Download SEVENTH GRADE ENGLISH BENCHMARK 4 GRAMMAR, USAGE…

SEVENTH GRADE
ENGLISH
BENCHMARK 4
GRAMMAR, USAGE,
AND MECHANICS
PASS GUM 3.1.k.
Use conjunctions correctly.
Conjunctions join one part of the sentence to another part.
Soccer is good
exercise, and it
is lots of fun!
Coordinating Conjunctions:
and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so
Correlative Conjunctions:
either… or neither… nor both… and
not only… but also whether… or
Common Conjunctive Adverbs:
additionally, also, anyway, besides, consequently,
furthermore, however, instead, likewise, meanwhile,
moreover, nevertheless, otherwise, still, then, therefore
Common Transitional Expressions:
as a result, at any rate, by the way, for example, for instance, in
addition, in fact, in other words, on the contrary, on the other hand
Coordinating Conjunctions:
and but or nor for yet so
Use these conjunctions to join
two independent clauses.
Put a comma before
the conjunction.
sub.
verb
dir. obj.
conj. sub. verb dir. obj.
Fiuto likes soccer , and he likes tennis.
Correlative Conjunctions:
either… or neither… nor both… and
not only… but also whether… or
Be careful to check subject-verb agreement with
these conjunctions.
Either the boys or Fiuto (want, wants) to go.
(With either…or… look at the subject that is next to the
verb – is it singular? Then the verb should be singular.
Either Fiuto or his brothers always (leave, leaves)
the soccer ball out in the yard.
Both Fiuto and his brothers (want, wants) to go.
(With both…and… the verb is always plural. It’s like
adding two plus two.)
Common Conjunctive Adverbs:
additionally, also, anyway, besides, consequently,
furthermore, however, instead, likewise, meanwhile,
moreover, nevertheless, otherwise, still, then, therefore
These interrupt (separate) in order to connect two thoughts.
They can be used two ways:
1. to separate two independent clauses
(semicolon /conjunctive adverb /comma.)
Example:
subject verb
sub.
verb
Fiuto likes soccer ; however, he also likes tennis.
2. in the middle of one independent clause
(comma /conjunctive adverb /comma.)
Example:
subject
verb
Fiuto , however, likes both soccer and tennis.
Common Transitional Expressions:
as a result, at any rate, by the way, for example, for instance,
in addition, in fact, in other words, on the contrary, on the
other hand
These, just like the conjunctive adverbs, interrupt to connect
ideas; they “transition” from one idea to another.
They can make transitions in two ways:
1. They can connect two independent clauses.
subject verb
sub. verb
Ex: Fiuto likes soccer ; on the other hand, he likes
tennis. (semicolon/transitional expression/comma)
2. They can interrupt one independent clause,
connecting the first part of the clause to the second part.
subject
verb
Ex: Fiuto , by the way, is a championship soccer goalie
and a grand-slam tennis champ. (comma/trans./comma)
PASS GUM 3.1.k.
Use conjunctions correctly.
Now – can you use conjunctions correctly?
Try this sample test question:
Either Fiuto’s tennis shoes or his tennis racquet
were bringing him bad luck.
What is the best change, if any, to make to
were bringing in the above sentence?
A. was bringing
B. are bringing
C. were starting to
bring
D. No change.
See next slide for explanation.
PASS GUM 3.1.k.
Use conjunctions correctly.
PLURAL
SINGULAR
Either Fiuto’s tennis shoes or his tennis racquet
We have two subjects; the one
closest to the verb (racquet) is singular.
(were bringing, was bringing, are bringing,
were starting to bring)
him bad luck.
Now we
need a
singular
verb.
PASS GUM 3.1.k.
Use conjunctions correctly.
Try another one:
Fiuto trains hard, as a result, he
is a good athlete.
What is the best change, if any, to make to
hard, as a result, in the above sentence?
A.
B.
C.
D.
hard; as a result,
hard, as a result
hard as a result,
No change.
Hint: There are two independent clauses.
PASS GUM 3.1.k.
Use conjunctions correctly.
-independent clause-
conjunction
------independent clause-----
Fiuto trains hard, as a result, he is a good athlete.
This is wrong. We have two independent clauses.
An independent clause is like a sentence and needs stronger
punctuation than a comma.
It needs a semicolon.
subj.
verb
adv.
conjunction
sub. vb.
adj.
pred. nom.
Fiuto trains hard; as a result, he is a good athlete.
Yes! A semicolon!
PASS GUM 3.1.o
Differentiate between
active and passive voice.
Hey, I’m Niz, and I don’t
know active and passive
voice. What are they?
Active Voice: Niz threw the football.
Passive Voice: The football was thrown by Niz.
Active: The subject performs the action.
More direct, more forceful, more concise; stronger
Passive: The subject receives the action.
Grammatically correct, but if used too often, can be awkward
and can put too many “be” verbs (am, are, is, was, were, etc.) in our
writing
PASS GUM 3.1.o
Differentiate between
active and passive voice.
Try this
test
question.
The concrete block was broken by Ofuto in his
martial arts class.
What is the best way, if any, to revise the sentence
from passive voice to active voice?
A. In his martial arts class, the concrete block
was broken by Ofuto.
B. The concrete block was broken in his
martial arts class by Ofuto.
C. Ofuto broke the concrete block in his
martial arts class.
D. No change.
PASS GUM 3.1.o
Differentiate between
active and passive voice.
I notice that with passive
voice, we have a lot of
“be” helping verbs. We
don’t want too many of
those in our writing.
The arrow was shot skillfully by Nono
and hit the bullseye.
What is the best way, if any, to revise the
sentence from passive voice to active
voice?
A. Shot skillfully by Nono, the bullseye
was hit by the arrow.
B. Nono shot the arrow skillfully and hit
the bullseye.
C. The bullseye was hit by Nono’s arrow,
which was shot skillfully.
D. No change.
PASS GUM 3.2.b.5.
Use commas to set off
nonessential participial phrases.
I know introductory participial phrase is followed by a comma,
but what if a participial phrase isn’t at the
beginning of the sentence?
But why do you care,
Nez?
Nez
Zen, I care
because of my
sport! Every
golfer must be
able to speak with
proper
punctuation!
Zen
Oh,
Nez,
you are
my
hero!
PASS GUM 3.2.b.5.
Use commas to set off
nonessential participial phrases.
Review: Participial Phrase – Group of words beginning with a
word that ends in –ing or –ed
Introductory Participial Phrase – Always put a comma after it.
Essential vs. Nonessential – This just means necessary
vs. not necessary. Is the phrase necessary – is it
“essential” to the main point (the independent clause) of
the sentence, or is it just interesting, extra, added
information?
Now, the comma rule:
If the phrase is “nonessential,” set it off with commas.
If the phrase is “essential,” do not set it off with commas.
PASS GUM 3.2.b.5.
Use commas to set off
nonessential participial phrases.
Nonessential:
Nez Netipoti, thinking of the trophy, hit the
ball with a powerful swing.
Nez
Oh, I get it!
The main point is in the independent
clause! It’s all about me – Nez –
hitting the ball with a powerful swing!
The whole “thinking of the trophy”
thing is nonessential!
Put commas around it to show it’s
interesting but nonessential!
It’s almost like you’re putting it in
parentheses or something!
PASS GUM 3.2.b.5.
Use commas to set off
nonessential participial phrases.
Nonessential:
Zen, worried about Nez’s tournament, played
her best ever round of golf yesterday!
I get it!
The big point is the independent clause!
Zen played her best ever round of golf yesterday!
Never mind the extra, added information that I am
worried about Nez’s tournament – that is
nonessential! (blah-blah-Nez’s-tournament-so-whatZen
blah-blah-interesting-but not the main point!)
Put it in commas!
This is a Zen/great golf sentence, not a Nez’s
tournament sentence! Yay, I get it!
PASS GUM 3.2.b.5.
Use commas to set off
nonessential participial phrases.
Could I see an
“essential” one?
Zen is the girl wearing the
cute green golfing hat.
Zen
Oh! I totally get it!
This participial phrase is essential!
Without it, the independent clause is
“Zen is the girl.” That is just plain crazy!
What girl? In this sentence you have to
have the participial phrase; thus, it is
essential. If it’s essential, you don’t use
commas! Yay!
PASS GUM 3.2.b.5.
Use commas to set off
nonessential participial phrases.
Now you try this test question:
My neighbor is the little boy, building the
sand castle.
What is the best change, if any, to make to
boy, building in the above sentence?
A. boy. Building
B. boy building
C. boy; building
D. No change.
Answer on next slide…
PASS GUM 3.2.b.5.
Use commas to set off
nonessential participial phrases.
My neighbor is the little boy, building the
sand castle.
What is the best change, if any, to make to
boy, building in the above sentence?
A. boy. Building
B. boy building
C. boy; building
D. No change.
Is this participial phrase (building the
sand castle) essential?
Yes! Without it, all we have is “My
neighbor is the little boy…” What little
boy? You must have “…building the
sand castle.” It’s essential!
RULE: If the phrase is essential, no
commas can be used!
PASS GUM 3.2.b.6.
Use a comma after an
introductory adverb clause.
subject
verb
dir. obj.
After Nase served the ball,
subject verb
dir. obj. ----prep. phrase----
Esan hit the ball over the net.
Nase
Esan
Introductory
adverb clause
modifies
(describes) the
verb hit.
It tells when Esan
hit the ball. He hit
it after Nase
served the ball.
PASS GUM 3.2.b.6.
Use a comma after an
introductory adverb clause.
subject
verb
direct obj.
After Nase served the ball,
A clause has a
subject and verb
(Nase served).
Nase
There are dependent
and independent
clauses. This one is
dependent because it
can’t stand alone.
PASS GUM 3.2.b.6.
Use a comma after an
introductory adverb clause.
subject verb
dir. obj. ----prep. phrase----
Esan hit the ball over the net.
My clause also has a
subject and verb
(Esan hit).
This is an independent
clause because it can
stand alone.
Esan
PASS GUM 3.2.b.6.
Use a comma after an
introductory adverb clause.
All of these are
“subordinating
conjunctions.”
They are used to
introduce adverb
clauses.
Common Subordinating Conjunctions
after, although, as, as if, as long as, as soon as,
before, as though, if, in order that, because, once,
provided that, since, so that, than, though, unless,
until, when, whenever, where, wherever, while
Although I play volleyball, I like soccer, too!
Before you start the game, stretch your muscles.
Because I am tall, I am good at the net.
PASS GUM 3.2.b.6.
Use a comma after an
introductory adverb clause.
Write three sentences, each beginning with an introductory
adverb clause. Use a different subordinating conjunction to
start each sentence.
1.________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
________________________________________________
2.________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
3.________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
_________________________________________________
PASS GUM 3.2.b.17.
Do not use unnecessary commas.
Neesie rowed his boat for two hours and
blistered his hands severely.
What is the best change, if any, to make to
hours and in the above sentence?
A. hours, and
B. hours; and
C. hours. And
D. No change.
See next slide for answer.
PASS GUM 3.2.b.17.
Do not use unnecessary commas.
subject
verb
adj. dir. obj. ---prep. phrase--- conj.
verb
Neesie rowed his boat for two hours and blistered
adj. dir. obj.
adv.
his hands severely.
Neesie (subject) has two verbs (rowed, blistered). The
sentence has a compound verb.
This is not a compound sentence. It does not need a comma
to separate the two independent clauses because there are
not two independent clauses. There are just two verbs.
PASS GUM 3.2.b.17.
Do not use unnecessary commas.
sub.
verb
dir. obj.
conj.
verb.
dir. obj.
The twins love baseball but dislike basketball.
What is the best change, if
any, to make to baseball but
in the above sentence?
A. baseball, but
B. baseball; but
C. baseball. But
D. No change.
PASS GUM 3.2.b.17.
Do not use unnecessary commas.
sub.
verb
dir. obj.
conj.
verb.
dir. obj.
The twins love baseball but dislike basketball.
D. No change. This sentence has one subject and two verbs. It has a
compound verb, but it is not a compound sentence. No comma is needed.
sub.
verb
dir. obj.
conj. sub.
verb.
dir. obj.
The twins love baseball, but they dislike basketball.
This is a compound sentence; it has two sets of subjects and verbs,
separated by a comma and conjunction.
PASS GUM 3.2.b.18.
Use a semicolon to separate
two independent clauses.
subject
verb
subject
verb
Zeus plays drums; Neus plays guitar.
Zeus
Neus
PASS GUM 3.2.b.18.
Use a semicolon to separate
two independent clauses.
subject
Zeus
Zeus
verb
direct object
plays drums;
My
independent
clause
has a subject
and verb
(Zeus plays).
Why is
Zeus plays drums;
an independent clause?
Hint: Two reasons
PASS GUM 3.2.b.18.
Use a semicolon to separate
two independent clauses.
subject
verb
direct object
; Neus plays guitar.
Why is
Neus plays guitar.
an
independent clause?
Yes!
1. It has a subject and verb.
2. It can stand on its own.
My
independent
clause also
has a subject
and verb
(Neus plays).
Neus
Write two sentences, each with two
independent clauses separated by a semicolon.
1._____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
2._____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
PASS GUM 3.2.b.21.
Use a colon before a list of items to mean
note what follows.
Note to self:
call formal-wear
rental service for
refund,
ask why he wore
the hat, ask why he
wore the flip flops.
PASS GUM 3.2.b.21.
Use a colon before a list of items to mean
note what follows.
Ugh! I hate:
his shirt,
his shorts, and
his singing!
I need a trash
bag for: his hat,
his flip flops,
and his dumb
tie!
Don’t use a colon
after a verb or
preposition.
PASS GUM 3.2.b.21.
Use a colon before a list of items to mean
note what follows.
I must remember my
three rules for a good
vacation: lots of
sunblock, lots of fun,
and lots of relaxation.
This is a good example: the
colon comes after a noun, the
list is not too long, and the list
has parallel structure.
PASS GUM 3.2.b.30.
Use quotation marks
to enclose a direct quotation.
…and when Posey said,
“Yes, I would be
honored to be on the
Olympic ice skating
team,”
she heard her mom and
dad cheering with
happiness.
Place the comma or period inside
the ending quotation mark.
Posey
PASS GUM 3.2.b.37
Use a hyphen to divide a compound adjective
that precedes a noun.
That was a gold-medal routine on the
parallel bars!
PASS GUM 3.2.b.37
Use a hyphen to divide a compound adjective
that precedes a noun.
Nariz’s first-rate performance put him in the
hunt for a gold medal.
Nariz’s performance was first rate; it put him
in the hunt for a gold medal.
Do not use a hyphen if the
compound adjective comes after the
noun it modifies.
PASS GUM 3.2.b.37
Use a hyphen to divide a compound adjective
that precedes a noun.
Fiuto, the world-famous soccer star, carries the
brightly shining Olympic torch into the stadium.
Fiuto’s big-nosed team hopes to earn a gold medal in
this year’s highly competitive games.
Do not use a hyphen
between an adverb ending
in –ly and an adjective when
they precede a noun.
PASS GUM 3.2.b.42.
Use ’s to make a singular noun possessive.
Sam’s toothbrush
Jess’s ironing board
Nate’s razor
PASS GUM 3.2.b.42.
Use ’s to make a singular noun possessive.
Definitions and Examples
1. ’s – apostrophe s
2. Singular – one
3. Noun – person (brother); place (home); thing
(computer); idea (attitude, friendship)
4. Possessive – show ownership
Ex: Singular noun – neighbor
Singular possessive noun – neighbor’s dog
Make your own sentences using the possessive form
for the following singular nouns: glass / artist
1.______________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
2.______________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
PASS GUM 3.2.b.42.
To make a plural noun ending in s
possessive, just add an apostrophe.
Look at the rowers.
Look at the rowers’ oars!
Look at the surfers.
Look at the surfers’ boards!
Make your own sentences using the possessive form
for the following plural nouns:
1.hikers
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
2. gymnasts
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
________________________________________________
PASS GUM 3.2.b.44.
Use an apostrophe and s to form the
possessive of a plural noun not ending in s.
adj.
possessive noun
sub.
verb adj. adj.
dir. obj.
The children’s school had a snow day.
PASS GUM 3.2.b.44.
Use an apostrophe and s to form the
possessive of a plural noun not ending in s.
The men’s capes were magnificent!
PASS GUM 3.2.b.44.
Use an apostrophe and s to form the
possessive of a plural noun not ending in s.
The women’s shopping trip was fun!
PASS GUM 3.2.b.44.
Use an apostrophe and s to form the
possessive of a plural noun not ending in s.
The people’s exercise class met at 11:00 A.M.
Hey, don’t be nosey.
Get out of here and
study your grammar
rules.