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Grammar for high school admissions tests: Difference between revisions

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Grammar for high school admissions tests (view source)

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General notes about high school admissions tests grammar/ usage sections
* given 4 possible answers, if you see that an answer is clearly wrong, then you know that the other possible answers are correct
* therefore, you can use the 3 correct answers as examples of correct usage/grammar on other questions
== Sentence ==
== Sentence ==


Line 4: Line 9:


* = a grammatically complete thought
* = a grammatically complete thought
** contains a finite verb
** contains a finite verb (= a verb that has a subject)
** makes a complete thought
** makes a complete thought
*** ''The dog is playing.''  
*** ''The dog plays.''  
**** as opposed to ''Since he is playing,'' which is not a complete thought.
**** as opposed to ''Since the dog plays  <<'' not a complete thought
* a sentence can be a combination of '''clauses''' and '''phrases'''
* a sentence can be a combination of '''clauses''' and '''phrases'''
** but every sentence has at its basis a subject and verb
** but every sentence has at its basis a subject and verb (finite verb)
** <u>note</u>: commands or "imperative" verbs are finite verbs, even if the subject is unstated (it is assumed)
** <u>note</u>: commands or "imperative" verbs are finite verbs, even if the subject is unstated (it is assumed)
*** ex.:''Go home!''  = ''[you] Go home!''
*** ex.:''Go home!''  = ''[you] Go home!''
*** this concept will note be on a high school admissions test, but it may be on a college admissions test
*** this concept will note be on a high school admissions test, but it may be on a college admissions test
* a sentence must contain a '''finite verb'''
 
** '''finite verb'''
* see Verb section for more on finite and non-finite verbs
*** = verb that has a subject
*** finite verbs form the <u>predicate</u> of the sentence or clause
** '''predicate''' = the verb and its direct modifiers and objects
** '''non-finite verb''' is a verb that <u>does not have a subject</u>
** see Verb section for more on finite and non-finite verbs


== Clause ==
== Clause ==
* part of a sentence that contains a '''finite verb'''
* part of a sentence that contains a '''finite verb'''
**
* if the clause could be a sentence by itself, it is an '''independent clause'''
* if the clause cannot be a sentence by itself, it is a '''dependent clause'''


==== independent clause (IC) ====
* if the clause could be a sentence by itself, it is an '''independent clause (IC)'''
* if the clause cannot be a sentence by itself, it is a '''dependent clause (DC)'''


=== independent clause (IC) ===
* a part of a sentence that contains a finite verb and can be a sentence by itself
* a part of a sentence that contains a finite verb and can be a sentence by itself
* an independent clause that is by itself is a sentence
* an independent clause that is by itself is a sentence
** ex. '''''The dog is playing happily''', since I gave him a bone''
** ex. '''''The dog plays happily''', since I gave him a bone''
*** "The dog is playing happily" could be a complete sentence if by itself, so it is an IC
*** "The dog plays happily" could be a complete sentence if by itself, so it is an IC
*** "since I gave him a bone" would not be a complete sentence if by itself, so it is a DC
*** by adding the dependent clause, "since I gave him a bone," we create a larger sentence.
*** by adding the dependent clause, "since I gave him a bone," we create a larger sentence.
==== coordinating conjunction ====
* = FANBOYS
* "coordinates" like sentence parts
* combines
** ICs, nouns and nouns, verbs and verbs, DCs and DCs, etc.
*** it always joins "coordinate" or like sentence parts
* note that transition words are NOT coordinating conjunctions
** ''as ,however, nevertheless, etc.'' ARE NOT coordinating conunctions
** they are conjunctive adverbs
*** which means that they set up a contrast or comparison of verbs / predicates
** RULE: however is NOT  coordinating conjunction
** so do not use it to combines ICs
*** ''I am hungry, however, I don't have money for lunch'' = incorrect
*** needs a period or semicolon:
**** ''I am hungry; however, I don't have money for lunch'' = correct
**** ''I am hungry. However, I don't have money for lunch'' = correct


==== dependent clause (DC) ====
==== dependent clause (DC) ====


* a part of a sentence that contains a finite verb but cannot be a sentence by itself
* a part of a sentence that contains a finite verb but cannot be a sentence by itself
* ex. ''The dog is playing happily, '''since I gave him a bone'''''
* ex. ''The dog plays happily, '''since I gave him a bone'''''
* <u>test</u>:
* <u>to test</u>:
** if the clause by itself leaves a question or remains an inconmplete thought, it is a dependent clause
** if the clause by itself leaves a question or remains an inconmplete thought, it is a dependent clause
*** ''Since it is raining.''
*** ''Since it is raining.''
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* verb that has a subject
* verb that has a subject
* finite verbs form the <u>predicate</u>
* finite verbs form the <u>predicate</u>
** '''predicate''' = the verb and its direct modifiers and objects
** '''predicate''' = the verb and its direct modifiers, objects & complements


=== non-finite verb ===
=== non-finite verb ===
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|-
|-
|''I''
|''I''
|see
|''see''
|
|
|''We''
|''We''
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|-
|-
|''He/ She / It''
|''He/ She / It''
|sees
|''sees''
|
|
|''They''
|''They''
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** ex. ''The bird flew around the house, then it flies away''
** ex. ''The bird flew around the house, then it flies away''
*** = incorrect because it the tense shifts from past "flew" to present "flies" in the same sentence, which does not make sense
*** = incorrect because it the tense shifts from past "flew" to present "flies" in the same sentence, which does not make sense
** <u>test</u>: match the finite verb tense to another finite verb in the sentence or in a nearby sentence  
** <u>to test</u>: match the finite verb tense to another finite verb in the sentence or in a nearby sentence  
* <u>note</u>: a sentence may contain a different tenses, but it will not be measured on the high school or college entrance tests
* <u>note</u>: a sentence may contain a different tenses
** ex. ''Since I studied hard, I will get a good grade''  
** usually it will be in the subjunctive form, which means suggesting a possibility or "if this then that" scenario
*** ex.  
**** ''Since I studied hard, I will get a good grade.''
***** = past tense + future tense (the future is conditional/depends on the past action)
**** ''If I get a good grade, my mom will buy me a new phone.''
***** = present tense + future tense (the future is conditional/depends on the present action)


=== participle ===
=== participle ===
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=== perfect tenses ===
=== perfect tenses ===


* "perfect" tense means that the action is has a specific duration (i.e., it is complete)
* "perfect" tense means that the action has a specific duration (i.e., it is complete)
* <u>note</u>:  
* <u>note</u>:  
** high school and college admissions tests may require identifying correct subject-verb match in the perfect tenses
** high school and college admissions tests may require identifying correct subject-verb match in the perfect tenses
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{| class="wikitable"
{| class="wikitable"
|+Present perfect: "have" and "had"
|+Present perfect: "have" and "has"
!pronoun
!pronoun
!auxiliary verb  
!auxiliary verb  
!past participle
!past participle
!
!----
!subject
!subject
!auxiliary verb
!auxiliary verb
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|''have''
|''have''
|''wondered''
|''wondered''
|-
| colspan="7" |<u>Irregular verb</u>:"spend"
|-
|''I''
|''have''
|''spent''
|
|
|
|
|-
|''You''
|''have''
|''spent''
|
|''You (plural)''
|''have''
|''spent''
|-
|''He/ She / It''
|'''''has'''''
|''spent''
|
|''They''
|''have''
|''spent''
|}
|}


* note that the present perfect uses the past tense auxiliary verb (have/has), but the tense is still <u>present tense</u>
* <u>note</u>: the present perfect uses the past tense auxiliary verb (have/has), but the tense is still <u>present tense</u>
 
=== past perfect ===


==== past perfect ====
* uses "'''had'''" +  the simple past (past participle) form of the verb
* uses "'''had'''" +  the simple past (past participle) form of the verb
** "had" is the same for all cases (
** "had" is the same for all cases (
* indicates an action that was ongoing in the past and stopped happening in the past
* indicates an action that was ongoing in the past and stopped happening in the past
** ''I '''had played''' piano in the past, but I couldn't touch it now''
** ''I '''had played''' piano in the past, but I couldn't touch it now''
* note the singular
{| class="wikitable"
 
|+Past Perfect
=== future perfect ===
!Singular
!Plural
|-
|''I had played''
|''We had played''
|-
|''You had played''
|''You (plural) had played''
|-
|''He/ She / It had played''
|''They had played''
|}


==== future perfect ====
* uses "'''will have'''" and +  the simple past (past participle) form of the verb
* uses "'''will have'''" and +  the simple past (past participle) form of the verb
* indicates an action that will commence at some point in the future  
* indicates an action that will commence at some point in the future  
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!past participle
!past participle
!perfect tense
!perfect tense
! style="background-color:#b3b3b3" |incorrect
participle
|-
|-
|be
|be
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|was
|was
|being
|being
|beeen
|been
|have/has been
|have/has been
|style="background-color:#cccccc"| n/a
|-
|begin
|begin
|began
|beginning
|begun
|have/has begun
|style="background-color:#cccccc"|have/has began
|-
|break
|break
|broke
|breaking
|broken
|have/has broken
|style="background-color:#cccccc"|have/has broke
|-
|drink
|drink
|drank
|drinking
|drunk  ("drunken" is also used as
past participle adjective
|have/has drunk
|style="background-color:#cccccc"|have/has drank
|-
|drive
|drive
|drove
|driving
|driven
|have/has driven
|style="background-color:#cccccc"|have/has drove
|-
|forget
|forget
|forgot
|forgetting
|forgotten
|have/has forgotten
|style="background-color:#cccccc"|have/has forgot
|-
|-
|go
|go
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|gone
|gone
|have/has gone
|have/has gone
|style="background-color:#cccccc" |have/has went
|-
|-
|grow
|grow/grows
|grew
|growing
|grown
|have/has grown
|style="background-color:#cccccc" |have/has grew
|-
|hang
|
|
|hang/hung
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|-
|lend
|lend
|lent
|lending
|lent
|have/has lent
| style="background-color:#cccccc" |have/has lended
|-
|swim
|swim
|swam
|swimming
|swum
|have/has swum
|style="background-color:#cccccc" |have//has swam
|-
|write
|write
|wrote
|writing
|written
|have/has written
|style="background-color:#cccccc"|have/has wrote
|}
|}
== Verb mixups ==


=== lie v. lay: ===
=== lie v. lay: ===
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** ''Please pass the salt'' = correct
** ''Please pass the salt'' = correct
** ''May you pass the sale'' = incorrect
** ''May you pass the sale'' = incorrect
=== may v. can ===
* please = asks for permission, or makes a reques
* can = indicates ability
** if the sentence is a request, use "may" instead of "can"
=== teach v. learn ===
* teach = to provide learning
* learn = to receive or engage in learning
* ex. ''The student learned from what the teacher taught''
== Punctuation ==
== Punctuation ==


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** ''would not >> wouldn't, can not >> can't, will not won't''  
** ''would not >> wouldn't, can not >> can't, will not won't''  


* see '''homophones''' below for more
* contracting "is" on relative pronouns
 
** ''that's easy, who's going?''  
* <u>note</u>: neither high school nor college admissions tests will use an apostrophe as a contraction for "is" or "are" with a common noun
*** = that is easy, who is going
** ex.  ''That elephant's big'' (with the 's" marking a slurred "is" sound in spoken
** <u>note</u>: neither high school nor college admissions tests will use an apostrophe as a contraction for "is" or "are" with common nouns
** or,  ''Those elephants'r big'' (with the 's" marking a slurred "is" sound in spoken
*** ex.  ''That elephant's big'' (with the 's" marking a slurred "is" sound in spoken
*** or,  ''Those elephants'r big'' (with the 's" marking a slurred "is" sound in spoken


3. indicate plurality  
3. indicate plurality  
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* comma separates a direct quotation from it's introduction
* comma separates a direct quotation from it's introduction
** ''The clown said, "I feel funny."''
** ''The clown said, "I feel funny."''
 
** ''"I feel funny," said the clown.''
* rules:
** uses quotation marks around the quoted words
** first word of the equation is capitalized
** if at the end of a sentence, will have a period (often but not always inside the quotation mark)
** if a question, will have a question mark
*** ''The clown asked, "Why are you so funny?"''
** the


'''5. set aside parenthetical information (appositives, relative clauses, etc.)'''
'''5. set aside parenthetical information (appositives, relative clauses, etc.)'''


ex. "Steve, my neighbor, is not very nice."
* ex.  
 
** ''Steve, my neighbor, is not very nice.''
  "Steve, who is my neighbor, is not very nice"
** ''Steve, who is my neighbor, is not very nice''


'''6. separate dates and place names'''
'''6. separate dates and place names'''
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* sets aside information <u>outside of the grammatical flow</u> of a sentence
* sets aside information <u>outside of the grammatical flow</u> of a sentence
** i.e., the parentheses can interrupt other sentence parts:
** i.e., the parentheses can interrupt other sentence parts:
*** ex.  ''Birds (avian creatures) are amazing''
** ex.   
**** normally, we would not want to separate the subject "birds" from the verb "are" but the parentheses can do that to add important information to the sentence
*** ''Birds (avian creatures) are amazing''
**** note that pairs of commas and dashes work similarly:
*** normally, we would not want to separate the subject "birds" from the verb "are" but the parentheses can do that to add important information to the sentence
*** note that pairs of commas and dashes work similarly:
**** ''Birds, avian creatures,are amazing''
**** ''Birds, avian creatures,are amazing''
**** ''Birds-- avian creatures -- are amazing''
**** ''Birds-- avian creatures -- are amazing''
****
 
* pairs of commas and dashes can act like parentheses
* pairs of commas and dashes can act like parentheses
=== quotation marks ===
*indicate a direct statement by a particular speaker
*a comma separates a direct quotation from it's introduction:
** ''The clown said, "I feel funny."''
** ''"I feel funny," said the clown.''
* rules:
** uses quotation marks around the quoted words
** first word of the quotation is capitalized
*** He said, "I say."
** if the quotation ends a sentence, it will be followed by a period (often but not always inside the quotation mark)
** the name of the speaker may also follow the quotation
*** ''"A hammer can fix anything," he said, wryly.''
** if a question, will have a question mark
*** ''The clown asked, "Why are you so funny?"''
** if the speaker name is after a quoted question, the question mark replaces the comma:
*** ''"Why are you so funny?" the clown asked.''
** exclamation points also replace the comma in a quotation
* <u>note</u>: if the quoted portion is a fragment of a larger written quotation, the first word is not capitalized
** but that will not be measured on high school admissions tests


=== semicolon ===
=== semicolon ===
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* subordinate clauses (a form of a dependent clause) are generally <u>non-restrictive</u>:
* subordinate clauses (a form of a dependent clause) are generally <u>non-restrictive</u>:
** ''I took the test yesterday, although I was tired.''
** ''I took the test yesterday, although I was tired.''
** ''Although I was tired,I took the test.''
** ''Although I was tired, I took the test.''
* subordinating conjunctions create subordinate clauses (a form of a dependent clause)
* subordinating conjunctions create subordinate clauses (a form of a dependent clause)
** ''although, because, since, while, etc.''
** ''although, because, since, while, etc.''
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*** which = relative pronoun and subject of the relative clause "which saves energy")
*** which = relative pronoun and subject of the relative clause "which saves energy")


== Nouns ==
== Noun ==


=== proper noun capitalization ===
=== proper noun capitalization ===


* titles are capitalized
* proper noun = capitalized names for people, places, titles, organizations, etc.
** the test may show a two-word proper noun with one word capitalized but not another
* formal titles are capitalized
** the high school admissions test may show a two-word proper noun with one word capitalized but not another
*** ex.:  
*** ex.:  
**** ''Dr. tom Jones is a famous physician'' << incorrect  
**** ''Dr. tom Jones is a famous physician'' << incorrect
**** ''University of missouri'' << incorrect  
**** ''University of missouri'' << incorrect
** note that "the" is not capitalized for proper names
** note that "the" is not capitalized for proper names
*** ''the Navy'' (correct) v. ''The Navy'' (incorrect)  
*** ''the Navy'' (correct) v. ''The Navy'' (incorrect)
*** ''the Nationals'' (correct) v. ''The Commanders'' (incorrect)
* generic or general professions or titles <u>are NOT</u> capitalized:
** ''My favorite Pitcher was Jim Palmer'' << incorrect
** ''Jim Palmer was a great Pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles'' << incorrect
* seasons are NOT capitalized
** We go to Maine in the summer


=== attributive nouns ===
=== attributive noun ===


* = nouns that modify another noun
* = nouns that modify another noun
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** ''big dog bone'' instead of ''dog big bone'' (incorrect)
** ''big dog bone'' instead of ''dog big bone'' (incorrect)


== Pronouns ==
== Pronoun ==


=== personal pronoun subjective & objective case ===
=== personal pronoun subjective & objective case ===
in compound objects, remove the first noun and test the pronoun
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Subjective
!Example
!Objective
!Example
|-
|I
|''You and I won''
|me
|''They beat you and me''
|-
|you
|''You and I won''
|you
|''They beat you and me''
|-
|he / she/ it
|''He and you won''
|him / her/ it
|''They beat you and her''
|-
|we
|''We beat them''
|us
|''They beat us''
|-
|they
|''They beat us''
|them
|''We beat them''
|}
To test the case of the pronoun in compound subjects or objects:


> Steve and I went to the park.
* remove the first noun and test the pronoun
** ''Steve and I went to the park.''versus
** ''Steve and me went to the park''
** <u>remove</u> "Steve"
*** ''Me went to the park'' = incorrec
** ''She gave Joey and me a bad grade.''
** ''She gave Joey and I a bad grade''
** <u>remove</u> "Joey"
*** ''She gave I a bad grade'' = incorrect


> Steve and me went to the park
* <u>common wrong pronoun answers include:</u>
** Us kids are going  << should be "We kids are going"
*** <u>to test</u>:  remove "kids" and you have "Us are going" = incorrect
**** thus, "We are going" works


me went to the park = wrong
=== personal pronouns and prepositions ===


> She gave Joey and me a bad grade.
* prepositions create a prep phrase


> She gave Joey and I a bad grade
* prepositional phrases consist of
** preposition + object (noun or noun phrase)


remove "joey"
* prepositional phrases always use the OBJECTIVE CASE of personal pronouns
** ''Between you and I, grammar sucks''. versus:
** ''Between you and me, grammar sucks.''
***
** <u>remove</u> "you" and replace "between" with "for"
*** can also be read, ''For you and me, grammar sucks''
*** ''For I, grammar sucks'' << incorrect (subjective case)
*** ''For me, grammar sucks'' << correct (objectives case)
** ''The car stopped right in front of the dog and he.''
** ''The car stopped right in front of the dog and him.''
*** remove "the dog"
*** ''The car stopped right in front of he.'' << incorrect (subjective case)
*** ''The car stopped right in front of him.'' << correct (objective case


she gave I a bad grade = wrong
=== indefinite pronouns ===


=== personal pronouns and prepositions ===
* refer to a person, thing, amount, etc. in general (''any, none, some'') or to all of something (''all, both, each'')
>  prepositions create a prep phrase


> prep prhase contains a
* indefinite pronouns can be singular or plural, depending on wether they refer to one or many/all of something
* the high school admissions test may include subject-verb mismatch when using indefinite pronouns


> preoposition + an object
{| class="wikitable"
|+Singular Indefinite Pronouns
! colspan="4" |third person singular conjugation = ''"s"'' as in ''it goes, it is, it seems''
|-
!indefinite pronoun
!as pronoun
!with preposition
!as determiner
|-
|anyone / anything
|''anything will do''
|''n/a''
|''n/a''
|-
|''each''
|''each goes well''
|''each of them goes well''
|''each dress is pretty''
|-
|''either''
|''either works''
|''either of them works''
|''either choice will do''
|-
|''every / everyone / everything''
|''everyone wants some''
|''everyone of them wants some''
|''every child loves candy''
|-
|''much''
|''much is missing''
|''much of that is gone''
|''much fun was had''
|-
|''neither''
|''neither agrees''
|''neither of them agrees''
|''neither witness agrees''
|-
|''no one''
|''no one feels''
|''n/a''
|''n/a''
|-
|''nothing''
|''nothing is good''
|''n/a''
|''n/a''
|-
|''one / someone''
|''one wants''
|''one of them wants''
|''one boy wants''
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Plural Indefinite Pronouns
! colspan="4" |third person plural conjugation = ''they are, they go, they believe (no "s")''
|-
!indefinite pronoun
!pronoun example
!with preposition
!as determiner
|-
|all
|all are fine
|all of them are fine
|all choices work
|-
|both
|''both are fine''
|both of them are fine
|both choices work
|-
|few
|''few go there''
|few of them go
|few people go
|-
|many
|''many are the brave''
|many of them are
|many people are
|-
|others
|''others know enough''
|
|
|-
|several
|several are bringing lunch
|
|
|-
|
|
|
|
|}
{| class="wikitable"
|+Singular or Plural Indefinite Pronouns
! colspan="3" |third person plural conjugation = ''they are, they go, they believe (no "s")''
|-
!indefinite pronoun
!singular
!plural
|-
|all
|''all is well here''
|all are well
|-
|any
|''any of them is fine''
|any of them are okay
|-
|most
|the most works
|most work
|-
|none
|''none goes well''
|none go well
|-
|some
|some is enough
|some are not enough
|-
|
|
|
|}


Between you and I, grammar sucks.  x b/c I = subjective
* '''''each, every, few, some,''''' etc. can be either a determiner (modifier) or pronoun
 
** as determiners, these words modify a noun:
Between you and me, grammar sucks.
*** ''every person thinks so, few people think so''
 
*** some bees sting, all vehicles
The car stopped right in front of the dog and he.
** as pronouns, they are the subject of a sentence
 
The car stopped right in front of the dog and him.


== Adjective ==
== Adjective ==
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**** and it means the same thing
**** and it means the same thing


== Misc skills and assessment topics ==
== Adverb ==
 
* adverb modifies a verb, adjective or other adverb
* in the high school entrance exam, the adverb may be measured by <u>confusion with an adjective</u>
* ex.
** ''She ran home quick'' << incorrect, as "quick" modifies the verb "ran" so it needs to be the adverb, "quickly"
** ''She ran home quickly'' << correct
** ''He yelled angry at the man'' << incorrect as "angry" is an adjective, which modifies a noun
** ''He yelled angrily'' << correct
*** or ''He is angry'' << the adjective "angry" is the subject complement connected by the linking verb "is"
 
* adverbs that do not use the '''''-ly'''''
 
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!adverb
!adjective
|-
|better
|better
|-
|fast
|fast
|-
|hard
|hard
|-
|late
|late
|}
 
== prepositions ==
 
* prepositions create a "prepositional phrase" that adds information to a noun, verb, or a sentence, generally
** prepositional phrase = <u>preposition</u> + <u>object of the preposition</u>
* prepositions create a relationship between the modified element and the <u>object of the preposition</u>
** that relationship depends on the preposition
** i.e. the prepositions relate their objects to the rest of the sentence
** prepositions include:
*** '''''about, above, among, at, before, between, by, down, during, for, in, into, near, next to, on, out, out of, to, toward, until, up, upon'''''
 
{| class="wikitable"
!Subject-Verb
!preposition
!object
!incorrect preposition
|-
|
| colspan="2" | -- prepositional phrase --
|
|-
|''We sat''
|'''''in'''''
|''the grandstand''
|''We sat '''for''' the grandstand''
|-
|''Every afternoon we go''
|'''''to'''''
|''the bakery''
|''Every afternoon we go '''on''' the bakery''
|-
|''The shady spot is''
|'''''under'''''
|''the tree''
|''The shady spot is '''over''' the tree''
|-
|''Stop reading''
|'''''at'''''
|''the chapter's end''
|''Stop reading '''for''' the chapter's end''
|}
 
== homophones ==
* words that sound the same (or about the same) but spell and mean differently
 
* high school assessment tests will commonly use:
* '''''accept, except'''''
** accept = verb, to welcome or admit
*** ''The school '''accepted''' me!''
** except = adverb, indicating not included; used similarly to "but"
*** ''Every school '''except''' one accepted me.''
* '''''I have, I'd'''''
* '''''its, it's'''''
** ''its'' = singular possessive pronoun
** ''it's'' = contraction of "it is"
* '''''there, they're, their'''''
** ''there'' = indicates specificity or location
** ''they're'' = contraction of "they are"
** ''their'' = plural possessive pronoun
* '''''then, than'''''
** ''then'' = indicates a chronology (next) or a prior time ("since then")
** ''than'' = makes a comparison
* '''''to, too, two'''''
** ''to'' = preposition (or particle) indicating a direction or purpose
** ''too'' = also
*** ''two'' = 2
* '''''wear, we're, were, where'''''
** ''wear'' = to have clothes on
** ''we're'' = contraction of "we are"
** ''were'' = plural simple past tense of "to be"
** ''where'' = indicates location or situation
* '''''who's, whose'''''
** ''who's'' = contraction for "who is"
** ''whose'' = possessive form of the pronoun "who"
* '''''you're, your'''''
** you're = contraction for "you are"
** your = possessive form of "you"
* others may include:
** '''''capital, capitol'''''
*** ''capital'' = the offical or main city or place of a state or country
**** can also mean: "money," "head of"
*** ''capitol'' = the building in which the government resides or operates
** '''''site, cite, sight'''''
** '''''fare, fair'''''
** '''''peace, piece'''''
* note: compare to ''homonyms'', which are words that spell the same but pronounce or mean differently
** ex. "bark" can mean the sound a dog makes or the skin of a tree
** high school and college admissions tests will not measure this concept
 
== Redundancy ==
 
* in word usage and writing, we want to avoid unnecessary <u>repetition</u> (redundancy) of words or ideas
* '''''again, also, back'''''
** ''The clerk refunded '''back''' the money''  << refund = to give back, so "back" is redundant
** ''In addition, we '''also''' saw the zebras.''  << in addition = also, so "also" is redundant
 
* <u>note</u>: college admissions tests will also test for redundancy, such as:
** ''Runoff water storage also increases savings on water costs.''  << where "savings" and "costs" are rendundant
 
== Misc concepts, skills & words ==
 
=== double negative ===
 
* look for negative words that create a "double" or redundant negative
* usually the first nagative will be hiddent in a contraction
** ''didn't, couldn't, won't,'' etc.
* ex.
** ''She coudn't find it no where'' <<incorrect double negative
** ''Janie didn't see nobody'' << incorrect double negative


=== either/or vs. neither/nor ===
=== either/or vs. neither/nor ===
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** just know that ''either'' goes with ''or'' and ''neither'' goes with ''nor''
** just know that ''either'' goes with ''or'' and ''neither'' goes with ''nor''


=== homophones ===
**


* words that sound the same but spell differently
=== many v. much ===


* high school will commonly use:
* '''many''' is for nouns that can be counted
** ''there, they're, their''
** ''He's owns many shoes.''
*** ''there'' = indicates specificity or location
* '''much''' is used for nouns that cannot be counted (non-count nouns)
*** ''they're'' = contraction of "they are"
** ''There is much work to do.''
*** ''their'' = plural possessive pronoun
** Noncount nouns include
** ''its, it's''
*** ''art, electricity, happiness, money, music, rice, water, etc.''
*** ''its'' = singular possessive pronoun
*** note that these non-count nouns are singular ("art is...")
*** ''it's'' = contraction of "it is"
 
** ''then, than''
=== nothing v. any ===
*** ''then'' = indicates a chronology (next) or a prior time ("since then")
 
*** ''than'' = makes a comparison
* '''''nothing''''' indicates an absence of something
* college admissions tests may also use:
* '''''any''''' indicates a lack of or generality of something
** ''site, cite, sight''
** ''are there any people here?'' < asks if anyone is possibly there?
** ''fare, fair''
** ''nothing is going on'' << indicates an absolute absence
* note: compare to ''homonyms'', which are words that spell the same but pronounce or mean differently
** ex. "bark" can mean the sound a dog makes or the skin of a tree
** high school and college admissions tests will not measure this concept


=== questions ===
=== questions ===


* a narrator may ask a question that seems like a spoken quotation, but it may not need quotation marks
* a narrator may ask a question that seems like a spoken quotation, but it may not need quotation marks
** ex.
** ex.''What are we doing next?''
*** ''What are we doing next?''  
*** as opposed to
**** as opposed to
*** ''"What are we doing next?" Steve asked''
**** ''"What are we doing next?" Steve asked''
**** note that the question mark replaces the comma
* tests may present a question that contains an error in "has" or "had" for a question
* tests may present a question that contains an error in "has" or "had" for a question
** turn the question into a statement and see if the subect-verb match is correct
** turn the question into a statement and see if the subect-verb match is correct
Line 842: Line 1,284:
*** ''Mr. Jackson told us to sit down.''
*** ''Mr. Jackson told us to sit down.''
*** ''If you're hungry, let me know.''
*** ''If you're hungry, let me know.''
*** ''Jerry, leave your paper right there.''
* commands with a stated name do not need quotation marks:
** ''Jerry, leave your paper right there.''
 
* when a relative clause is employed following "stated" or "said," the quotation mark is not needed:
* when a relative clause is employed following "stated" or "said," the quotation mark is not needed:
** ex.  ''She said the test was super easy''
** ex.  ''She said the test was super easy''
*** = ''She said [that] the test was super easy''
*** = ''She said [that] the test was super easy''
**** so quotation marks are not necessary
**** so quotation marks are not necessary
=== "that there" error ===
* ''That there dog is mean''  << incorrect because "that" and "there" are used incorrectly as adverbs to modify noun
* it could be written:
** ''That dog there is mean''
*** "there" is now an adverb modifying the verb "is"
*** and "that" is a determiner (indicates a specific dog, as in "that one")
* or, if "that" is used as a relative pronoun:
** ''What he means to say is '''that''' there are too many to choose from.'' < "that" = relative pronoun, and "there" is an adverb
[[Category:Language Arts]]
[[Category:Grammar]]
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