ELA Coach Lesson 18

Grammar

and
Usage

Sentences

Grammar

Grammar is the system of

language you use when

you write. Knowing and

using grammar rules in

your writing lets you

express your message

clearly.

A complete sentence contains a subject that tells
whom or what the sentence is about and a
predicate that tells what the subject does. A
complete sentence tells a complete thought.

An independent clause has a subject and a verb and can
stand on its own as a complete sentence.

Sentences

​

Simple
Sentence

Neela threw the ball.

A simple sentence has one independent

clause. Read the sentence below. Circle

the subject, and underline the predicate.

Compound
Sentence

A compound sentence has two or more

independent clauses. In a compound

sentence, a comma (,), and a coordinating

conjunction join the independent clauses.

There are seven coordinating conjunctions:

●for

●and

●nor

●but

●or

●yet

●so

The comma is placed before the

coordinating conjunction.

Compound
Sentence

Read the sentence below. Draw boxes

around the two independent clauses. What

is the coordinating conjunction?

Neela threw the ball, and her brother caught it.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Josh and Alicia compare the paintings.

Josh compares the paintings.

Every predicate has a verb. A verb
often shows an action. The subject and
verb in a sentence must agree, or
match, in number. This means
singular subject must have a singular
verb, and a plural subject must have a
plural verb.

Common Problems with Sentences

Missing a subject:

Fell all night long.

Missing a verb:

The student in the last row.

Problem

Solution

Add a subject:

The snow fell all night long.

The student in the last row is

asleep.

Writers sometimes make mistakes when constructing sentences. A sentence fragment is an

incomplete sentence. The chart below shows common issues with sentence fragments and how

to correct them.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Common Problems with Sentences

A run-on sentence connects two complete sentences, but it is missing a coordinating
conjunction and/or punctuation. Read this run-on sentence.

The rain created puddles the football field was muddy.

The chart below shows two ways to correct the run-on.

Make two complete sentences out

of the one run-on sentence.

Add the missing comma and

coordinating conjunction.

Solution

Example

The rain created puddles.

The football field was muddy

The rain created puddles, so

the football field was muddy.

What mistakes were made in the examples
below? Rewrite the examples so they are
complete sentences.

We wanted to skate on the pond it was not

open for skating.

Never saw the movie.

The stains on the carpet.

Be sure that you are using correct verb tenses in your writing. The tense

of a verb shows when an action happens. The chart below show the

simple tenses.

Verbs

Present Tense

Past Tense

Future Tense

I count.

I counted.

I will count.

She skips.

She skipped.

She will skip.

We worry.

We worried.

We will worry.

The progressive tense shows an action in progress. To form the progressive tense, use a
form of the verb be with the present participate of the main verb. The present participle
is the verb with the ending -ing. The form of be that you use changes to show the tense.

The chart below shows the progressive tenses.

Present Progressive

Tense

Past Progressive

Tense

Future Progressive

Tense

I am counting.

I was counting.

I will be counting.

She is skipping.

She was skipping.

She will be skipping.

We are worrying.

We were worrying.

We will be worrying.

A modal auxiliary verb is a kind of helping verb. It is often used to show conditions such

as possibility or need. Some common modal auxiliary verbs are can, could, might, must,

should, will, and would. Below are two patterns for using modal auxiliary verbs.

●Modal verb + main verb

○George might attend thee concert on Saturday.

●Modal verb + form of be + present participle

○George might be attending the concert on Saturday.

Complete the sentences below with modal auxiliary verbs.

1.If I get there before Tiara, I ______________ help you.

2.

Henry _____________ be arriving soon.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

• A

• B

• C

• D

To show time: Tomorrow is the day when Grandma will visit the school.
To show place: The school where Grandma taught has been open for fifty years.
To show reason: The school’s anniversary is why Grandma is visiting the school.

Relative Adverbs

An adverb is a word or phrase that describes a verb, an adjective, or
another adverb. A relative adverb introduces a clause, or a group of

words, that gives information about a noun, a person, place, thing, or idea.
The relative adverbs when, where, and why are used to show time, place, or

reason.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

• A

• B

• C

• D

A pronoun takes the place of a noun. A pronoun must agree with or match, its antecedent. An antecedent is the noun that the pronoun replaces.

Pronouns

The boy forgot his helmet. The boys forgot their helmets.

A relative pronoun introduces a clause that gives information about a noun.

The relative pronouns are that, which, who, whom, and whose. The clause

comes after the noun it describes.

●Who and whom refer to people

●Which refers to things. Which is often used with information that is not

completely necessary to include in a sentence. Use a comma before and after

a clause beginning with which.

●That and whose may refer to people or things. Whose is used to show

possession.

Katherine Paterson is the author who wrote the book Lyddie.

Erica has a new backpack, which she received as a gift.

Language Spotlight

An adjective is a word that describes a noun or pronoun. When you use
more e than one adjective to describe the same noun or pronoun, list the
adjectives in the correct order. The usual order is shown below.

​

Adjective

Order

number/quantity opinion size/shape age/temperature
color origin material purpose

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Read the paragraphs. There are some errors
in grammar and usage.

(1) My aunt and uncle has four cats and

a dog. (2) One day I saw them all sleeping on
the same couch. (3) Even though the dog
doesn’t like the cats very much. (4) It was a
cold day, so maybe they were cuddled
together for warmth.

(5) My aunt usually feeds all four cats

on the dining room table so the dog can’t
reach her food. (6) The dog’s food dish is on
the floor in the kitchen. (7) Never eat the
dog’s food – I guess they don’t like it.

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

• A

• B

• C

• D

Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

• A

• B

• C

• D