Grammar Review

Grammar Review

by Jennifer Dombeck

​End Marks Review

​Periods.

​These are used at the end of a statement.

​Example: I miss my baby.

​

​Question Marks?

​These are used at the end of a question.

​Example: To whom did you give that candy?

​

​Exclamation Marks!

​These show strong emotion and can be used after single words as well as sentences.

​Example: Watch out! No! Jill, call the police!!!!!

​Questions can be tricky...

​Sometimes a question can mix up the order of words, and this is really difficult if English is not your 1st language. Here are some common words that start questions in English.

​Did

​Which

​Who

​How

​Whom

​To whom

​Is

​Tip

​If you struggle with question marks, remember that a question usually starts with a verb, most often a linking or helping verb (was, did, has, could, etc)

Multiple Choice

Many questions often begin with _________.

• adjectives

• adverbs

• helping or linking verbs

• nouns

Let's practice our end marks!​

Choose the end mark that most likely fits the sentence.​

Multiple Choice

Did you notice Mrs. Dombeck is back ____

• .

• ?

• !

• *

Multiple Choice

Which Christmas movie was her favorite ____

• .

• ?

• !

• *

Multiple Choice

She likes White Christmas the best___

• .

• ?

• !

• *

Multiple Choice

Yes____ You've got it___

• .

• ?

• !

• *

Multiple Choice

Could you remember the movie she watches every year on Thanksgiving night___

• .

• ?

• !

• *

Multiple Choice

It's Home Alone___

• .

• ?

• !

• *

Multiple Choice

Are you sure___

• .

• ?

• !

• *

Multiple Choice

YES____ I KNOW it___

• .

• ?

• !

• *

​Now, lets talk about commas...

​There are some key rules to remember!

​You need to use commas:

​For things in a list (I am shopping, swimming, and diving this summer)

​

after introductory words (Yes, missing commas do result in sad teachers.)

​

for direct address (Yong, I missed you.)

​

to separate two sentences with a conjunction (I had a baby, and she is cute.)

​

to separate introductory dependent clauses (After Everly was born, she smacked herself in the face.)

​You need to use commas:

​

after the greeting and closing of a letter

​

​Dear Maya,

​

​It has come to my attention that you are a delightful young lady. Please continue to show kindness and love to all.

​Much love,

​Mrs. Dombeck

Let's review!​

​Choose the best spot or spots for the comma.

Poll

I cannot see the ball Mr Fransman.

• I cannot see the, ball Mr. Fransman.

• I cannot see the ball Mr. Fransman.

• I cannot, see the ball Mr. Fransman.

• I cannot see the ball, Mr. Fransman

Poll

Because the dog ate my homework I got a late grade.

• Because the dog ate my homework I got a late, grade.

• Because the dog ate my homework, I got a late grade.

• Because the dog ate, my homework I got a late grade.

• Because the dog ate my homework I got a late grade.

Poll

No you cannot smash cake into Hannah's face because she is allergic to it.

• No you cannot smash cake into Hannah's face, because she is allergic to it.

• No, you cannot smash cake into Hannah's face, because she is allergic to it.

• No, you cannot smash cake into Hannah's face because she is allergic to it.

• No you cannot smash cake into Hannah's face because she is allergic to it.

Poll

I will be hopping on a plane leaving the country and visiting Spain later this year and it will be marvelous!

• I will be hopping on a plane, leaving the country and visiting Spain later this year and it will be marvelous!

• I will be hopping on a plane, leaving the country, and visiting Spain later this year and it will be marvelous!

• I will be hopping on a plane, leaving the country, and visiting Spain later this year, and it will be marvelous!

• I will be hopping on a plane, leaving the country and visiting Spain later this year and it will be, marvelous!

​Now, let's review some commonly confused words.

Plurals​

Adding -es

​With vowels:

​Just add "s" to the end

Example: spree

​spree + s = sprees

​

With a consonant before a "y":

​drop the y and add -es

​Example: cry

​1. cry -y = cr

​2. cr = ies

​Adding -es continued

​With a vowel and y

​just add an "s" to the end of the word​

​Example: monkey

​monkey + s = monkeys

​

​With the consonants ch, sh, ss, x, w, s, z

​Add -es

Example: church + es = ​churches

Let's practice​

​-es

Multiple Choice

key

• keies

• keys

• keyes

• keyses

Multiple Choice

tree

• treees

• treeies

• treies

• trees

Multiple Choice

try

• trys

• tris

• tries

• tryes

Multiple Choice

tray

• trays

• traies

• trayes

• trayies

Multiple Choice

couch

• couches

• couchs

• couchies

• couchys

​MORE -es

​words ending in f

​Change the "f" to a "v" and add -es

​Example: wolf

​wolf - f = wol

​wol + ves = wolves

​

​EXCEPTION: roof....This word does not change. It only gets an "S" added to the end.

Multiple Choice

half

• halvs

• halves

• halfs

• halvies

Multiple Choice

roof

• roves

• roofs

• roofves

• rooves

​What about the "i" before "e" rule???

​

I before e, except after c

Or when sounded as 'a' as in 'neighbor' and 'weigh'

Unless the 'c' is part of a 'sh' sound as in 'glacier'

Or it appears in comparatives and superlatives like 'fancier'

And also except when the vowels are sounded as 'e' as in 'seize' 

Or 'i' as in 'height' 

Or also in '-ing' inflections ending in '-e' as in 'cueing'

Or in compound words as in 'albeit' 

​More "i" before "e"

​

Or occasionally in technical words with strong etymological links to their parent languages as in 'cuneiform'

​

Or in other numerous and random exceptions such as 'science', 'forfeit', and 'weird'

​

Multiple Choice

cashier or casheir

• "cashier" because the "i" and "e" are after a "c" with a "sh" sound

• "casheir" because the "i" and "e" are after a "sh" sound

• "cashier" because the "i" and "e" are after a "c" sound

• "casheir" because the "i" and "e" are cool.

What About Doubling Consonants?​

​

Double, double, toil and trouble...

​

In a word with 1 syllable, double the final consonant ONLY if the word ends in 1 vowel + 1 consonant. 

​drop------dropped​

droop----drooped

In a word with 2 or more syllables, double the final consonant ONLY if the word ends in 1 vowel + 1 consonant AND the final syllable is stressed. 

At the end of a word, don’t count w, x, or y as a consonant

​visit---visited

​talk---talked​

​begin----beginning