What are the three additional grammar topics that may help you identify the correct sentence?
(1) Connecting words
(2) Connecting punctuation
(3) Quantity
What is the purpose of a semicolon?
The semicolon connects two closely related statements; each statement must be able to stand alone as an independent sentence
*Often followed by a conjunctive adverb, such as however, therefore, or in addition
What is the purpose of a colon?
- The colon provides further explanation for what comes before it
- For example, you can use a colon to equate a list with its components
- You should be able to insert the word “namely” or the phrase “that is” after the colon
- You can put a main clause after a colon as well; the key is that this clause must explain what precedes the colon – perhaps the entire preceding clause
What is the difference between the semicolon and the colon?
- The semicolon connects two related independent clauses, but the second does not necessarily explain the first
- In contrast, the colon always connects a sentence with a further explanation
WRONG: I love listening to: classical, rock, rap, and pop music
CORRECT: I love listening to many kinds of music: classical, rock, rap, and pop
What is the purpose of a dash (–)?
-Flexible punctuation mark used as an emphatic comma, semicolon, or colon
What are examples of countable nouns?
Hats, feelings, and person/people
What are examples of uncountable nouns?
Patience, water, and furniture
What are countable modifiers?
Expressions that modify countable things
- MANY
- FEW(-ER, -EST)
- NUMBER OF
- NUMEROUS
What are uncountable modifiers?
Expressions that modify uncountable things
- MUCH
- LITTLE
- LESS
- LEAST
- AMOUNT
- GREAT
- GREATER
WRONG: There were less Numidian kings than Roman emperors
CORRECT: There were FEWER Numidian kings than Roman emperors
What modifier is used with unit nouns (e.g. money, volume)?
Use “less” with unit nouns when we really want to indicate something about the underlying quantity
E.g. We have LESS THAN twenty dollars
What words are used to compare two things and what words are used to compare three or more things?
- Two things = between
e. g. I mediated a dispute BETWEEN Maya and Kalen - Three or more things = among
e. g. I mediated a dispute AMONG Maya, Logan and Kalen
What is the difference between “The Number” and “Number Of” versus “A Number” and “The Number Of”?
-“The number of” is singular
E.g. THE NUMBER of dogs is greater than the number of cats
-“A number of” is plural
E.g. A NUMBER of dogs ARE chasing away the cats
*NOTE: “The numbers of” is almost always incorrect
What is the difference between increase/decrease versus greater/less?
- Increase/decrease express the change of one thing over time
e. g. The price of silver INCREASED by ten dollars - Greater/less signal a comparison between two things
e. g. The price of silver FELL by more than 35%
What to think when you see “Being” in an answer choice?
- Falls within the 19/20 Rule
- Fine to go ahead and eliminate answer
What to think when you see “That” in an answer choice?
- Falls within the 19/20 Rule
- If one of the remaining answer choices, likely the correct answer
