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Grammar Rules
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Participle Phrases
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A participle phrase is an adjective and begins with a
participle word (usually ending in “ing”).
It is located directly after the noun it modifies.
In other words, it is used to describe the noun it
follows.
Example: Is that Arthur running for the bus?
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Example: You could see the panther releasing its
grip.
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Please write your own example in your notes.
Appositive Phrase
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a noun or noun phrase that renames another
noun right beside it, and is separated from
the main sentence with commas.
Its main purpose is to give the reader more
detail about the noun it modifies.
Example:The insect, a large cockroach with
hairy legs, is crawling across the kitchen
table.
Example: Queen Victoria, one of England's
greatest monarchs, ruled for sixty-three
years.
Please write your own example in your notes.
Gerund Phrase
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Begins with an ing word, and usually functions
as a noun that is the subject in the sentence,
unlike the participle phrase. Therefore, it is not
separated by commas.
Example: Eating ice cream on a windy day can
be a messy experience if you have long, untamed
hair.
Example: Bill decided that scrambling over the
pile of debris was not safe. (Scrambling serves as
the subject to this sentence).
Please write your own example in your notes.
Relative Pronoun
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A relative pronoun "relates" a clause to the rest
of the sentence. It may be found in adjective
and noun clauses.
Five relative pronoun words: that, which, who,
whom, and whose
Example: People who speak two languages are
called bilingual.
Example: The shirt that Carl bought has a stain on
the pocket.
Please write your own example in your notes.
Types of Pronouns continued
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Nominative (subjective) pronoun - acts as the subject of a
sentence—it performs the action of the verb. The subjective
pronouns are he, I, it, she, they, we, and you.
Example: He spends ages looking out the window.
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Objective pronoun - acts as the object of a sentence—it
receives the action of the verb. The objective pronouns are her,
him, it, me, them, us, and you.
Example: Cousin Eldred gave me a trombone.
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Possessive pronoun - tells you who owns something. The
possessive pronouns are hers, his, its, mine, ours, theirs, and
yours.
Example: The red basket is mine.
Compound-Complex Sentences
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A compound-complex sentence is made from two
independent clauses and one or more dependent
clauses.
1. Although I like to go camping, I haven't had the
time to go lately, and I haven't found anyone to go
with. (underline each independent clause and circle
the dependent clause)
2. We decided that the movie was too violent, but our
children, who like to watch scary movies, thought that
we were wrong. (underline each independent clause
and circle the dependent clause)
Adverbs
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Comparative adverb: compares two items
Superlative adverb: compares three or more items
Adverb:
quietly
slowly
bad
little
late
fast
Comparative
more quietly
more slowly
worse
less
later
faster
Superlative
most quietly
most slowly
worst
least
latest
fastest
Examples:
 The little boy ran farther than his friends.
 You're driving worse today than yesterday !
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Example: Please write your own example here for a
superlative adverb.
Connotation vs. Denotation
Connotation: the wide array of positive and
negative associations that most words
naturally carry with them
Example:
love and romance
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Denotation: the precise, literal definition of a
word that might be found in a dictionary.
Example:
a red flower with a green
stem
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