after each sentence. The word you choose should correctly
fit the blank in the sentence.
1. They (has, have) been thinking about adopting a dog for some time now.
2. My mother (prefer, prefers) a good book to a good movie.
3. Many (is, are) curious about the mysterious building being constructed downtown.
4. The book in which I found these facts and figures (belong, belongs) to Ms. Najera.
5. Songs about love often (make, makes) me cry.
6. Everyone (is, are) responsible for bringing his or her own lunch.
7. Both of the girls (excel, excels) at basketball.
8. Neither of the movies (is, are) very good.
9. Somebody among the reporters covering the trial (is, are) getting inside information.
10. Neither the local college nor the large universities (was, were) accepting applications at this time.
What are some of the rules I need to remember?
SECTION 8– SENTENCE STRUCTURE
Practice: Directions - Choose whether the following are simple sentences, compound sentences, complex sentences, or compoundcomplex sentences and JUSTIFY EACH ANSWER by labeling the parts.

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You must circle all “clue” words (words that are a clue that begin a phrase or clause – like prepositions, relative pronouns, relative
adverbs, and subordinating conjunctions)
Label verbs
Label their corresponding subjects (UNDERLINE the complete subject)
Put parenthesis around all phrases
Put brackets around clauses. Label ind cl for independent clause and dep cl for dependent clause.
Example:
ind cl
s
v
ind cl
[(After hours) (of waiting), the young man impatiently asked (about the train)] ; [the train was going (to be very late).]
Sentence type: __COMPOUND____
1. Hercule Poirot, who is perhaps her most famous character, is the Belgian detective who solves the murder cases
in many of her books.
Sentence type: _______________________
2. Miss Marple, another detective of Christie’s, is my favorite character.
Sentence type: _______________________
3. Because the clues in the play The Mousetrap were hidden so well, the ending surprised nearly everyone in the
audience.
Sentence type: _______________________
4. I will sit outside for awhile and read when I have finished all of my chores.
Sentence type: _______________________
5. During the fireworks show, my little brother became scared and grabbed for my hand.
Sentence type: _______________________