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A Few Reasons Why We Bother Learning Grammar
1. Core Knowledge: Part of being educated is learning grammar. It is like
learning the state capitols. No one has ever asked me the capitol of
North Dakota (it’s Bismarck); however, I do believe educated people
usually seem to know the answer.
2. Jargon: Grammar provides a vocabulary to communicate about writing.
When your teacher says, “Great vivid adjectives,” it helps to know what
an adjective is.
3. Ability to Apply Rules: One rule says, “Avoid passive voice, it makes
dull writing.” You can’t avoid passive voice until you know what it is.
4. Analyze Others’ Writing: Knowledge of grammar lets you analyze,
describe, and eventually imitate good writing.
5. Foreign Languages: Knowledge of grammar helps you learn foreign
languages. How can you master a second language before you
understand your own?
6. Mental Discipline: Learning grammar strengthens logic skills.
7. Preparation for the Future: No matter where life leads you, you will be
writing and speaking for a very, very long time.
Parts of Speech
SUBJECT PRONOUNS
OBJECT PRONOUNS
I
we
me
us
you
you
you
you
he, she, it
they
him, her, it
them
Preposition Song
(sung to “Yankee Doodle”)
With on for after at by in
Against instead of in between
By to off from under down below
Through over up according to
Beneath across beyond about
Before behind within without
Among around amidst above
Toward notwithstanding into of
Sentence Patterns
1.
2.
S–V
S – V – SC
3.
S – V – DO
4.
S – V – IO – DO
Parts of a Sentence
Noun
Verb
pronoun
adjective
adverb
preposition
conjunction
interjection
Noun – Person, place, thing, or idea
Examples: house, dog, freedom, Monet
Pronoun – A word that replaces a noun
Examples: I, he, she, they, we, us, them, you
Adjective – Describes (modifies) a noun
Examples: blue, big, curly
Verb – An action word or a linking verb (for now this is good enough)
Examples: run, jump, is, am
Adverb – Modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Usually ends in -ly
Examples: happily, slowly
Preposition – See the Preposition Song
Conjunction – Combines two words or phrases together
Examples: and, but, or, nor
Interjection – Ends in an exclamation point!
Examples: Ouch! Wow!
AV
DO
LV
SC
IO
S
Subject: Who or what the sentence is about. This is a noun or a subject
pronoun.
Predicate: What the subject does or is
Action Verbs – Verbs with action…you can see it happen
Linking Verbs – am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been (for starters)
Direct Object: Ask yourself “Who” or “What” in relation to the verb. This
may be a noun or an object pronoun
Indirect Object: Ask yourself “To/For Whom” or “To/For What” in relation
to the verb and direct object. This is a noun or object pronoun and comes
between the verb and the direct object.
Subject Complement: This completes the subject…tells more about it. It is
a noun or an adjective.