Chapter 2 Writing Correct Sentences

Writing Correct SentencesChapter 2

Writing Correct SentencesDo you carry around a backpack? It should contain pens and pencils, notebooks, folders of assignments, and a planner—everything the student needs for a successful day at school. When you have the right tools, your day moves ahead smoothly.

Writing Correct SentencesIn this Chapter, you will get the tools you need to write correct sentences. You will learn some rules for using words correctly in your sentences. You will learn how to use verb forms correctly. You will also learn ways to join related sentences. These tools will help you build sentences that express your ideas clearly.

Goals for LearningTo make the subject of each sentence agree with the verbTo use regular and irregular verbs correctlyTo understand verbs, verb phrases, and verb tensesTo use conjunctions to combine related sentences and to connect related words and phrasesTo improve sentences with subordinating clauses

Key Vocabulary WordsSingular Referring to one person, place, thing, or ideaPlural Referring to more than one person, place, thing, or ideaIndefinite pronoun A pronoun that refers to people, places, things, or ideas in a general wayRegular verb A verb that forms its past tense and past participle by adding –edor –d to the present tense

Key Vocabulary WordsPast participle The verb form that you use to form the perfect tensesIrregular verb A verb that does not form its past tense and past participle by adding –edor –d to the present tensePerfect tense The present perfect, past perfect, or future perfect tense of a verb; a verb form that is made from a past participle and a form of haveAction verb A verb that tells what the subject of a sentence did, does, or will doState-of-being verb A verb that tells about the condition or the subject of a sentence

Key Vocabulary WordsSimple tense The present, past, or future tense of a verbIndependent clause A group of words with a subject and a predicate that expresses a complete thought; a sentenceDependent clause A group of words with a subject and a predicate that does not express a complete thoughtSubordinating conjunction A conjunction that joins a dependent clause to an independent clause

Making the Subject and Verb AgreeLesson 2-1

ObjectivesTo make the subject of a sentence agree with the verbTo identify the tense of a verbTo decide if a subject is singular or pluralTo identify the number and gender of a pronoun

Making the Subject and Verb AgreeThe subject of the sentence can be singular or plural. A singular subject refers to one person, place, thing, or idea. A plural subject refers to more than one person, place, thing, or idea.The verb is the main word in the predicate of a sentence. The verb must agree with the subject in number (singular or plural). The present tense of a verb has two forms. You use one form with a singular subject. You use the other form with a plural subject.

Making the Subject and Verb AgreeRule 1 When a subject is singular, add –s or -esto the present tense of the verb.EXAMPLE 1The snow falls gently. (Snow is a singular noun.)Sonia takes her violin to school. (Sonia is a singular noun.)

Making the Subject and Verb AgreeRule 2 When a subject is plural, do not add –s or –esto the present tense of the verb.EXAMPLE 2The students run. (Students is a plural noun.)The dancers whirl around the floor. (Dancers is a plural noun.)Sonia and Brandon enjoy music. (Sonia and Brandon is a plural noun.)

Making the Subject and Verb AgreeRule 3 The past tense of a verb has only one form. All regular past-tense verbs end in –ed.EXAMPLE 3Brandon played baseball yesterday. (Brandon is a singular noun.)Several friends played baseball together. (Friends is a plural noun.)

Making the Subject and Verb AgreeThe subject of a sentence can be a noun or a pronoun. A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun.Rule 4 A singular pronoun replaces a singular noun. A plural pronoun replaces a plural noun.Rule 5 The verb must agree in number with the pronoun subject.Sonia crossed the street. (Sonia is a singular noun.)She crossed the street. (She is a singular pronoun.)The band members gather here. (Members is plural.)They gather here. (They is plural.)

Making the Subject and Verb AgreeIndefinite pronouns refer in a general way to people, places, things, and ideas. Some indefinite pronouns are singular. Some are plural. Some can be either, depending on how you use them.

Making the Subject and Verb AgreeEXAMPLE 5Everybody works. (Everybody is a singular pronoun.)Both need help. (Both is a plural noun.)Most of the group walks to school. (Most is singular here.)Most of the students want lunch. (Most is plural here.)

Using Irregular VerbsLesson 2-2

ObjectivesTo form the past tense and past participle of a regular verbTo write the perfect tenses of a regular verbTo use the forms of have correctlyTo identify the correct forms of an irregular verb

Using Irregular VerbsMost of the verbs in English are regular verbs. To form the past tense or the past participle of a regular verb, you add –edor –d. A past participle is a verb form.The past tense and past participle of an irregular verb are created in a different way.EXAMPLE 1

Using Irregular VerbsUse has with a singular subject. Use have with a plural subject.EXAMPLE 2Derek has a job.The workers have a new schedule.

Using Irregular VerbsWhen you use have as a helping verb with a past participle, you form a perfect tense of the verb. The perfect tenses are present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect.EXAMPLE 3

Using Irregular VerbsThere are many irregular verbs. Although there are more regular verbs than irregular ones, you use some irregular verbs very often.For some irregular verbs, the past tense is the same as the past participle.EXAMPLE 4

Using Irregular VerbsFor some irregular verbs, the past tense is different from the past participle.EXAMPLE 5

Using Irregular VerbsA few verbs are extremely irregular. The present, past, and past participle forms are all different.EXAMPLE 6

Using Verbs and Verb PhrasesLesson 2-3

ObjectivesTo use action verbs in sentencesTo identify state-of-being verbsTo write verb phrases correctlyTo use logical verb tense

Using Verbs and Verb PhrasesEvery sentence must have a verb. A verb expresses an action or a state of being.An action verb tells what the subject did, does, or will do.EXAMPLE 1Derek runs five miles almost every day. (action verb)Amber met Sonia at the corner. (action verb)

Using Verbs and Verb PhrasesA verb can also express state of being. A state-of-being verb tells you something about the condition of the subject of a sentence. State-of-being verbs do not suggest action.EXAMPLE 2Amber and Sonia arefriends. (state-of-being verb)Derek seems friendly, too. (state-of-being verb)

Using Verbs and Verb PhrasesA verb can be more than one word. A main verb often has a helping verb. A helping verb combines with a main verb to form a verb phrase.EXAMPLE 3Brandon will jog in the morning.Brandon and Derek have been friends for a long time.

Using Verbs and Verb PhrasesA verb phrase includes a helping verb and a main verb. The main verb expresses action or state of being. The helping verb helps express tense.

Using Verbs and Verb PhrasesA verb phrase has only one main verb. It may have one, two, or three helping verbs. The main verb is always last.EXAMPLE 4By 1:00 in the afternoon, Derek had trained for two hours.He has been runningon the trail every morning.

Using Verbs and Verb PhrasesPeople take and write about events that happen at different times. In a sentence, the verb expresses tense. A verb tense tells the time when an action takes place. The three simple tenses are present, past, and future. The three perfect tenses are present perfect, past perfect, and future perfect.EXAMPLE 5Present Derek starts his job today.Past Derek started his job last week.Future Derek will start his job on Monday.Present Perfect Derek has started his job.Past Perfect Derek had started his job earlier.Future Perfect Derek will have started his job by April.

Logical Verb TenseAs a writer, you must decide whether the tense of each verb is logical. Some sentences include more than one main verb. In general, all verbs should be the same tense if the actions occur at the same time. Use different tenses to show that actions happen at different times.

Logical Verb TenseEXAMPLE 6Since Derek wanted to win, he practiced often. (Both verbs are past tense.)Every morning Amber gets up and feeds the cat. (Both verbs are present tense.)Brandon hopes that Derek will win the race. (The tenses are different.)In the last sentence above, the verb hopes is present tense. The verb phrase will win is future tense. The tenses tell you that right now, Brandon hopes that Derek will win in the future.

Using Conjunctions to Combine IdeasLesson 2-4

ObjectivesTo combine two sentences using a comma and a conjunctionTo punctuate a series of three or more itemsTo use the conjunctions and andbut correctlyTo use conjunctions that work in pairs

Using Conjunctions to Combine IdeasYou can combine short, choppy sentences about related ideas with a conjunction. A conjunction is a word that connects related words or groups of words. The most common conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.

The Conjunction AndYou can use the conjunction and to join words, phrases, and sentences.EXAMPLE 1Joining Words I enjoy swimming and jogging.Joining Phrases She looked at work and at home.Joining Sentences Write well, and the world is yours!

The Conjunction AndHere are some rules for using conjunctions.Rule 1 Connect only related ideas.Incorrect Brandon plays tennisandeats lunch.Correct Brandon plays tennis andjogs.

The Conjunction AndWhen you connect two words or phrases with a conjunction, no comma is needed. When you connect three or more words or phrases, commas are needed.Rule 2 Use commas to separate three or more words or phrases in a series.Incorrect We like tennis swimming and golf.Correct We like tennis,swimming,and golf.

The Conjunction AndRule 3 Place the last comma in a series before the conjunction.Incorrect The children were lost, tired and, hungry.Correct The children were lost, tired, and hungry.

The Conjunction AndWhen you connect two or more related sentences, you create a compound sentence.Rule 4 Use a comma before the conjunction when you combine two or more sentences.Incorrect Amber had a French test on Monday and she studied very hard.Correct Amber had a French test on Monday, and she studied very hard.

The Conjunction ButYou have learned that the conjunction and connects related ideas. You use the conjunction but to point out an exception to a statement.EXAMPLE 2I like apples and pears.I like apples but not pears.I enjoy reading, and I have many books.I enjoy reading, but I read only magazines.

The Conjunctions Or, So, and YetYou have seen how the words and andbut connect ideas in sentences. You can also use conjunctions or, so, and yet to connect ideas. You can use conjunctions to connect two or more words or phrases. You can also use them to connect two sentences.EXAMPLE 3I would like milk or juice.Will he travel by plane, or will he take the train?He said he would come by plane, yet he arrived by train.The play had begun, so everyone hurried.

Conjunctions That Work in PairsSome conjunctions work in pairs:either. . . orneither. . . nornot only. . . but alsoEXAMPLE 4You may choose to read either a novel or a play.Neither Amber nor Brandon has arrived.The kitten was not only tired but also wet and muddy.

Using Other Kinds of ConjunctionsLesson 2-5

ObjectivesTo recognize independent and dependent clausesTo identify a subordinating conjunction in a sentenceTo write a sentence using a subordinating conjunction

Using Other Kinds of ConjunctionsA sentence is also called an independent clause. It has a subject and a predicate. It also expresses a complete thought.You can also use a dependent clause in writing and speaking. A dependent clause has a subject and a predicate, but it does not express a complete thought.EXAMPLE 1Independent Clause Derek walked home.Dependent Clause Because he needed exercise.

Using Other Kinds of ConjunctionsA dependent clause begins with a subordinating conjunction. Here are some common subordinating conjunctions.

Using Other Kinds of ConjunctionsA dependent clause begins with a subordinating conjunction. It has a subject and a predicate. A dependent clause can be at the beginning or end of a sentence. It is not a complete sentence by itself, however.

Using Other Kinds of ConjunctionsFollow these rules for punctuating sentences with subordinating conjunctions.Rule 1 If the sentence begins with a dependent clause, put a comma after the clause.Rule 2 Do not use a comma if the dependent clause comes after the independent clause.EXAMPLE 2When we arrived, the play had already begun. (comma)The play had already begun when we arrived. (no comma)

Chapter 2 Writing Correct Sentences

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Chapter 2 Writing Correct Sentences