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Grammar Notes
Grammar: Capitalization and Periods
I. Rules for Capitalization and Period Use
1. Capitalize the beginnings of your sentences.
2. Capitalize proper nouns.
3. Put a period at the end of your sentence.
Grammar: Easily Confused Words
1. Your (pronoun) a form of the possessive case of
2.
3.
4.
5.
you. Example: I like your idea.
You’re a contraction of “you are”. Example: You’re
an expert
There (adverb) in, at, or to that place or position.
Example: The bookcase is over there.
Their (pronoun) a form of the possessive case of
they. Example: Their rights as citizens.
They’re a contraction of “they are” Example:
They’re going to be late.
Grammar: Easily Confused Words
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Its (pronoun) possessive form of it Example: The book has lost its
jacket.
It’s contraction of “it is. Example: It’s starting to get dark
outside.
A lot (adverb) very many, a large number. Example: There was a
lot of food left over.
A lot (noun) a piece of land. Example: A building lot.
Too (adverb) in addition, also. Example: There are too many
people in the halls.
To (preposition) expressing direction or motion Example: We
finally came to the house.
Two (noun) a number Example: There are two dogs in the house.
Then (adverb) immediately or soon afterward. Example: The
rain fell and then the sun came out.
Than (conjunction) used to compare. Example: The dog was
bigger than the cat.
Grammar: Easily Confused Words
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
Accept (verb) to take or receive something. Example: I will accept this
offer.
Except (preposition) with exclusion, but. Example: They all were ready
except me.
Affect (verb) to act on, produce a change. Example: The music affected
him deeply.
Effect (noun) something that is produced by cause. Example: His
protest had no effect.
Advice (noun) an opinion or recommendation. Example: I will take
your advice to study more.
Advise (verb) to give counsel. Example: The counselor advised the
student to research colleges.
Lead (verb) to go before, to influence. Example: The teacher lead the
class in an activity.
Led (verb) simple past tense of lead. Example: She led the team to
victory last week.
Grammar: Easily Confused Words
23. We’re contraction of we are. Example: We’re happy to
help you.
24. Where (adverb) in or at what place. Example: Where
are you going?
25. Were (verb) second person singular. Example: They
were happy.
26. Conscience (noun) inner sense of right and wrong.
Example: My conscience would bother me if I told a lie.
27. Conscious (adjective) aware of one’s own existence,
thoughts, surroundings. Example: He was conscious
during the operation.
Grammar: How to Deal with Titles
 Titles of longer works are italicized, or printed in italics.
 Italics = underline
When to use italics and underline:
- Books, plays, book length poems
- Newspapers, magazines, pamphlets
- Movies and television series
- Paintings, sculptures, CD titles, ballets, operas, musicals
- Ships, aircraft, and space craft
How to Deal with Titles
When to use quotation marks:
- Short stories
- Essays
- Short poems
- Songs, articles
- Chapters of books
- Television episodes
Capitalize the letter of the first word, the last
word, and all important words in a title.
Grammar: Apostrophes
The apostrophe has three uses:
1. To form possessives of nouns
2. To show the omission of letters
3. To indicate certain plurals of lowercase letters
Grammar: Apostrophes
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
add 's to the singular form of the word (even if it
ends in -s)
Example: the owner's car
add 's to the plural forms that do not end in –s
Example: the children's game
add ' to the end of plural nouns that end in –s
Example: two cats' toys
add 's to the end of compound words
Example: my brother-in-law's money
add 's to the last noun to show joint possession of
an object
Example: Todd and Anne's apartment
Grammar: Apostrophes
Showing omission of letters
 Apostrophes are used in contractions and show
omissions of words.
Example: don't = do not
Forming plurals of lowercase letters
 Apostrophes are used to form plurals of letters that
appear in lowercase
Example: The 1960s were a time of great social
unrest.
The '60s were a time of great social unrest.
Grammar: Apostrophes
Don't use apostrophes for personal pronouns,
the relative pronoun who, or for noun plurals.
Example:
INCORRECT: his' book
CORRECT: his book
Grammar: Parts of Speech
Grammar: Introduction to Identifying
Clauses
 Clause - a group of words with its own subject and
verb.
 Two types: Independent and Dependent
 An independent clause is a complete sentence; it
can stand alone.
Example: I like to read British novels.
 A dependent (subordinate) clause is part of a
sentence; it cannot stand alone.
Example: Although they had the worst batting average
in
baseball,
Grammar: Clauses Part 2
 There are three main types of dependent clauses:
relative (adjective), noun, adverb
Relative clause (adjective) - an dependent clause that
describes a noun.
Look for three things:
1. Subject and Verb
2. Begins with a relative pronoun or adverb
(Who, whom, whose, that, which = pronoun)
(When, where, why = adverb)
3. Relative clauses will act as an adjective and tell information about a
noun.
Example: When we go to the store
Grammar: Clauses Part 2
 Noun clause – dependent clause that acts like a noun.
1. Begins with words such as: how, that, what, whatever, when, where,
whether, which, whichever, who, whoever, whom, whomever, and why
2. Noun clauses can act as subjects, direct objects, indirect objects, predicate
nominatives, or objects of a preposition.
Example: Do you know what the weather will be?
 Adverbial clause (adverb) – dependent clause that acts like
a adverb.
Look for these three things:
1. A subject and a verb
2. Subordinate conjunction that cannot stand alone
3. Adverb clause answers one of these questions: How, when, where, or why?
Example: Before we go on vacation, we must make reservations.
Grammar: Run ons and Fragments
 Fragment – a sentence that is missing either a
subject or a verb.
Example: Went to the store to buy brownie mix. (no
subject)
Brownie mix at the store expensive. (no verb)
 Run on sentence - two or more independent
clauses are combined without correct punctuation.
Example: The grocery store was really packed with
people there must have been a big sale today.