Download ACT prep Spring 2012 - Parkway C-2

ACT PREP
SPRING 2012
ENGLISH 1 TEAM
CONTENTS
I.
II.
III.
IV.
V.
PARTS OF SPEECH
FALL REVIEW
COLONS
APOSTROPHES
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
I. PARTS OF SPEECH
PARTS OF SPEECH
What are the parts of speech?
Noun—person, place, thing, or idea
Pronoun—word used in place of a noun
Verb—express actions, events, or state of being
Adjective—word used to describe a noun
Adverb—word used to describe an adjective or verb
Preposition—links nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a
sentence. Usually indicates spatial, temporal or logical relationship .
Conjunction—links words, phrases, and clauses
Interjection—word added to convey emotion. Not grammatical
connected to any other part of the sentence.
IDENTIFYING
For this passage, identify
which part of speech each of
the italicized words is.
(1)Every night my (2)family
has what we call a “talk
time.” We (3)readily
(4)discuss what we have
done (5)during the day.
Sometimes it (6)is hard for
my (7)little brother to
remember. Then Mom
asks (8)him some
questions. “(9)Oh, I
remember now,” my
brother eventually says.
KNOW HOW TO USE
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Sentence Set 1:
a. Do not run down the
stairs, please.
b. The child fell down
and scraped her knee.
Identify the part of
speech of the
italicized words.
KNOW HOW TO USE
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Sentence Set 2:
a. Mr. Gates told her to
hand in her test.
b. I will test the water
temperature first.
Identify the part of
speech of the
italicized words.
KNOW HOW TO USE
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Sentence Set 3:
a. These are extremely
tasty pears.
b. I prefer these flowers
rather than those.
Identify the part of
speech of the
italicized words.
KNOW HOW TO USE
WORDS IN CONTEXT
Sentence Set 4:
a. The principal will
address the students
this afternoon.
b. Octavio has a
principal part in the
play.
Identify the part of
speech of the
italicized words.
II. FALL REVIEW
FALL REVIEW
I.
Identifying subject, verbs, and
prepositions
II. Independent vs. Dependent Clauses
III. Simple, compound, & complex
sentences
IV. Comma use
V. Semicolon use
SUBJECT – THE NOUN THAT IS
DOING OR BEING SOMETHING
1. Find the verb
2. Put the word WHO or WHAT in front of the verb
1. “Who [verb]s?”
2. “What [verb]s?”
3. The answer to that question is the subject.
The computers in the Learning Center must be
replaced.
DEPENDENT V.
INDEPENDENT CLAUSES
Independent clause – a
clause that can stand
alone as a sentence.
Dependent clause – a
phrase that cannot
stand alone as a
sentence (still
subject+object).
DEPENDENT
MARKERS
Both
independent
& dependent
clauses have
subject +
predicate.
HOWEVER,
dependent
clauses have
a dependent
marker.
SENTENCE VARIETY
This sentence has five words. Here are five more words.
Five-word sentences are fine. But several together become
monotonous. Listen to what is happening. The writing is
getting boring. The sound of it drones. It’s like a stuck
record. The ear demands some variety. Now listen. I vary the
sentence length, and I create music. Music. The writing
sings. It has a pleasant rhythm, a lilt, a harmony. I use short
sentences. And I use sentences of medium length. And
sometimes, when I am certain the reader is rested, I will
engage him with a sentence of considerable length, a
sentence that burns with energy and builds with all the
impetus of a crescendo, the roll of the drums, the crash of
the cymbals–sounds that say listen to this, it is important.
Gary Provost, quoted in Roy Peter Clark’s Writing Tools
SENTENCE TYPES
Simple Sentence
• an independent clause. One thought with a subject +
object/predicate.
Compound Sentence
• contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator
• FANBOYS
Complex Sentence
• an independent clause joined by one or more dependent
clauses.
COMMA RULES--LUCI
L—Lists
•
To separate the elements in a series.
•
To separate two or more coordinate adjectives that describe
the same noun.
U—Unnecessary clauses, phrases, or words
•
Nonrestrictive clauses and phrases and other parenthetical
elements are set off with commas
C—Combining
•
To separate independent clauses when they are joined by any
of the seven coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS).
I—Introductory elements
•
Use commas after introductory a) clauses, b) phrases, or c)
words that come before the main clause.
SEMICOLONS
Semicolons
Independent clause ; independent clause.
Colons
Independent clause : dependent clause/independent clause.
Lets look at the rules of the semi-colon in comic form!
The Oatmeal
III. COLONS
WHEN DO YOU USE A
COLON?
You use a
colon to
mean ‘note
what
follows.’
COLONS
In some cases, a colon
is used before a list of
items, especially after
the expressions the
following and as
follows.
Ex: Please submit copies
of the following
documents: your driver’s
license, birth certificate,
and Social Security card.
COLONS
If a word is
followed by a list of
appositives, use a
colon to make the
sentence clear.
Ex: I have the
autographs of three
stars: Danny Glover,
Justin Bieber, and
Cher.
COLONS
Make note:
DO NOT use a colon
before a list that
follows a verb or a
preposition.
Incorrect: I like
playing: football,
baseball, and soccer.
Correct: I like playing
the following sports:
football, baseball,
and soccer.
COLONS
Use a colon
before a long,
formal statement
or a long
quotation.
Ex: The director made
these remarks: “I am
proud the finished film
and its message that
people can overcome
serious problems. We
don’t have to accept
problems and their
results; we can call
upon our inner
strengths, however
dormant, to combat
them and get us back
on the right track.”
COLONS
Use a colon in certain
conventional situations:
1. Between the hour and
the minute. 10:30
2. Between chapter and
verse in referring to
passages from the
Bible Psalms 3:8
3. After the salutation of a
business letter.
Dear Mr. Ames:
CORRECT THE FOLLOWING
PARAGRAPH BY ADDING COLONS
Dear Professor Liu
Thank you for accepting our invitation to discuss the
biblical story of David and Goliath. I understand that the text
of your discussion will be I Samuel 17 20-50. The session
will be held on Monday, February 10 at 11 25 A.M. Other nonbiblical stories that we will be discussing are the following
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, “Wanjiru,” and “Cupid and
Psyche.” Dr. Frank Evans has this to say about our
conference “It will be a scholarly meeting with much
discussion about the literary, religious, and philosophical
merits of the works and selections; but it also will be an
informal gathering at which interested persons from all
backgrounds can exchange knowledge and ideas.”
IV. APOSTROPHES
THE APOSTROPHE
HAS 3 USES.
1. To form the possessive
of nouns and indefinite
pronouns
2. To mark the omitted
material in contractions
3. To form certain plurals,
such as those of letters
and abbreviations
USE #1:
TO FORM THE POSSESSIVE OF NOUNS
AND INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
Any noun, whether singular or plural, that does not end in s
shows ownership by adding an apostrophe and s:
a boy’s hat
men’s shoes
Plural nouns that end in s form possessives by adding an
apostrophe after the s:
boys’ hats
the Smiths’ home
the ladies’ dresses
USE #1:
TO FORM THE POSSESSIVE OF NOUNS
AND INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
Singular nouns ending ins or z form the possessive by
adding ‘s, unless the pronunciation of the word with the
additional s-sound would be awkward
The countess’s castle
for goodness’ sake
Compound words and word groups form the possessive by
adding an apostrophe and s to the last word of the group:
My sister-in-law’s last visit was in December.
Did you get anyone else’s opinion of your paper?
USE #1:
TO FORM THE POSSESSIVE OF NOUNS
AND INDEFINITE PRONOUNS
Special Note: Establishing ownership of two or more items
requires special attention.
***For individual ownership, add ‘s at the end of both owners
Oliver Stone’s and Alfred Hitchcock’s movies
(indicating that each owned certain movies)
***For joint ownership, as ‘s at the end of the second owner’s
name.
Rogers and Hammerstein’s musicals (indicating that
they wrote the musicals as joint projects)
V. SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT
A VERB MUST AGREE IN
NUMBER WITH ITS
SUBJECT.
*A singular subject takes a singular verb, while
a plural subject takes a plural verb.
Examples
A bike and a scooter (is, are) my means of getting around until I
get a car.
The principal, along with a bunch of teachers, (is, are) getting
ready for a snow day.
RULES
1. If subjects are joined by and, they are considered plural.
Ex. The quarterback and the coach are having a
conference.
2. If subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb should agree with
the closer subject
Ex: Either the actors or the director is at fault.
Ex: Either the director or the actors are at fault.
3. A verb is not affected by material that comes between the
verb and the subject.
The cost of replacing the asbestos shingles with cedar
shakes was considerable.
INDEFINITE
PRONOUNS SINGULAR
Someone
Somebody
Each
Either one
Everyone
Anyone
NONE?  SINGULAR
OR PLURAL?
Apparently, the SAT testing
service considers none as a
singular word only. However,
according to Merriam Webster's
Dictionary of English
Usage, "Clearly none has been
both singular and plural since Old
English and still is. The notion
that it is singular only is a myth of
unknown origin that appears to
have arisen in the 19th century. If
in context it seems like a singular
to you, use a singular verb; if it
seems like a plural, use a plural
verb. Both are acceptable beyond
serious criticism" (p. 664).
None of us ( is / are ) going to see Transformers
3.
1.
Three-quarters of the students (is, are) against the detention policy.
2.
Either the physicians in this hospital or the chief administrator (is,
are) going to have to make a decision.
3.
Either the chief administrator in this hospital or the physicians (is,
are) going to have to make a decision.
4.
Kara Cannon, together with her teammates, (present, presents) a
formidable opponent on the basketball court.
5.
Everyone selected to serve on this jury (has, have) to be willing to
give up a lot of time.
1.
Are
2.
Is
3.
Are
4.
Presents
5.
Has
RULES CONT.
4.
A verb agrees with its subject even when the subject follows
the verb.
On the wall hangs a portrait of his father.
***Be especially careful to find the real subject in sentences
starting with here or there.
There was barely enough time remaining.
5. Plural nouns of amount, distance, and so on, when they are
used as singular units of measurement, take singular verbs.
Ex: A hundred dollars was once paid for a single tulip
bulb.
Ex: Thirty miles seems like a long walk to me.
RULES CONT.
6. A collective noun is considered singular when the group is
regarded as a unit: it is plural when the individuals of the
group are referred to.
Ex: The audience is very enthusiastic tonight.
Ex: The audience are returning to their seat.
7.
When a relative pronoun (that, those, which, whose, who,
whom, etc.) is the subject of a clause, the antecedent of the
pronoun determines which verb you should use.
Jack is one of the boys who enjoy fierce competition.
Ready to practice some tough ones?
TROUBLE
STRUCTURES
For each of the following, please identify the subject of the
sentence or clause and the correct verb.
1. Left behind in the closet (was, were) only a sweater and
three old shirts.
2. The connection between time spent watching television
and poor academic performance (is, are) becoming quite
clear.
3. The rest of the money in the entertainment fund (has,
have) been donated to the Children’s Home Society.
4. A number of people (has, have) come by the office to ask
about concert tickets.
TROUBLE
STRUCTURES CONT.
5. We worked very hard on that project, but the results of
our work (is, are) still in doubt.
6. Tom Wilson, in addition to three other people, (has, have)
verified that a school holiday has been declared.
7. Neither Wayne nor Martha (is, are) prepared for a pop
quiz this morning.
8. Alice is one of those people who (enjoy, enjoys) both
classical and rock music.
9. The value of the tapes and compact disks lost in the fire
(is, are) a subject for debate.
10. In our college library, unrestricted access to books in the
stacks (is, are) not permitted.
ANSWERS
1. sweater and three old
shirts were
2. connection is
3. rest has
4. number have
5. results are
6. Tom Wilson has
7. Wayne nor Martha is
8. (people) who enjoy
9. value is
10. access is
QUIZ
1.
A sentence must have _______ and a ______.
2.
A clause contains _____ and a __________.
3.
Write an independent and dependent clause.
4.
Explain the four letters (five rules) of LUCI.
5.
What are the coordinating conjunctions?
6.
Write a compound and complex sentence about your
literature set book.
7.
How do you find the subject of the sentence?
QUIZ
8. Kara Cannon, together with her teammates, (present,
presents) a formidable opponent on the basketball court.
9.