COMM 100 > Grammar Rules > Flashcards

Grammar Rules Flashcards

(53 cards)

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1
Q

Noun

A

Person

place

thing(computer, love)

activity(soccer)

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2
Q

Common noun

A

Generic/ general noun and in lower cases

Refers to football team instead of GREEN BAY PACKERS

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3
Q

Proper noun

A

Specific noun

Refers to one and only one person place or thing

Paul Charles, Canada,

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4
Q

Compound nouns

A

Words double up to express a whole that is more than the sum of its parts

Can be made of common nouns (bus ride)
Can be made of proper nouns (Central America)
Or both (Galatia highlands)

Can be open compounds (acid trip)
Can be closed compounds (daylight)

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5
Q

Pronouns

A

Replace nouns in a sentence
Ex. (Him, I, it)

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6
Q

Antecedent

A

Original noun replaced by a pronoun

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7
Q

Missing/ faraway antecedents

Problem with pronouns

A

When you don’t know what the pronoun is referring to BUT you can figure it out by context clues

Ex.

Breathe in through your nose and hold it.

What is it referring to, nose or breath

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8
Q

Anticipatory antecedents

Problem with pronouns

A

When the antecedent is too early in the sentence and you have to finish to know what it’s talking about

Ex.

If it is available, be sure to order the champagne

Should be if the champagne is available be sure to order it

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9
Q

Ambiguous antecedents

Pronoun problems

A

When you have no idea what the pronoun refers to even after finishing the sentence

Ex.

Lizzy told her mother that her sweater had a hole in it.

Does her refer to lizzy or her mother

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10
Q

Verbs

A

Describe and action or a state of being

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11
Q

Action verb

A

Describe an action

I think, therefore I am

Think is an action verb

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12
Q

Linking verb

A

Describe a state of being

I think, therefore I am

Am is a linking verb

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13
Q

Most common grammatical issue with verbs

A

When the verbs form doesn’t match the subject

Singular subjects need singular verbs and plural subjects need plural verbs

Ex.

I thinks, therefore I are.

Doesn’t make sense

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14
Q

Subject verb agreement

A

Singular noun -> singular verb

Plural noun -> plural verb

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15
Q

If the subject contains AND

What kind of verb

A

Plural

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16
Q

If the subject contains OR or NOR

What kind of verb

A

Singular verb

Ex. Neither susan nor her mother enjoys running

A trick to remember is that you can say

Neither one enjoys running

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17
Q

Words that indicate a singular verb

A

Anybody

Anyone

Each

Either

Everybody

Everyone

Neither

Nobody

No one

Somebody

Someone

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18
Q

Plural nouns even though they’re singular things

A

Pants, scissors, jeans

Treat like plural noun even though it’s one thing

My jeans are noun

Vs my jeans is here

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19
Q

Collective nouns (singular)

A

Family. Team. Group. Herd. Etc.

Treat like singular noun

My family is going here

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20
Q

What is a preposition

A

Go before nouns to show things like time, place, and direction

At, to, on, for, by, as well as, according to

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21
Q

Syntax

A

Ordering of language

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22
Q

Sentence

Study These Flashcards
A

A grammatically complete idea

23
Q

Subject

Study These Flashcards
A

The noun/pronoun part

24
Q

Predicate

Study These Flashcards
A

The verb part of a sentence

25
“Pick up that muffin!” What the subject
You interpret the subject is you because it’s an order
26
Sentences contain 3 things
Subject Verb Complete thought
27
Dependent clause fragment
Has a subject and verb but doesn’t express a complete thought Needs an independent clause to make sense Ex. Because Joffrey died.
28
Dependent clause fragments are caused by beginning with a
Subordinate conjunction Relative pronoun (who/which/that) Relative adverb (where/when/why)
29
Subordinate conjunction
Provides a necessary transition between 2 ideas. (A transition in time, place, or cause and effect) Also reduces the importance of on clause so the reader understands which idea is more important
30
How to fix a subordinate clause fragments
Remove the subordinating word -because Joffrey died. (Joffrey died.) -since Joffrey died (Joffrey died) -although Joffrey died (Joffrey died) Also attach the subordinate fragments to an independent clause -because Joffrey died, Tommen became king -everyone is happier since Joffrey died
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Afterthought fragment
Provide additional details but do not form an independent clause Ex. Such as Dracula and Frankenstein (Many 19th century horror stories have been made into films. Such as Dracula and Frankenstein) Tend to begin with -especially, except, for example, like
33
How to fix afterthought fragment
Add the missing subject and verb -Fragment was (such as Dracula and Frankenstein) -Changed to (many 19th century horror stories have been made into Fiona’s. THESE FILMS INCLUDE Dracula and Frankenstein.) Attach the afterthought to the end of the main clause -many 19th century horror stories have been made into Fiona’s, such as Dracula and Frankenstein)
34
Run on sentence
Aka fused sentence Caused by joining 2 independent clauses without and punctuation - You keep using this word I do not think you know what it means
35
Comma splice
Caused by joining 2 independent clauses without a comma -you keep using that word,I don’t think you know what it means
36
How to fix a fused sentence or comma splice
Use a period -you keep using that word. I don’t think you know what it means Use a semicolon -you keep using that word; I don’t think you know what it means Keep the comma and add a coordinating conjunction -you keep using that word, BUT I don’t think you know what it means Use a subordinate conjunction to turn one independent clause into a dependent clause -ALTHOUGH you keep using that word, I don’t think you know what it means -you keep using that word even though I don’t think you know what it means
37
Coordinating conjunction
Fanboys For And Nor But Or Yet So
38
Use a Semi colon or colon? List
Colon I read three books this summer: ahh,hahaha, and blah blah. The the colon attaches an independent clause to something else. That is, the words that come before the colon could stand on their own as a complete sentence
39
Use a Semi colon or colon? Explanation
Colon Shakespeare was a prolific playwright: he wrote at least 37 plays during his life The the colon attaches an independent clause to something else. That is, the words that come before the colon could stand on their own as a complete sentence
40
Use a Semi colon or colon? Quotation
Colon Lysander reveals his love early on in the play: “the course of true love never did run smooth.” The the colon attaches an independent clause to something else. That is, the words that come before the colon could stand on their own as a complete sentence
41
Use a colon or semicolon? When parts of a sentence have equal weight
Semicolon Mary drives a Mercedes; Joan drives a Chevrolet. Used to join 2 related sentences
42
Which one is correct Heavy rain continued to fall; consequently, all bridges have been closed. Heavy rain continued to fall, consequently, all bridges have been closed. Heavy rain continued to fall; consequently all bridges have been closed.
1st one Be careful when using a semicolon to join a sentence that begins with a conjunctive adverb (however. Therefore. Consequently). You still need to keep the comma after it
43
Correct or incorrect Although they tried; they failed
Incorrect Semicolons can only be used to join 2 complete sentences. If you replace the semicolon with a period you can see if it’s correct Although they tried. They still failed. Although the tried isn’t a sentence on its own
44
Colon is used to
Explain something in more detail Identify a set of things explicitly
45
Semicolon
Links 2 sentences that might have stood on their own, but it throws their relationship into particular focus
46
What are apostrophe uses
Indicate missing letters -contractions: don’t -dialect: I saw ‘em talkin’. Indicate possession -ownership:Tom’s shirt -residence: Jacob’s room -relationships: Tyrion’s squire is podrick -fixed expressions: a day’s work
47
How to tell if a noun is possessive
If you can rewrite the phrase using of, the noun is possessive Ex. The journey’s end -> the end of the journey
48
How to make nouns possessive Singular nouns
Add an apostrophe followed by s -The cat’s food
49
How to make nouns possessive Singular nouns ending in s
Add an apostrophe followed by s -the rinoceros’s pipe OR Add an apostrophe -the rhinoceros’ pipe
50
How to make nouns possessive Plural nouns
Add an apostrophe followed by s The children’s school
51
How to make nouns possessive Plural nouns ending in s
Add an apostrophe The cats’ food
52
Compound possession
Mary and Paul’s beliefs -share the same beliefs Mary’s and Paul’s beliefs -have individual beliefs
53
Possessive pronouns rule for apostrophe
Never take an apostrophe My. Yours. Hers. Ours. Its.
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