Download 8th Grade grammar notes

8th Grade grammar notes
Prepositions
 A preposition is a word that relates a noun or a pronoun to
another word in the sentence.
EX: The boy near the window is Italian. (The word near is the
preposition, and it shows the relationship between the noun
window and the word boy)
aboard
about
above
across
after
against
along
among
around
as
Common Prepositions
at
down
off
to
before
during
on
toward
behind
except
onto
under
below
for
opposite
underneath
beneath
from
out
until
beside
in
outside
up
besides
inside
over
upon
between
into
past
with
beyond
like
since
within
but (except)
near
through
without
by
Of
throughout
 A preposition may consist of more than one word.
EX: Vicki will visit Trinidad instead of Jamaica.
according to
across from
along with
Some Compound Prepositions
aside from
in front of
because of
in place of
except for
in spite of
instead of
on account of
on top of
 A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a
preposition and ends with a noun or a pronoun, which is called
the object of the preposition.

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
EX: Hang the painting outside the new auditorium.
Between the chair and the table was a window. (compound
object)
When a pronoun is the object of the preposition, use an object
pronoun, not a subject pronoun.
EX: Mateo handed the tickets to Naomi.
Mateo handed the tickets to her. (the object pronoun her
replaced Naomi)
A preposition may have a compound object: 2 or more nouns, 2
or more pronouns, or a combination of nouns and pronouns.
Use object pronouns in compound objects.
EX: I borrowed the book from Emily and Patrick.
I borrowed the book from Emily and him.
I borrowed the book from her and Patrick.
I borrowed the book from her and him.
If you’re not sure whether to use a subject pronoun or an object
pronoun, read the sentence aloud with only the pronoun.
Who is a subject pronoun. Whom is an object pronoun.
EX: Who lent you the book?
From whom did you borrow the book?
A prepositional phrase is an adjective phrase when it modifies
or describes a noun or pronoun.
EX: The servers at the new restaurant are courteous. (modifies
servers)
The atmosphere includes photographs from old movies.
(modifies photographs)
A prepositional phrase is an adverb phrase when it modifies a
verb, adjective, or another adverb.
Use
Modifies a Verb
Adverb Phrases
Examples
The servers dress like movie characters.
Modifies an
The restaurant is popular with young people.
Adjective
Modifies an Adverb The restaurant opens early in the morning.
 Most adverb phrases tell when, where, or how an action takes
place.
 Telling prepositions and adverbs apart can be difficult.
 Both prepositions and adverbs can answer the questions where?
and when? You need to look at the other words in the sentence
 If the word is not followed closely by a noun or pronoun, the
word is probably an adverb.
EX: We ate our lunch outside.
We walked around for an hour.
Conjunctions
 A coordinating conjunction is a word used to connect
compound parts of a sentence. EX: and, but, or, nor, for, so,
yet
Using Coordinating Conjunctions to form Compounds
Compound
Sam and Alessio have visited Mexico City.
Subject
Compound
Give your suitcases and packages to Sammi or
Objects
Ashley.
Compound
Tourists shop or relax on the beach.
Predicate
Compound
Taylor shopped every day, but we toured the
Sentence
city.
 Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words used to connect
compound parts of a sentence. EX: both….and, either….or,
neither….nor, not only…..but also
EX: Examples of great architectures exist in both New York
and Paris.
Neither Jesse nor Mario has visited those cities.
 When a compound subject is joined by and, the subject is
usually plural. The verb must agree with the plural subject.
EX: Taylor and Jackie
in Madrid this week.
 When a compound subject is joined by or or nor, the verb must
agree with the nearer subject.
EX: Neither Joe nor the twins
Spanish.
Neither the twins nor Joe
Spanish.
 You can use a special kind of adverb instead of a conjunction to
join simple sentences in a compound sentence called a
conjunctive adverb.
EX: Many Asians use chopsticks, but some use forks.
Many Asians use chopsticks; however, some use forks.
 A conjunctive adverb is usually stronger and more exact than a
coordinating conjunction.
Using Conjunctive Adverbs
To replace and
besides, furthermore, moreover
To replace but
however, nevertheless, still, otherwise
To state a result consequently, therefore, thus
To state equality equally, likewise, similarly
 When two simple sentences are joined with a conjunctive
adverb, use a semicolon at the end of the first sentence. Place a
comma after the conjunctive adverb that begins the second part
of a compound sentence.
EX: The school cafeteria sometimes serves Chinese food;
however, these meals are not very tasty.
 If the conjunctive adverb is used in the middle of a simple
sentence, set it off with commas.
EX: The school cafeteria sometimes serves Chinese food; these
meals, however, are not very tasty.
Interjections
 An interjection is a word or group of words that expresses
emotion and has no grammatical connection to other words in a
sentence.
aha
alas
gee
good grief
Some Common Interjections
great
my
ha
no
hey
oh
hooray
oops
ouch
well
wow
yes
 An interjection that expresses strong emotion may stand alone.
It begins with a capital letter and ends with an exclamation
point.
EX: Good grief! My favorite restaurant has closed.
 When an interjection expresses mild feelings, it is written as
part of the sentence and is set off with commas.
EX: Oh, well, I’ll just eat at home.
NOTE: Most words may be more than one part of speech. It
will depend on its use in a sentence.
EX: A duck has soft down on its body. (Noun)
The hungry boy downed the hamburger in three bites.
(Verb)
Libby felt down all day. (Adjective)
The baby often falls down. (Adverb)
A car drove down the street. (Preposition)
“Down!” I shouted to the dog. (Interjection)