Download CAPITALIZATION QUICK FACTS

Grammar
Review
Packet
Ms. Volkland
2012
Name________________
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A. CAPITALIZATION
QUICK FACTS
1) Capitalize the pronoun I.
Example: Jennifer and I went to the movies yesterday.
2) Capitalize the first letter of the first word of each sentence.
Example: Learning to capitalize correctly will improve your writing.
3) Capitalize the first letter of names of people, organizations, and
places.
Example: Juan went on a trip to Tokyo, Japan for his company, General Motors
Corporation.
4) Capitalize the first letter of adjectives that are made from the
names cultures or countries.
Example: I like Mexican food.
5) Capitalize initials
Example: My brother's favorite author is H.G. Wells.
6) Capitalize the first letter of directions only when they are used
to designate actual places, not when they point in a direction.
Example: When we visited the Southwest, we actually had to drive north.
7) Capitalize the first letter of the names of months and
the days of the week.
Example: My birthday will be on a Friday next June.
8) Capitalize the official title of a person (including abbreviations),
but only when you use it with the person's name.
Example: Did Clarissa recommend Dr. Montoya to you?
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9) Capitalize words used as names or direct addresses.
Example: Mom, did Uncle George call your sister to tell her our grandmother is
with Dad?
10) Capitalize the first letter of important words in a title of a
book, magazine, story, essay, etc.
Example: I enjoyed Mark's essay, "The Truth About Being a Good Student."
11) Do not capitalize the names of general school subjects, only language
classes or specific course titles.
Example: I like science class so much that I might take Chemistry 101 during my
last year of high school. I also want to take French class.
12) Capitalize the name of languages, races, nationalities, and religions.
Example: I learned in Spanish class that several Hispanics are Catholic.
PRACTICE: Add capitals where necessary in the sentences below.
1. my friend chris went to harvard university.
2. students in middle school often study math, science, english, social studies, and
spanish.
3. in social studies class, we learned about both the revolutionary war and the civil war.
4. the students read a book called the adventures of tom sawyer.
5. On tuesday, june 17 you will take your english final exam.
6. my parents own a cottage in searsmont, maine on a lake.
7. many mountain climbers want to climb mount everest.
8. on thanksgiving I traveled to visit my grandparents in pennsylvania.
9. I yelled, “dad, what time do we have to pick up your aunt?”
10. I asked mr. smith if he knew who dr. klein was.
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B. Rules for Punctuating Titles
Use quotation marks to punctuate the titles of short works.
Type of Text
short story
book chapter
essay
magazine article
song
poem
How to Punctuate
“After Twenty Years”
“The Unvanquished Truth”
“Civil Disobedience”
“Are i-pods Hurting Kids Hearing?”
“Star Spangled Banner”
“ The Road Not Taken”
Underline the titles of longer works.
Type of Text
book
How to Punctuate
Freak the Mighty
play
The Phantom of the Opera
newspaper
Newsday
PRACTICE: Punctuate the following titles correctly.
1. The War of the Wall (short story)
2. California Blue (novel)
3. Party in the USA (song)
4. Life is Dangerous (chapter in a novel)
5. Mets Play Yankees in Subway Series (newspaper article)
6. Shrek the Musical (play)
7. Fifteen (poem)
8. Lost and Found (novel)
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C. Rules for Apostrophes
Section A: Contractions
An apostrophe is used to form a contraction. A contraction is a word that
combines two words, but omits some of the letters. The apostrophe shows this
omission.
Example: can not = can’t
PRACTICE: Rewrite each of the following words as a contraction.
1. will not
_________________
2. I am
__________________
3. it is
__________________
4. we are
__________________
5. do not
__________________
6. she has
__________________
7. we have
__________________
8. could have
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9. they are
__________________
10. are not
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Continued on next page→
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E. Subject-Verb Agreement
*Remember that most singular nouns will have a verb with a s, and most plural
nouns will have a verb that does not have an s.
Quick Facts:
1. When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns/ pronouns
connected by and, use a plural verb.
Ex:
She and her friends are at the fair.
2. When the subject of a sentence is composed of two or more nouns/ pronouns
connected by or, use the verb that matches the last noun/ pronoun listed.
Ex:
My sisters or my mother is buying the birthday present.
My mother or my sisters are buying the birthday present.
3. Doesn't is a contraction of does not and should be used only with a singular
subject. Don't is a contraction of do not and should be used only with a plural
subject. The exception to this rule appears in the case of the first person and
second person pronouns I and you. With these pronouns, the contraction don't
should be used.
Examples: He doesn't like it. - They don't like it - I don’t like it.
4. In sentences beginning with there is or there are, the subject follows the verb.
Since there is not the subject, the verb agrees with what follows.
Ex.
There are many questions.
There is a question.
5. Sometimes prepositional phrases separate the subject from its verb. Look for
prepositional phrases and either cross them out or put them in parentheses.
Then, look at the words that remain in the sentence to identify the subject. (The
subject WILL NEVER be a part of the prepositional phrase)
Ex:
The girls in line are fooling around.
(in line is the prepositional phrase; girls is the subject)
The cookie with sprinkles tastes delicious.
(with sprinkles is the prepositional phrase; cookie is the subject)
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PRACTICE:
1. The cats (run, runs) down the hall.
2. The boys in the hall (was, were) talking.
3. The bowl of cherries (sit, sits)on the table.
4. Next to my locker (is, are) the science room.
5. Here (is, are) our new classmates.
6. There (are, is) still many unclaimed items in the Lost and Found.
7. Here (come, comes) the locksmith now.
8. There (are, is) a few tennis balls still on the court.
9. He (do, does) his homework directly after school.
10. The witnesses at the trial (seem, seems) uncertain.
11. The plant in the window (need, needs) more light.
12. Where (is, are) your new shoes?
13. Mike and Erik (was, were) talking during class.
14. Mrs. Keller or the other math teachers (needs, need) to make the answer
key.
15. Either Mrs. Jones or Mrs. Smith (is, are) going to pick you up.
16. The social studies teachers and Ms. Coutain (has, have) a meeting.
17. The students or teacher (needs, need) to go to the office.
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F. Homophones
A homophone is a word that sounds the same as another word, but has a
different spelling and meaning.
it’s = it is
its = possessive
you’re = you are
your = possessive pronoun
then = time
than = used for comparison
hole = an opening into or through
something
hear = to take in information through
your ears
accept = to take from; to agree to
weather = information about
temperature, sunshine, etc.
they’re = they are
their = possession
there = a place
two = nuimber
to = direction
too = also, excessive
whole = entire
here = a place
except = not including
whether = used to introduce one or
more options
PRACTICE:
It’s, Its
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
_____on the top of the dresser in my room.
The duck carefully protected _____nest.
I think that _____time for us to leave for home.
I’m afraid that the doll has lost _____ head.
_____just the tight size for my apartment.
Their, There, They’re
1. Put __________ coats on the chairs.
2. Put it _________!
3. She told us that __________ coming to visit.
4. __________are four possible answers to the problem.
5. Is __________ a doctor in the house?
6. __________father threatened to disconnect the television set.
7. The teacher asked to see__________passes.
8. I never saw it __________.
9. They told us __________not going to let you do it for them.
10. The singers practiced __________arias with the full orchestra.
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Your, You’re
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
When will you learn that __________not the only person who likes jazz.
__________ the one who will have to explain the accident.
What is the purpose of __________experiment.
I should like to know when __________going to answer the note.
Have you gone back to __________old school.
Than, Then
1.
2.
3.
4.
He wanted more __________we could afford to pay.
He wanted us to buy it right __________ and there.
__________it dawned on me that he was trying to tease me.
The day was colder __________ any other that I had ever experienced.
Two, To, Too
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
I am going _____ the store.
I think that you worry ______much.
I wish we had a _____ week vacation.
It is hard _____ study when the t.v. is on.
I want to come _____!
Hole, Whole
1.
2.
3.
4.
The dog dug a __________ in the backyard.
Do you believe Marissa ate the __________ pizza?
We will be working on portfolios the __________ week.
Did you know that there is a __________ in your shoe?
Hear, Here
1.
2.
3.
4.
I can’t __________ what you are saying.
Where is your homework? It’s not __________.
__________is the new teacher.
Did you __________ who is going to the party?
Practice continued on next page
Accept, Except
1.
2.
3.
4.
Will you __________ my apology?
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Everyone is going on the trip __________ Fred.
All of these pieces will go in the portfolio __________ your summary.
I __________the award for Mrs. Keller.
G. Comparatives and Superlatives
Rule #1: When you are comparing two things, if the adjective is one or two
syllables, you should add “er” to the comparative word.
Examples: Of the twins, Laura is the taller.
I am wiser that my sister.
Gerry played better than Michael.
Rule #2 : When you are comparing two things and the adjective is three or more
syllables, you must add “more” and then the adjective to the comparative word.
Examples: This test is more confusing that last week’s test.
My brother is more hilarious than Jerry Seinfeld.
Rule #3: When you are comparing three or more things, if the adjective is one or
two syllables, add “est” to the comparing word.
Examples: She works the hardest of all my students.
Of the three dancers, she is the tallest.
Out of all of my friends, Joe is the funniest.
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Rule # 4: When you are comparing three or more things, if the adjective is three
or more syllables, add “most” before the adjective you are describing.
Examples: She is the most wonderful violin player.
This is the most difficult test I have ever taken.
Rule #5: Do not say gooder or goodest. Say better or best.
Example: She is the better field hockey player of the two girls.
Of all the students, I got the best grade on the test.
Rule #6: Do not say badder or baddest, Say worse or worst.
Example: John’s behavior is worse than Mike’s.
Example: He is the worst liar I know.
Rule #7: You cannot use more or most with another comparing word.
Example:
Incorrect: She is the most smartest person I know.
Correct: She is the smartest person I know
Incorrect: I worked more harder than Jane.
Correct : I worked harder than Jane.
Incorrect: My most favorite candy is Reese’s peanut butter cups.
Correct: My favorite candy is Reese’s peanut butter cups.
Practice for comparatives on the next page→
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PRACTICE: Choose the word in parentheses that correctly completes the
sentence.
1. Are you (smarter, smartest) than your twin?
2. She is the (younger, youngest) student in the class.
3. Her hair is (curlier, more curlier) than Mary’s.
4. Of the three brothers, he is the (taller, tallest).
5. I think April is the (most rainiest, rainiest) month of the year.
6. What sport do you like (better, gooder, best), lacrosse or baseball?
7. Tom is the (braver, bravest) boy in St. Petersburg
8. Of the two players, he is the (worse, worst) fielder.
9. It is much (foggier, foggiest) tonight than it was last night.
10. Who is the (prettier, prettiest), Mary, Kate, or Sheila.
11. Sara is the (funnier, funniest) girl I know.
12. Chocolate chip cookie dough is my (favorite, most favorite, favoritest) ice
cream.
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H. Adjectives vs. Adverbs
Rule #1 = Adjectives describes nouns or pronouns.
Example: I ate an enormous meal.
He is a fast pitcher.
*Adjectives answer the questions: What kind? Which one? How many?
Rule # 2 = Adverbs describe or modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
Examples:
a.) She sang beautifully. (Beautifully is an adverb that modifies sang. It tells us
how she sang.)
b.) That woman is extremely nice. (Nice is an adjective that modifies the noun
woman. Extremely is an adverb that modifies nice; it tells us how nice she is.
How nice is she? She's extremely nice.)
c.) He ran very rapidly to catch the bus. (very is an adverb that modifies the
adverb rapidly. Rapidly is an adverb that modifies run, it tells us how rapidly he
ran.)
Rule #3= Use good as an adjective to describe a noun or pronoun.
Use well as an adverb or to describe health.
Examples: These cookies are really good.
She is a good speaker.
She speaks well.
He is not feeling well.
*Adverbs answer the questions: How? When? Where? (outside, inside)
PRACTICE:
1. My cat (sudden, suddenly) meowed at the door.
2. The teacher looked (angry, angrily) when none of her students did the
homework.
3. Popsicles taste (good, well) on a hot summer day.
4. Tom answered the schoolmaster’s question (honest, honestly)
5. The students did (good, well) on the grammar quiz.
6. The lion (vicious, viciously) bit the lion tamer.
7. Sara seemed (sad, sadly) after the movie.
8. I don’t feel (good, well) today.
9. The students seemed (slow, slowly)
10. The driver stepped (gentle. Gently) on the accelerator.
11. Maria did her hair (quick, quickly)
12. Justin has always been a (good, well) English student.
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