Download unit one grammar File - Northwest ISD Moodle

Springboard Unit One Grammar
Semicolon: combines two like ideas or sentences without using a FANBOY or having
the finality of a sentence.
The dog was growling at the man; he had wandered next to his yard.
Everyone needs a little help now and then; I’m no different.
Comma: marks a pause and may build on or clarify something previously stated. It is
also used to join two independent clauses with a FANBOY, after introductory words, to
separate quoted material, and with items in a series.
Joe, my next door neighbor, spent the evening firing his gun at a bird. (clarifying Joe)
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I tool the one less traveled.” (joins 2 sentences)
She ordered a hamburger, fires, and a drink. (series)
After two hours, I was exhausted. ( introductory words or phrases)
Harshly, my father yelled, “Get back to your room!”
Commas may also be used with parenthetical phrases (which can be omitted from the
sentence without changing its meaning.)
EX) “I didn’t get to see Amanda Byrnes, a girl I had a crush on, all day.”
Dash: anticipation of something to follow, to mark a parenthetical thought, to indicate an
unfinished sentence, to show an abrupt change in thought
“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled”
“Coach watched my face fall- I know he did.”
Verb Tenses (Keep verb tenses consistent in your writing. Do not change without a
purpose.)
I know is the present tense.
Add “ing” and a helping verb is progressive tense. The helping verb controls past,
present, or future.
Add “been” and it is perfect tense. The helping verb (form of have ) still determines past,
present, or future.
You form the progressive tenses with a form of the verb “be” and a present participle. It
is used to indicate an ongoing action.
EX) Everything was going along alright. (past progressive tense)
EX) He is riding a horse. (present progressive)
EX) She will be singing for weeks. (future progressive )
You form the perfect tenses of verbs with the past participle of the verb and helping
verbs have, has, or had.
EX) Hogs have been known to eat flesh. (continues from the past into the present)
EX) I had pulled myself up. (expresses an action completed before another action in the
past.)
EX) Soon, I will have been walking all around town. (It expresses an action that will
have been completed in the future.)
Pronouns and antecedents:
When you use a pronoun, make sure you have clearly stated the noun to which your
pronoun refers.
EX) The fog blinded me, for it seemed three feet thick.
EX) The farmer lacks patience; he had not wanted to wait for a sturdier container.
Adjectives: They describe nouns and pronouns and answer which one, what kind of,
how much, and how many.) Place close to the noun they describe.
angry dog (what kind)
three cookies (how many)
little candy (how much)
next door neighbor (which one)
Adverbs: They describe verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. They answer how, when,
where, and too what extent.
walked sullenly (how)
Stand there (where)
Call today (when)
rather late (too what extent)