Download StAIRS Project: Becoming a Grammar Guru

Becoming a
Grammar Guru
Purpose: Being able to comprehend, identify, and apply grammar/parts of speech to
improve all areas of writing.
To get started on your journey, click on the book below.
To Become a
Grammar Guru…
You will need to:
 Learn
and understand each part of
speech’s meaning and usage
 Identify each part of speech in
sentences/writing
 Use each part of speech properly in
writing
If you think you are up for this challenge, select
the thumbs up.
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Let the Journey Begin
Task: To become a grammar expert you will
need to learn about each part of speech and
apply what you learned with practice.
Process: To accomplish your task, select a Part
of Speech from the ‘Main Menu’ and make
your way through all the steps. Once you
have completed all the steps successfully,
move on to the next Part of Speech.
Main Menu
Main Menu
Select a Part of Speech:
NOUN
VERB
PRONOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
PREPOSITION
CONJUNCTION/
PREPOSITION
Nouns: Grammar Rock Video
Step 1:
Watch Me
Step 2:
Begin Learning
Noun
Definition:
Person, Place, or Thing
What are some
other examples
of nouns?
Common Noun / Proper Noun
Definition:
A General Noun
Not capitalized unless
at beginning of
sentence.
Definition:
names of
SPECIFIC things
or people
Examples:
man
toy
cereal
Examples:
France
Mexico
Alice
Ford
Nouns as Subjects

The subject of a sentence tells whom
or what the sentence is about. Nouns
are often used as subjects.

Example:
The girls stopped at the library.
(Who stopped? The girls. The noun girls is
the subject.)
Concept Check
Click on the subject of each
sentence.

The boy asked his dad for new shoes.

The adults and the children went out to
dinner.

Every afternoon, the old lady takes a nap.
Finished
CORRECT!
Return to
Concept Check
Sorry! Try Again.
Hint: Who or what is the sentence about?
Concept
Check
Plural Noun
Definition:
Refers to two or more people,
places, or things.
Examples:
monkeys
painters
beaches
Plural Noun Guidelines
Nouns
Plural
Examples
Most nouns
add s
book, books; cup, cups; sprout, sprouts
Most nouns that end in ch, sh, s,
x, or z
add es
box, boxes; bus, buses;
prize, prizes
Most nouns that end in a vowel
and y
add s
boy, boys; day, days; key, keys
Most nouns that end in a
consonant and y
y becomes ies
baby, babies; country, countries; spy,
spies
Most nouns that end in f or fe
f or fe becomes
ves
elf, elves; loaf, loaves; thief, thieves
Most nouns that end in o
add s
kangaroo, kangaroos; piano, pianos;
video, videos
Certain nouns that end in a
consonant and o
add es
hero, heroes; potato, potatoes; volcano,
volcanoes
Some Exceptions
Change of a vowel sound when they become plural: goose,
geese; man, men; mouse, mice; and tooth, teeth.
Nouns that don’t change: deer, fish, sheep, and species.
Old English nouns: child, children and ox, oxen.
Noun Game
Step 3:
Challenge your
Noun Knowledge
Step Four:
Finish Learning
Possessive Noun
Definition:
Shows who or what owns a thing
or a quality.
Example: Cinderella’s slipper was found
by the prince.
Possessive Nouns Guidelines
Forming the Possessive
of Singular Nouns

Add an apostrophe
and s
–
–
–
Chris’s wishes
the lion’s paw
Samantha’s dress
Forming the Possessive of
Plural Nouns

Plural nouns that end in s,
just add an apostrophe
–
–

candles’ wax
sisters’ dresses
Plural nouns that DON’T
end in s, add an
apostrophe s
–
–
–
geese’s flight
women’s team
children’s books
Possessive Noun
Practice Game
Practice your
Possessive Skills
Congrats!
You have made your way through
‘Nouns’ and are ready to move on
to the next Part of Speech.
Go back to the Main Menu and
select ‘Verb’.
Main
Menu
Verbs: Grammar Rock
Video
Step 1:
Watch ME
Step 2:
Begin Learning
What is a verb?
Expresses an action, states that
something exists, or links the subject
with a word that describes or renames
it.
* The verb is the most important part of
every sentence. Without a verb, a sentence
cannot be complete or make sense.*
Concept Check
Directions: Select the action verb in each sentence.
Sally listens to her favorite song.
Craig hits the baseball over the fence.
The bluebird in the tree sings beautifully.
The football team dashes out of the locker room.
Finished
Bull’s Eye!
You’re Correct.
The verb is what the subject
does.
Return to
Concept Check
Incorrect.
Don’t give up though, keep
trying.
Remember that a verb is what
the subject does.
Concept
Check
Direct Object
The noun or pronoun that
receives the action of the verb.


Snow covered the mountain.
The police closed the road.
The words mountain and road receive the
action of the verbs. Mountain and road are
the direct objects of the verbs.
Recognizing Direct Objects

To find the direct object in a sentence:


Ask what or whom after the verb.
The word that answers what or whom is the
direct object.
 Workers
removed the snowdrifts.
(Removed what? snowdrifts)
 They
cleared the roads and bridges.
(Cleared what? roads and bridges)
Linking/Helping Verbs
Linking Verbs: Connect the subject of a verb
to additional information about the subject.
Yes, I am on time. (emphasizes state of being)
My skates are fast. (links skates with fast)
Helping Verbs: Appear with action verbs,
“helping” them tell time.
I was studying French when I visited Paris.
I might play soccer after school today.
 Common Linking/Helping Verbs: am, are,
were, being, is, was, be, might, should, will
Verb Game
Step 3: Test your verb
Knowledge so far.
Step Four:
Finish Learning
Verb Tenses
TENSE
DEFINITION
VERBS
Examples
Present Tense
Something is happening
now or being now
is, am, are
Add –s or –
es
She explores the
country.
Past Tense
Something happened in
the past
was, were
Add -ed
She explored the
country.
Future Tense
Something that is about
to happen
will
She will explore
the country.
Present Perfect
Tense
(Perfect = Past)
Sentence
EXAMPLE
Action that began in the have or has + She has explored
past and continues into
(verb+ed)
the country.
the present or that
occurred in the recent
past. (present past)
Past Perfect Tense Action that happened
(Perfect = Past) before the action in the
past. (past past)
had +
(verb+ed or
en)
She had explored
the country.
Verb
Tense
Game
Finished
It’s the END of VERBS.
Before you head back to the ‘Main Menu’ though, quiz
your VERB knowledge.
CLICK
To
START
Main
Menu
Pronoun: Grammar Rock Video
Step 1:
Watch ME
Step 2:
Begin Learning
Pronoun
A word that takes the place of
a noun.
Noun=Bobby
Pronoun = He
Subject Pronoun
I, you, he, she, it ,we, and they
are subject pronouns.

Use these pronouns as subjects of a
sentence or after linking verbs.
They are
arm
wrestling.
I hula hoop
for fun.
Object Pronouns
The pronouns me, you, him, her, it, us
and them are object pronouns.
 Use
them as objects of the verb or
as objects of a preposition.
Frankie met them
at the airport.
Frankie
traveled
with her
and me.
Concept Check
Take the interactive quiz. You must get 11
out of 13 correct to move on. You may take it
as many times as necessary.
Finished
Quiz
Possessive Pronouns

Possessive pronouns Singular
are used to show
my, mine
ownership or
belonging.
My
balloon.
Plural
our, ours
your, yours
your, yours
his, her,
hers, its
their, theirs
Pronoun or Contraction?
People often confuse the possessive forms of some
pronouns with the contractions they resemble:
its – it’s
your – you’re
their - they’re
The dolphin enjoys its freedom. (possessive pronoun)
It’s free to roam the ocean. (contraction: it is)
May I sign your yearbook? (possessive pronoun)
You’re very polite. (contraction: you are)
The team donated their time. (possessive pronoun)
They’re playing for charity. (contraction: they are)
Concept Check




Since a dolphin is a mammal, it must frequently
make (its, it’s) way to the surface for air or it will
drown.
Some tuna companies were accidentally
trapping dolphins in (their, they’re) nets.
In response to consumer concerns, some
companies have changed (their, they’re) policies
and are using new fishing methods.
In addition, (their, they’re) labeling (their,
they’re) tuna cans as “dolphin safe”.
Concept
Check
Complete
Correct!!!!
Concept
Check
Finished
Sorry, that’s not
correct.
Try again and think about what you
just learned in the previous slides
about pronouns.
Concept
Check
We-Us Pronouns

We is always the subject form; us is the
object form.
 To decide whether we or us is correct, say
the pronoun alone with the verb.
(We, Us) students performed in a play.
(Subject form: We perform)
The director asked (we, us) actors to
bow. (Object form: Asked us)
Who-Whom Pronouns
Interrogative pronouns used to ask
questions.
 Who is the subject form, and whom is the
object form.

Who will play the lead? (Who is the
subject of will play.)
Whom do you see? (Whom is the direct
object of do see.)
From whom do we buy tickets? (Whom
is the object of the preposition from.)
Who-Whom Tricks
Trick: Replace who/whom with
he/him
Examples: Who called?
He called.
Whom did you call?
I called him.
Practice – Who, Whom, Whose
Finished
Antecedent Pronouns
The noun or other pronoun for which the pronoun
stands.
Jeff went to work today and brought his lunch. (Jeff is the
antecedent of his.)
Billy and Bob went to school. After, they went to soccer
practice. (Billy and Bob are the antecedents of they.)
The antecedent usually appears before the pronoun.
Sometimes, as in the second example, the antecedent
is in the sentence before it.
Indefinite Pronouns
Refer to an identifiable but not specified
person, thing, or amount.
 Conveys the ideal of ALL, ANY, NONE, or
SOME.
 Common indefinite pronouns: all, another,
any, anybody, anyone, anything, each,
everybody, few, many, nobody, none, one,
several, some, someone

Challenge: Indefinite Pronouns
How many words can you make by
combining the left column with the right?
any/an
every
no
some
body
one
thing
other
Congrats!
You’ve made it through Pronouns. Try the
final practice below before moving on to
Adjectives.
Main Menu
Grammar Rock Video:
Adjectives
Step 1:
Watch Me
Step 2: Learn
What is an adjective?
A word that describes a noun or
pronoun.
ADJECTIVE

NOUN
Examples:



colossal building
tacky sweater
glorious day
What is an adjective?

An adjective answers the questions:
What kind?
The rocket ship shot up in the sky.
(What kind of ship? rocket ship)
 Which one?
Did you see those children playing in the snow?
(Which children? those children)
 How many?
Several cars were involved in the accident.
(How many cars? several cars)

Concept Check
Practice Identifying
Adjectives by
Playing this Game
Finished
Article Adjectives

Articles are special adjectives. They
point out one specific person, place,
thing, or idea.

a, an, and the
Aden wished upon the falling star.
Adjectives in
Comparison

Comparative Adjectives
Compare two things
Golden Delicious apples are sweeter than
Granny Smith apples.


Superlative Adjectives
Compare more than two things
Red Delicious apples are the sweetest apples
at the market.

Forms of Adjectives in
Comparison
For Short Adjectives: Add –er for Comparative and –est for Superlative
Adjective
Comparative
Form
Superlative
Form
Hot
Hotter
Hottest
Ripe
Riper
Ripest
Creamy
Creamier
Creamiest
Spicy
Spicier
Spiciest
Forms of Adjectives in
Comparison
For Longer Adjectives: Add more for Comparative and most for Superlative
Adjective
Comparative
Form
Superlative
Form
Fragrant
More fragrant
Most fragrant
Well-done
More well-done
Most well-done
Flavorful
More flavorful
Most flavorful
Delicious
More delicious
Most delicious
FYI

Use only one form of comparison at a time.
Do not use more and –er together, or most
and –est together.
INCORRECT
Steak is the most easiest meat to barbecue.
CORRECT
Steak is the easiest meat to barbecue.
Helpful Hint
 Almost
all adjectives of three or
more syllables use more and
most when comparing.
Some Forms Are Different

Some adjectives will change to a different
word when in comparative and
superlative forms.
Adjective
Good
Comparative
Form
Better
Superlative
Form
Best
Bad
Worse
Worst
Concept check
Choose the correct form of the adjectives in each
sentence.
(1) Michigan’s weather is (colder, more cold) than
South Carolina’s.
(2) Obama was the (more popular, most popular) of
all the candidates that ran for president.
(3) The Italian chef makes the (most tastiest,
tastiest) pasta I have ever consumed.
(4) Ashley is the (bravest, most brave) person I
know.
Finished
That’s Right!
Nice Job!
Concept
Check
Finished
Sorry!
You’re so close.
Take a closer look.
Concept
Check
You’re Almost Done!
Before moving on to Adverbs, practice your Adjective
knowledge one last time.
PRACTICE
Main
Menu
Grammar Rock
Video: Adverb
Step 1:
Watch Me
Step 2: Learn
What is an adverb?
Describes a verb, an adjective, or
another adverb.
Describing a Verb
The graduates waited anxiously.
Describing an Adjective
The ceremony was nearly over.
Describing another Adverb
The graduates smiled very happily.
Answers the Questions . . .
 HOW?
 Frank recklessly flew the plane.
(How did he fly the plane? recklessly)
 WHEN?
 Tricia went shopping with her friends yesterday.
(When did she go shopping? yesterday)
 WHERE?
 Jeff grilled the hamburgers outside.
(Where did he grill the hamburgers? outside)
 To What Extent?
Erin answers the question quite eagerly.
( To what extent did she answer eagerly? quite)
PRACTICE- Identifying
Adverbs
CLICK HERE to BEGIN
•Complete at least
the first three
quizzes before moving on.
Finished
ADVERBS IN COMPARISON
Short Adverbs: Comparative = -er
Superlative = -est
Adverb
Comparative
Superlative
Close
Closer
Closest
Fast
Faster
fastest
Example:
My ears get cold fast. In fact, my ears get cold
faster than my hands. My nose gets cold fastest
of all, though.
ADVERBS IN COMPARISON
Adverbs ending in -ly: Comparative = moreSuperlative = most
Adverb
Slowly
Comparative
Superlative
more
most
slowly
slowly
smoothly
more
most
smoothly smoothly
ADVERBS IN COMPARISON
Some adverbs change completely to
form the comparative and
superlative.
Adverb
Comparative
Superlative
well
much
better
more
best
most
little
less
least
PRACTICE
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
Click on the correct comparing adjective.
Each year, many women search for the
product that will color their lips (more
better, better) than before.
Cosmetics manufacturers have used some of
the (more surprisingly, most surprisingly)
strange ingredients imaginable.
For one thing, lipstick spoiled (faster,
fastest) than the products made today.
Also, the coloring agent used (more
commonly, most commonly) then was made
from dried and crushed insects.
Today, fish scales make lipsticks glisten
(more brightly, most brightly) than ever
before.
Adjective or Adverb?
Sometimes an adjective or adverb is
misused because the speaker didn’t
recognize which part of speech was
needed. Analyze carefully.
 REMEMBER:
 An ADJECTIVE describes a noun
or pronoun.
An ADVERB describes a verb, an
adjective, or another adverb.
Adjective or Adverb?
 To determine which one, try this method:
Sentence: Becca sings (good, well).
Problem: Is the needed word an adjective or
adverb?
Question: Would the word answer the
question how, when, where, or to what
extent?
Answer: It tells how Becca sings?
Solution: The word well, an adverb, should
be used to describe the verb sings.
PRACTICE
Decide on an adjective or adverb to complete each sentence.
 I can't understand. You speak too (quick, quickly).
Click for ANSWER =
quickly
carefully
He drives very (careful, carefully). Click for ANSWER =
He's a very (careful, carefully) driver. Click for ANSWER = careful
I got up (late, lately) this morning. Click for ANSWER =
late
Tom tries very (hard, hardly ) when he plays tennis but
Martin always wins. Click for ANSWER =
hard
 I bought a new CD player yesterday. It sounds very (good,
well). Click ANSWER =
good
 I recognize him but I don't know him very (good, well).




Click for ANSWER =
well
 They have a very (successful, successfully) business.
Click for ANSWER =
successful
Adjective or Adverb Game
Click to Play
Finished
Using Negatives
Never use a double negative when you
write or speak.
 A negative is a word that has the meaning “no”.
Common negatives: no, none, not, nothing,
never
If two of these words are used together =
double negative
Example:
I won’t never go sky diving. INCORRECT
I won’t ever go sky diving. CORRECT
I will never go sky diving
CONCEPT CHECK
Take the quiz below. Try all three levels and shoot for score of 80% or
better. You may try as many times as necessary.
Made an 80%
or better, Ready
to Move On.
YOU REACHED THE END!
To finish your explorations on adverbs, take this quick quiz.
Remember you need to get an 80% to move on to the next Part of Speech.
Take the quiz as many times as necessary.
Main
Menu
Grammar Rock Video:
Prepositions
Step 1:
Watch Me
Step 2: Learn
What Is A Preposition?
•Definition: It joins a noun or
pronoun to the rest of the
sentence.
•Some examples: to, from, in, on,
after, until
Samantha rushed through the door.
She was tardy for class.
Prepositions
•Prepositions refer to THREE things:
(1) Location (on, under, in)
EX: The mouse is on the table.
(2) Timing (before, after, during)
Ex. Eddy went hiking before dusk.
(3) Directions (from, toward to)
Ex. We traveled toward the ocean.
Test Your Knowledge
Which word is a preposition?
Click the answer.
The pizza in the oven is mine.
pizza
in
oven
mine
Finished
RIGHT!
Two things are related to each
other
by the preposition!
Finished
Try Again!
Click here to try again
Test Your Knowledge
Which word is a
preposition?
Click on the answer.
The girl by the door is my sister.
girl
by
door
my
Finished
CORRECT!
Two things are related to each other
by the preposition!
Finished
Nope, not quite.
Click here to try again
Test Your Knowledge
Which word is a
preposition?
Click on the answer.
The runners raced around the track.
runners
around
the
track
Finished
Nicely Done!
Two things are related to each other
by the preposition!
Finished
Ohhh, you were close.
Click here to try again
Prepositional Phrases
Let’s look again at the
sentences you practiced with.
The pizza in the oven is mine.
The girl by the door is my sister.
The runners raced around the track.
Prepositional Phrases
in the oven
by the door
around the track
These are prepositional
phrases. Prepositional phrases
start with a preposition and
end with the object of a
preposition.
Object of a Preposition
The object of a preposition
•must be a noun or a
pronoun
•always comes at the end
of a prepositional phrase
Example: The cookies are in the oven.
Oven is a noun that ends the
prepositional phrase. Oven is
the object of the preposition.
Test Your Knowledge
Identify the
prepositional phrase.
(Click the answer.)
I sat with my mom.
I sat with
with my
with my mom
Finished
Congratulations!
You found
the
preposition
al phrase!
Well done!
Finished
Sorry, that’s not right.
Remember: a
prepositional phrase
starts with a
preposition and ends
with a noun or
pronoun.
Try the question again!
Test Your Knowledge
Identify the prepositional phrase.
(Click on the answer.)
After gym class, we got a drink.
After gym
After gym class
After gym class, we
You’re Right!
You found
the
preposition
al phrase!
Well done!
Finished
WRONG!
• Remember: a
prepositional phrase
starts with a
preposition and ends
with a noun or
pronoun.
Try the question again!
The End of Prepositions!
Just one more thing…. Before you head back to the Main Menu,
Practice you acquired knowledge of Prepositions.
You need to score a 80% or better to move on. Take as many
times as necessary.
QUIZ
TIME!
Main
Menu
Grammar Rock:
Conjunctions
Step 1:
Watch Me
Step 2: Learn
Conjunction

Definition: A word that connects words
or groups of words.
For, and, but, or, nor

Conjunctions join words together:
Katie and Josh went to the movies.

Conjunctions join phrases and sentences:
They couldn’t decide on a scary movie
or a thriller.
Conjunctions and Commas

When do you use a comma with
conjunctions?
 Do NOT use a comma when you combining words.
 Ex:
Davey and Kay went to dinner.
 Ex:
Are we going to King Street or Market?
 USE
a comma BEFORE a conjunction when you
are combining sentences.
Us students received a silent lunch, and
then we received a detention.
 Ex:
They will not be going on vacation this year,
nor will they be going anywhere out of state.
 Ex:
Practice Conjunctions
SELECT
ME
NEXT
Grammar Rock:
Interjections
Step 3:
Watch Me
Step 4: Learn
Interjection

Definition: A word or short group of
words used to express feeling.
Examples: Ouch!
 Interjections
Oh
Wow!
expressing STRONG
emotion = exclamation point (!)
Ouch! I fell!
 Interjections expressing MILD emotion =
comma (,)
Oh, I’m not afraid.
PRACTICE
Click on all the conjunctions and interjections.
Ugh! I cannot wait for summer to be here!
This winter has been too long and cold.
Neither the snowmen building nor the skiing
interests me anymore. Oh, how I long to
wear sandals and go to the beach again. Or
to be able to feel the radiant sun on my face
would make me happy. So…come soon
summer, but don’t get too hot on us this
year.
Finished
Wow! Way to Go!
You have learned about all of the
Parts of Speech.
 Lets test your knowledge to see just
how well you know each one.
 Remember, you want to score a 80%
or higher.


If you struggle, you may need to go back and review.
Click Here to Begin
Finished
Tick Tick Tick
Now for the ultimate test.
Take the quiz below and see
how fast you can identify the
Parts of Speech.
Click on the timer to begin the quiz.
(The timer starts when you select the first answer.)
Main
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