Lesson 418 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Hyphens

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Use a hyphen in a compound adjective in which the last word is capitalized. 

 

Example:

un-Christian

Instructions: Supply hyphens where they are needed in these sentences.

1. He was accused of unAmerican activities.

2. He would not move to New York City because he was a totally antiNew York fan.

3. Some businesses have an unEuropean attitude.

4. His unIrish sentiments caused many problems for the family.

5. Road rage certainly should be considered unChristian.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. He was accused of un-American activities.

2. He would not move to New York City because he was a totally anti-New York fan.

3. Some businesses have an un-European attitude.

4. His un-Irish sentiments caused many problems for the family.

5. Road rage certainly should be considered un-Christian.

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Lesson 417 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Hyphens

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Use a hyphen in a compound adjective that is a fraction. 

 

Example: 

You need a two-thirds majority for passage.

Instructions: Supply hyphens where they are needed in these sentences.

1. For that recipe you need one fourth cup of cream.

2. Cut off three eighths of an inch from that board.

3. That bug is only seven sixteenths of an inch long.

4. A three fifths majority is really 60 percent.

5. The bylaws require a three fourths majority to change them.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. For that recipe you need one-fourth cup of cream.

2. Cut off three-eighths of an inch from that board.

3. That bug is only seven-sixteenths of an inch long.

4. A three-fifths majority is really 60 percent.

5. The bylaws require a three-fourths majority to change them.

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Lesson 416 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Hyphens

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Use a hyphen in compound numbers between twenty-one and ninety-nine and when used in larger numbers like two hundred fifty-five. (Note that you do not use an and between any of the numbers as that would indicate a decimal point.) Ordinal numbers such as thirty-first, seventy-second need hyphens also.

Instructions: Supply hyphens where they are needed in these sentences.

1. It used to be that one had to be twenty one to vote.

2. When adding thirty four and forty two, you get seventy six.

3. One hundred thirty seven people were killed in that crash.

4. The sixty fourth running of that race was cancelled due to weather.

5. Many more privileges come to people who are sixty five or older.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. It used to be that one had to be twenty-one to vote.

2. When adding thirty-four and forty-two, you get seventy-six.

3. One hundred thirty-seven people were killed in that crash.

4. The sixty-fourth running of that race was cancelled due to weather.

5. Many more privileges come to people who are sixty-five or older.

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Quiz for Lessons 411 - 415 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

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Instructions: Supply the apostrophes in the following sentences.

1. Capn, can I bother you for a few minutes?

2. His us look just like my ns.

3. I wish everyone had the spirit of 76.

4. Its raining again, but its worth it to me.

5. I spose that you want your money back.

6. Its mother wont let me see if its okay.

7. Theyre goin to be here at four oclock.

8. Dont do that again because youre a better person than that.

9. Your mother said your ts looked like ls, and you run your sentences together with ands.

10. Ive had it with you if you shant help me pass the class.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Cap'n, can I bother you for a few minutes?

2. His u's look just like my n's.

3. I wish everyone had the spirit of '76.

4. It's raining again, but it's worth it to me.

5. I s'pose that you want your money back.

6. Its mother won't let me see if it's okay.

7. They're goin' to be here at four o'clock.

8. Don't do that again because you're a better person than that.

9. Your mother said your t's looked like l's, and you run your sentences together with and's.

10. I've had it with you if you shan't help me pass the class.

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Lesson 415 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

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Use an apostrophe to indicate the plural of letters, numbers, signs, and words referred to as words. The letter, number, sign, or word is italicized but the apostrophe and "s" ('s) is not.

Examples: 

y's

7's

&'s

and's

Material that is italicized in print or by computer is underlined in typewritten or hand written work.

Instructions: Supply the apostrophes in the following sentences.

1. Your fs look like bs when you write.

2. Your speech had too many uhs in it.

3. Your 3s and 5s need to be clearer.

4. Always spell out your ands and don't use &s in your writing.

5. There are too many etcs in this paper.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Your f 's look like b's when you write.

2. Your speech had too many uh's in it.

3. Your 3's and 5's need to be clearer.

4. Always spell out your and's and don't use &'s in your writing.

5. There are too many etc's in this paper.

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Lesson 414 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

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In writing conversation, use apostrophes to show letters omitted in colloquial or careless speech.

Example: 

He prob'ly will be playin' football.

Instructions: Supply the apostrophes in the following sentences.

1. We are all goin with you tonight.

2. I am runnin this place, and I am not wantin any help.

3. I do not want help from you r anyone else.

4. This souwestern will be a bad storm.

5. I blieve I will be going now.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. We are all goin' with you tonight.

2. I am runnin' this place, and I am not wantin' any help.

3. I do not want help from you 'r anyone else.

4. This sou'western will be a bad storm.

5. I b'lieve I will be going now.

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Lesson 413 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

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Use the apostrophe with the contraction o'clock (of the clock) and before the last two digits of a year. 

 

Example: 

I was born in '40. (the year 1940)

Instructions: Supply the apostrophes in the following sentences.

1. I graduated in 58.

2. He said that he would be here by six oclock.

3. In 41 we had the day of infamy.

4. The whole thing was over by eight oclock in 85.

5. Santa still had not come by five oclock in the morning.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. I graduated in '58.

2. He said that he would be here by six o'clock.

3. In '41 we had the day of infamy.

4. The whole thing was over by eight o'clock in '85.

5. Santa still had not come by five o'clock in the morning.

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Lesson 412 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

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Do not confuse the contractions (it's, who's, they're, you're) with the possessive pronouns (its, whose, their, your).

Instructions: Choose the correct forms from the words in parentheses in the following sentences.

1. (It's, Its) about time you started looking for (your, you're) shoes.

2. (They're, their) coming at about nine for (they're, their) children.

3. (It's, Its) mouth was sore because (it's, its) chewing all the time.

4. (Whose, who's) briefcase will you be using for (your, you're) papers?

5. (Your, You're) going to be late, but (whose, who's) going to be on time?

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. It's about time you started looking for your shoes.

2. They're coming at about nine for their children.

3. Its mouth was sore because it's chewing all the time.

4. Whose briefcase will you be using for your papers?

5. You're going to be late, but who's going to be on time?

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Lesson 411 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Apostrophes

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Use the apostrophe in writing contractions. The apostrophe shows that a letter or letters have been omitted. A pronoun and a verb or a verb with the word "not" are the commonest contractions. 

 

Examples: 

you are  =  you're

do not  =  don't

Some contractions stand for more than one pair of words. 

 

Example: 

she is  =  she's

she has  =  she's

Three contractions are irregular. 

 

shall not  =  shan't

will not  =  won't

cannot  =  can't

Instructions: Write the contractions of the following pairs of words.

1. we are  -  it is  -  you have  -  who is  -  has not

2. I will  -  I am  -  she will  -  she shall  -  I shall

3. I have  -  we shall  -  they are  -  are not  -  did not

4. he is  -  you will  -  you are  -  is not  -  had not

5. was not  -  have not  -  could not  -  we would  -  they will

6. should not  -  does not  -  there is  -  they have  -  you would

7. were not  -  would not  -  that is  -  I had  -  will not

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. we're  -  it's  -  you've  -  who's  -  hasn't

2. I'll  -  I'm  -  she'll  -  she'll  -  I'll

3. I've  -  we'll  -  they're  -  aren't  -  didn't

4. he's  -  you'll  -  you're  -  isn't  -  hadn't

5. wasn't  -  haven't  -  couldn't  -  we'd  -  they'll

6. shouldn't  -  doesn't  -  there's  -  they've  -  you'd

7. weren't  -  wouldn't  -  that's  -  I'd  -  won't

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Why is grammar important?

Grammar lays the groundwork for effective communication.  Just as an improperly configured telephone wire can cause static during a phone conversation, improper grammar can likewise affect the meaning and clarity of an intended message.

Some common errors are with sentence structure, subject/verb tense, punctuation, spelling, and other basic mechanics and parts of speech. Even something as simple as a misplaced comma can completely change the meaning of a sentence. For example: "Let's eat Grandpa." vs. "Let's eat, Grandpa."

Grammar makes written content more readable and in turn more interesting. If it is necessary to repeatedly reword sentences while reading, the flow becomes disrupted and involvement in the story halted.

How do you know when to use "is" or "are"?

When deciding which of the verbs "is" and "are" to use look at whether the subject is plural or singular.  If the subject is singular use "is," if it is plural or there is more than one subject (compound subject) use "are."

Examples: 

The cat is eating all of his food.

The cats are eating all of their food.

The cat and dog are eating all of their food.

Commas, commas, commas

We frequently get the following comment: 

"I really hate using commas. I never know when to use them." 

 

We hope this helps: http://www.dailygrammar.com/Commas.htm

Summer Break

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