Reviewing Basic Grammar

Preface



1. Getting Started: Computers, Grammar, Sentences, and Paragraphs

Standard English: Who Needs It?

Writing with the Computer

Writing Sentences

Editing Exercise

The Paragraph: An Overview

Introductory and Concluding Paragraphs

Introductions

Conclusions

Writing Paragraphs



2. The Parts of Speech: A Review

The Noun

The Pronoun

The Verb

The Adjective

The Adverb

The Preposition

The Conjunction

The Interjection

A Word of Caution

Editing Exercises

Writing Sentences: The Parts of Speech

Review Test 2-A: Parts of Speech

Review Test 2-B: Parts of Speech

Writing Paragraphs: The Topic Sentence and Unity in the Paragraph



3. Finding the Subject and the Verb in the Sentence

The Subject and the Verb

Finding the Verb

Action Verbs

Linking Verbs

Words Mistaken for the Verb

Finding the Subject

Subjects and Other Words in the Sentence

Simple and Complete Subjects

Compound Subjects

Subjects in Inverted Sentences

Subjects with Verbs in Active and Passive Voice

Subjects and Prepositional Phrases

Subjects and Verbs in Compound and Complex Sentences

Editing Exercises

Writing Sentences: Identifying Subjects and Verbs

Review Test 3-A: Finding the Subject and the Verb in the Sentence

Review Test 3-B: Finding the Subject and the Verb in the Sentence

Writing Paragraphs: Coherence in the Paragraph Through Chronological Order



4. Making the Subject and Verb Agree

Subject-Verb Agreement

Editing Exercises

Writing Sentences: Subject and Verb Agreement

Review Test 4-A: Making the Subject and Verb Agree

Review Test 4-B: Making the Subject and Verb Agree

Writing Paragraphs: Coherence in the Paragraph Through Spatial Order



5. Common Errors Involving Verbs

Regular Verbs

Irregular Verbs

Suggestions for Using Irregular Verbs

Using the Correct Tense

A Few Suggestions for Using the Correct Tense

Shifts in Tense

Two Pairs of Irregular Verbs: Lie and Lay and Sit and Set

Editing Exercises

Writing Sentences: The Correct Form of the Verb

Review Test 5-A: Common Errors Involving Verbs

Review Test 5-B: Common Errors Involving Verbs

Writing Paragraphs: Coherence in the Paragraph Through Order of Importance



6. Using the Correct Form of the Pronoun

The Classes of Pronouns

Personal Pronouns

Subject Pronouns

Object Pronouns

Possessive Pronouns

Relative Pronouns

Who, Which, and That/Special Uses

Intensive and Reflexive Pronouns

Some Problems with Pronouns: Who and Whom

Editing Exercises

Writing Sentences: Using the Correct Form of the Pronoun

Review Test 6-A: Using the Correct Form of the Pronoun

Review Test 6-B: Using the Correct Form of the Pronoun

Writing Paragraphs: Coherence in the Paragraph by Using Transitional Words and Phrases



7. Common Errors in Pronoun Agreement and Reference

Agreement in Number

Agreement in Person

Pronoun Reference

Avoiding Sexism in Pronoun Usage

Editing Exercises

Writing Sentences: Avoiding Common Errors in Pronoun Usage

Review Test 7-A: Common Errors in Pronoun Agreement and Reference

Review Test 7-B: Common Errors in Pronoun Agreement and Reference

Writing Paragraphs: Developing a Paragraph by Using Examples



8. Compound and Complex Sentences

Compound Sentences

Punctuating Compound Sentences

Complex Sentences

Three Kinds of Dependent Clauses

Editing Exercises

Writing Sentences: Using a Variety of Sentence Types

Review Test 8-A: Compound and Complex Sentences

Review Test 8-B: Compound and Complex Sentences

Writing Paragraphs: Developing a Paragraph by Comparison and Contrast



9. Correcting Sentence Fragments, Run-on Sentences, and Comma-Splices

Sentence Fragments

Phrases as Fragments

Dependent Clauses as Fragments

Run-on Sentences

Comma-Splices

Comma-Splices and Conjunctive Adverbs

Editing Exercise

Writing Sentences: Avoiding Fragments, Run-on Sentences, and Comma-Splices

Review Test 9-A: Correcting Sentence Fragments, Run-on Sentences, and Comma-Splices

Review Test 9-B: Correcting Sentence Fragments, Run-on Sentences, and Comma-Splices

Writing Paragraphs: Developing a Paragraph by Classification



10. Confused Sentences

Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

Illogical Comparisons

Confusing Adjectives and Adverbs

Using Adjectives after Linking Verbs

Using Adverbs to Modify Verbs

Parallel Structure

Editing Exercises

Writing Sentences: Avoiding Confused Sentences

Review Test 10-A: Confused Sentences

Review Test 10-B: Confused Sentences

Writing Paragraphs: Developing a Paragraph by Process and Analysis



11. Punctuation and Capitalization<

End Marks

The Period

The Question Mark

The Exclamation Point

Internal Punctuation

The Comma

Additional Uses of the Comma

Omitting Commas

The Semicolon

The Colon

Parentheses

The Dash

Quotation Marks

Italics

The Hyphen

The Apostrophe

Numbers

Editing Exercises

Writing Sentences: Using Correct Punctuation

Capitalization

Editing Exercises

Writing Sentences: Using Correct Capitalization

Review Test 11-A: Punctuation

Review Test 11-B: Punctuation

Writing Paragraphs: Developing a Paragraph by Cause and Effect



Appendeix A: A Checklist for the ESL Writer

Learning to Use Articles and Quantifiers

Articles (a/an and the)

Quantifiers

Problems with Verbs

The Twelve Verb Tenses

Tips for Choosing the Right Tense

Learning to Use Verb Phrases

Learning to Use Adjectives and Adverbs

Common Expressions

Using Used To

Using When and If

Using Since and For

Using -s and es

Problems with Word Order and Unnecessary Words

Adjectives

Adverbs

Repetition of the Subject

Other Problems with Grammar, Spelling, and Punctuation

Additional Reference Books for ESL Students



Appendix B: A Brief Guide for Avoiding Errors in Grammar and Usage



A Glossary of Usage

A Glossary of Grammatical Terms

Answers to Selected Exercises

Credits

Index