Download Mrs. Chaaban`s crash course in grammar

THE ACT
crash course
in grammar
You must know these punctuation rules!!!
1. Comma
2. Semicolon
3. Colon
4. Dash
5. Apostrophe
Independent clause: a complete idea in itself or in other words, one
complete sentence.
Dependent clause: A statement that is combined with an independent
clause to create a complete idea or one complete sentence.
•A dependent clause can’t even stand on its own! It is LITERALLY a
needy statement.
A compound sentence contains two complete thoughts.
FANBOY
Comma Review
I Love L.U.C.I
List:
•
Examples of
L.U.C.I
Lena’s recipe for buttermilk biscuits include flour, baking soda, salt, shortening, and
buttermilk.
Unnecessary clauses, phrases, or words
- Ali, who never had any formal chef’s training, bakes excellent cheesecake
Combining: *******comma, conjunction***********
• Maya is good at basketball, but she’s better at soccer.
Introductory elements
•If students expect to get a 36 on the ACT, they must study and practice every day.
Comma practice
The nature trail is six feet wide and seven miles long. It slithers
through the forest like a snake curving, and bending along the banks
of the river.
A. NO CHANGE
B. snake, curving and bending
C. snake curving and bending,
D. snake, curving, and bending,
SEMICOLON
1. Used between two independent clauses that are related.
(complete sentences)
• I can’t decide on a minor; I haven’t even settled
on a major yet.
2. Before a conjunctive adverb( or a transitional phrase that is used
between two sentences (independent clauses).
• My friends said it was a great movie;
however, I thought it was just one big
chase scene.
• Julie practiced her speech for over a
week; as a result, she won the speaking
competition.
Today I’m going to the
beach, school starts again
tomorrow.
a. NO CHANGE
b. the beach school
c. the beach; school
d. the beach: school
The comma splice
The comma splice error is one of the most
common mistakes students make on the
ACT. A sentence that “sounds” fine does
not necessarily mean it is correct.
DASHES
• Dashes are like detour signs in the grammar world!
• Indicate non-essential information that can be removed
without affecting the basic meaning of a sentence.
John Locke-whose writings strongly influenced the
Declaration of independence-was one of the most
important thinkers of the eighteenth century.
• If you have one dash, you need a second one at the end of the nonessential information!!!!!
• This is the most important rule you need to know for the ACT!
• It cannot be omitted or replaced by a comma or by any other
punctuation mark.
Incorrect: John Locke - whose writings strongly influenced
the Declaration of Independence, was one of the most
important thinkers of the eighteenth century.
PRACTICE
I have tried as many sports as have been possible in my life and I have
enjoyed all of them. I had competed in national gymnastics which is
probably the most holistically challenging for ten years. This sport took
precedence in all of middle and high school for me.
A.No change
B.Competed in national gymnastics--which is probably the most
holistically challenging of all the sports I did--for ten years.
C.Competed in—national gymnastics—which is probably the most
holistically challenging of all the sports I did for ten years.
D.Competed in national gymnastics--which is probably the most
holistically challenging for ten years.
COLONS
• To introduce something that follows logically; that is, an
effect or consequence:
• There was one thing stopping me from getting up on that stage: pure,
unadulterated fear.
• To introduce the elements in a list:
• Bring these items to the ACT: an admission ticket, pencils, erasers, and a
watch.
COLON PRACTICE
You should bring: an admission ticket, pencils,
erasers, and a watch to the ACT.
or
Bring these items to the ACT: an admission ticket,
pencils, erasers, and a watch.
APOSTROPHES
• Apostrophes are the second most commonly tested punctuation mark on the
English Test.
• Apostrophes primarily indicate possession, but they are also used in
contractions.
• show possession by indicating that somebody or something owns something else.
Possession of a singular noun = ‘s
• Robert’s jacket, Ben’s phone, Rasha’s pencil, Jenna’s notebook.
Possession of a plural noun= s’
• The boys’ teacher was in the room.
• My mom forgot the dogs’ food.
Apostrophe formula/test
The word “it’s”– with an apostrophe—is only used when you want to say “it is” or “it has.”
Fool proof test- Read the sentence and try to replace “it’s” with “it is” or “it has.”
It’s important= It is important
It’s been nice talking to you= It has been nice talking to you.
The word its– without an apostrophe-is the possessive form of the word “it.”
The baby bear could not find its mother.
Review: Which other punctuation rule is
demonstrated in this slide?
Last minute tips
According to Princeton Review—ACT English Test
1.Think of it as an editing test. Your mission is to make each passage as clear and as
well written as possible.
• There is no order of difficulty of the passages or the questions.
• On this section, think four words: Complete, Consistent, Clear, Concise.
• Spot the error and then eliminate the answers that don’t fix it.
• OMIT is correct half the time it appears. If the underlined portion
isn’t necessary to make the sentence Complete, Consistent, or Clear,
get rid of it.
• If you can count something (like dollars), use fewer, number, and
many. If you can’t count something (like cash) use less, amount, and
much. More works with both.