Monday, March 16, 2026

Lesson 126 - Parts of the Sentence - Appositives

View Lesson - Print Lesson

An appositive is a word or group of words that identifies or renames the noun or pronoun that it follows. It is set off by commas unless closely tied to the word that it identifies or renames. ("Closely tied" means that it is needed to identify the word.) 
 
Appositives should not be confused with predicate nominatives. A verb will separate the subject from the predicate nominative. An appositive can follow any noun or pronoun including the subject, direct object, or predicate nominative.
 
Examples: 
My son Carl is a medical technician. (no commas) 
Badger, our dog with a missing leg, has a love for cats. (commas needed)

Instructions: Identify the appositives in the following sentences and tell whether they are appositives to subjects, direct objects, or predicate nominatives.

1. The neighbor boys, the twins, were excellent baseball players.

2. The girl in the red dress is Sarah, our best actress.

3. Have you read Brothers, a book by Dean Hughes?

4. There goes Grant Long, the electrical contractor.

5. My friend, Matt Matson, collects lost hubcaps.


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. twins = appositive to the subject, boys

2. actress = appositive to the predicate nominative, Sarah

3. book = appositive to the direct object, Brothers

4. contractor = appositive to the subject, Grant Long

5. Matt Matson = appositive to the subject, friend


For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Lesson 326 - Mechanics - Capitalization Review

View Lesson - Print Lesson

Instructions: Capitalize each word that needs a capital letter.

1. "yes," eric yelled, "we are glad that grandpa and grandma like trips."

2. yesterday i went with mother to see miss lomack, our dentist.

3. In the ensign magazine i found an article about mohammedanism and christianity in the middle east.

4. "there was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile,
he found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile;"

5. Did you know that professor phillips studied brahmanism in india?


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. "Yes," Eric yelled, "we are glad that Grandpa and Grandma like trips."

2. Yesterday I went with Mother to see Miss Lomack, our dentist.

3. In the Ensign magazine I found an article about Mohammedanism and Christianity in the Middle East.

4. "There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile,
He found a crooked sixpence against a crooked stile;"

5. Did you know that Professor Phillips studied Brahmanism in India?



For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Saturday, March 14, 2026

Quiz for Lessons 121 - 125 - Parts of the Sentence - Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

View Quiz - Print Quiz

Instructions: Tell whether the verbs in the following sentences are transitive active, transitive passive, intransitive linking, or intransitive complete.

1. The programs had been printed.

2. Jeff opened the door for his mother.

3. The parade began on time.

4. The weather has been very warm in November.

5. Mr. Johanson is an interesting person.

6. Winter lasts too long for me.

7. The beach was used by the entire town.

8. The apples had a sour taste.

9. Time passes rapidly during our vacation.

10. The jury made the right decision.


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. The programs had been printed.
    - transitive passive (passive voice, programs receives the action, doer omitted)

2. Jeff opened the door for his mother.
    - transitive active (door is a direct object)

3. The parade began on time.
    - intransitive complete (no receiver of action)

4. The weather has been very warm in November.
    - intransitive linking (warm is a predicate adjective)

5. Mr. Johanson is an interesting person.
    - intransitive linking (person is a predicate nominative)

6. Winter lasts too long for me.
    - intransitive linking (linking verb, long is a predicate adjective)
           -  or  -
    Winter lasts too long for me.
    - intransitive complete (action verb, no receiver of action)

7. The beach was used by the entire town.
    - transitive passive (passive voice, beach receives the action, town is the doer)

8. The apples had a sour taste.
    - transitive active (taste is a direct object)

9. Time passes rapidly during our vacation.
    - intransitive complete (no receiver of action, no predicate nominative or adjective)

10. The jury made the right decision.
      - transitive active (decision is a direct object)


For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Quiz for Lessons 321 - 325 - Mechanics - Capitalization

View Quiz - Print Quiz

Instructions: Capitalize each word that needs a capital letter.

1. We travel to anyplace where roman or greek architecture is found.

2. They have tried all the chinese restaurants in the city.

3. "he rode all unarmed and he rode all alone.
so faithful in love, and so dauntless in war,"

4. Have you read the poem "lochinvar?"

5. The little boy asked, "may I go to bed now?"

6. Have you read the exciting book harry potter and the goblet of fire?

7. "no," he answered, "but I have read the other harry potter books."

8. dear elaine,
I will be with you soon.
sincerely yours,

9. The latin language is easier to learn than the greek language.

10. little boy blue,
come blow your horn,
the sheep's in the meadow,
the cow's in the corn;


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. We travel to anyplace where Roman or Greek architecture is found.

2. They have tried all the Chinese restaurants in the city.

3. "He rode all unarmed and he rode all alone.
So faithful in love, and so dauntless in war,"

4. Have you read the poem "Lochinvar"?

5. The little boy asked, "May I go to bed now?"

6. Have you read the exciting book Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire?

7. "No," he answered, "but I have read the other Harry Potter books."

8. Dear Elaine,
I will be with you soon.
Sincerely,

9. The Latin language is easier to learn than the Greek language.

10. Little Boy Blue,
Come blow your horn,
The sheep's in the meadow,
The cow's in the corn;



For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Friday, March 13, 2026

Lesson 125 - Parts of the Sentence - Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

View Lesson - Print Lesson

Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or objects that receive the action. They are either active voice or passive voice.  
 
Transitive active verbs are the verbs in sentences with a direct object. The subject is the doer and the direct object is the receiver of the action.
 
Example: 
The boy kicked the ball 
 
Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional phrase or omitted in the sentence. The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been as an auxiliary or helping verb.
 
Examples: 
The ball was kicked by the boy
The ball was kicked hard.


Intransitive verbs have no receiver of the action. They are classified as intransitive complete or intransitive linking. 
 
Intransitive linking are sentences with a predicate nominative or predicate adjective
 
Examples: 
The girl is Mary. (predicate nominative) 
The girl is cute. (predicate adjective) 
 
Intransitive complete are all the verbs that don't fit one of the other kinds of transitive or intransitive verbs. 
 
Examples: 
The bell rang suddenly. 
The girl knitted all evening. (There is no receiver of the action.) 
They were here. (no action or predicate nominative or predicate adjective)
 

Instructions: Tell whether the verbs in the following sentences are transitive active, transitive passive, intransitive linking, or intransitive complete.

1. Father was always losing his keys.

2. The dinner was hastily prepared.

3. The strange face was seen in the window.

4. The cold man was going down the road.

5. My wife is a beautiful woman.


--For answers scroll down.












Answers:

1. Father was always losing his keys.
    - transitive active (keys is a direct object)

2. The dinner was hastily prepared.
    - transitive passive (passive voice, dinner receives the action, doer omitted)

3. The strange face was seen in the window.
    - transitive passive (passive voice, face receives the action, doer omitted)

4. The cold man was going down the road.
    - intransitive complete (no receiver of the action)

5. My wife is a beautiful woman.
    - intransitive linking (woman is a predicate nominative)


For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Lesson 325 - Mechanics - Capitalization

View Lesson - Print Lesson

Capitalize proper adjectives made from proper nouns
 
Example: French dressing, Grecian urn

Instructions: Capitalize each word that needs a capital letter.

1. I will have the caesar's salad rather than the finnish soup.

2. The mediterranean fruit fly is a threat to the cherry crop.

3. Many good stories are found in american folklore.

4. Do you want french or italian dressing on that?

5. I like the look of spanish architecture.


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. I will have the Caesar's salad rather than the Finnish soup.

2. The Mediterranean fruit fly is a threat to the cherry crop.

3. Many good stories are found in American folklore.

4. Do you want French or Italian dressing on that?

5. I like the look of Spanish architecture.



For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Lesson 124 - Parts of the Sentence - Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

View Lesson - Print Lesson

Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or objects that receive the action. They are either active voice or passive voice.  
 
Transitive active verbs are the verbs in sentences with a direct object. The subject is the doer and the direct object is the receiver of the action.
 
Example: 
The boy kicked the ball 
 
Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional phrase or omitted in the sentence. The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been as an auxiliary or helping verb.
 
Examples: 
The ball was kicked by the boy
The ball was kicked hard.

Transitive active sentences can be changed to transitive passive sentences by making the direct object the subject and putting the subject either in a prepositional phrase or omitting it. 
 
Example: 
The daughter kissed her mother on the cheek. 
The mother was kissed on the cheek by her daughter
The mother was kissed on the cheek. 
(Mother is the receiver of the action in all three sentences, but in the last two sentences mother is the subject of the sentences.)

Instructions: Transform the following transitive passive sentences into transitive active sentences by making the old subject the direct object and adding a new subject.

1. The music was practiced every day.

2. The homecoming parade has been delayed.

3. The entries must be mailed by tomorrow.

4. A solution to the problem had been sought everywhere.

5. The quilt was finally finished.


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. She practiced the music everyday.

2. The accident delayed the homecoming parade.

3. You must mail the entries by tomorrow.

4. They sought a solution to the problem everywhere.

5. The women finally finished the quilt.

Note: Your answers may vary somewhat from mine.


For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Lesson 324 - Mechanics - Capitalization

View Lesson - Print Lesson

Capitalize the first word and all nouns in the salutation of a letter. 
 
Example: My dear Mary, 
 
Capitalize only the first word of the complimentary close. 
 
Example: Yours truly,

Instructions: Capitalize each word that needs a capital letter.

1. dear uncle frank, 
your favorite nephew,

2. with fondest regards, 
dear sweetheart,

3. dear sir: 
respectfully yours,

4. dear mom and dad, 
with love,

5. your dearest friend, 
to whom it may concern:


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. Dear Uncle Frank, 
Your favorite nephew,

2. With fondest regards, 
Dear Sweetheart,

3. Dear Sir: 
Respectfully yours,

4. Dear Mom and Dad, 
With love,

5. To Your dearest friend, 
To whom it may concern:



For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Lesson 123 - Parts of the Sentence - Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

View Lesson - Print Lesson

Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or objects that receive the action. They are either active voice or passive voice.  
 
Transitive active verbs are the verbs in sentences with a direct object. The subject is the doer and the direct object is the receiver of the action.
 
Example: 
The boy kicked the ball 
 
Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional phrase or omitted in the sentence. The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been as an auxiliary or helping verb.
 
Examples: 
The ball was kicked by the boy
The ball was kicked hard.

Transitive active sentences can be changed to transitive passive sentences by making the direct object the subject and putting the subject either in a prepositional phrase or omitting it. 
 
Example: 
The daughter kissed her mother on the cheek. 
The mother was kissed on the cheek by her daughter
The mother was kissed on the cheek. 
(Mother is the receiver of the action in all three sentences, but in the last two sentences mother is the subject of the sentences.)

Instructions: Transform the following transitive passive sentences into transitive active sentences by taking the new subject from the prepositional phrase and making the old subject the direct object.

1. Consent was given by Rebecca.

2. The note was written by you.

3. Gunpowder was invented by the Chinese.

4. The prize was won by the last contestant.

5. The difficult role was played well by the understudy.


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. Rebecca gave her consent.

2. You wrote the note.

3. The Chinese invented gunpowder.

4. The last contestant won the prize.

5. The understudy played well the difficult role.

Note: Your answers may vary somewhat from mine.


For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Lesson 323 - Mechanics - Capitalization

View Lesson - Print Lesson

Capitalize the first word in every complete line of poetry.

Instructions: Capitalize each word that needs a capital letter.

1. "loveliest of trees, the cherry now
is hung with bloom along the bough,"

2. "roses are red.
violets are blue."

3. "under a spreading chestnut tree
the village smithy stands."

4. "once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore--"

5. "jack and jill
went up the hill,
to fetch a pail of water;
jack fell down,
and broke his crown,
and jill came tumbling after."


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. "Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,"

2. "Roses are red.
Violets are blue."

3. "Under a spreading chestnut tree
The village smithy stands."

4. "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious volume of forgotten lore--"

5. "Jack and Jill
Went up the hill,
To fetch a pail of water;
Jack fell down,
And broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after."



For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Lesson 122 - Parts of the Sentence - Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

View Lesson - Print Lesson

Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or objects that receive the action. They are either active voice or passive voice.  
 
Transitive active verbs are the verbs in sentences with a direct object. The subject is the doer and the direct object is the receiver of the action.
 
Example: 
The boy kicked the ball 
 
Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional phrase or omitted in the sentence. The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been as an auxiliary or helping verb.
 
Examples: 
The ball was kicked by the boy
The ball was kicked hard.

Transitive active sentences can be changed to transitive passive sentences by making the direct object the subject and putting the subject either in a prepositional phrase or omitting it. 
 
Example: 
The daughter kissed her mother on the cheek. 
The mother was kissed on the cheek by her daughter
The mother was kissed on the cheek. 
(Mother is the receiver of the action in all three sentences, but in the last two sentences mother is the subject of the sentences.)

Instructions: Transform the following transitive active sentences into transitive passive sentences by omitting the subject.

1. She put the ribbon on the package.

2. People chew the twigs for medicinal purposes.

3. The marks easily identified the trees to cut down.

4. The neighbors enjoyed the nightly chats over the fence.

5. The class play received a standing ovation on the first night.


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. The ribbon was put on the package.

2. The twigs are chewed for medicinal purposes.

3. The trees to cut down were easily identified.

4. The nightly chats were enjoyed over the fence.

5. A standing ovation was received on the first night.

Note: Your answers may vary somewhat from mine.


For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Lesson 322 - Mechanics - Capitalization

View Lesson - Print Lesson

Capitalize the first word of every direct quotation. 
 
Example: 
He asked, "Can this wait until tomorrow?"

Instructions: Capitalize each word that needs a capital letter.

1. "meet me at the station in the morning," Alice said.

2. "yes," said Rob, "it was charles dickens who wrote david copperfield."

3. She said that she would help with the party if asked.

4. The clerk said, "you cannot use a personal check for the ride."

5. "i used to live here in 1960," said the man. "it has changed a lot since that time."


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. "Meet me at the station in the morning," Alice said.

2. "Yes," said Rob, "it was Charles Dickens who wrote David Copperfield."

3. She said that she would help with the party if asked. (no capitals because it is an indirect quotation)

4. The clerk said, "You cannot use a personal check for the ride."

5. "I used to live here in 1960," said the man. "It has changed a lot since that time."



For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Monday, March 9, 2026

Lesson 121 - Parts of the Sentence - Transitive and Intransitive Verbs

View Lesson - Print Lesson

Transitive verbs are verbs that have subjects or objects that receive the action. They are either active voice or passive voice.  
 
Transitive active verbs are the verbs in sentences with a direct object. The subject is the doer and the direct object is the receiver of the action.
 
Example: 
The boy kicked the ball 
 
Transitive passive verbs have the subject receiving the action with the doer in a prepositional phrase or omitted in the sentence. The verb in the transitive passive voice always has is, am, are, was, were, be, being, or been as an auxiliary or helping verb.
 
Examples: 
The ball was kicked by the boy
The ball was kicked hard.

Transitive active sentences can be changed to transitive passive sentences by making the direct object the subject and putting the subject either in a prepositional phrase or omitting it. 
 
Example: 
The daughter kissed her mother on the cheek. 
The mother was kissed on the cheek by her daughter
The mother was kissed on the cheek. 
(Mother is the receiver of the action in all three sentences, but in the last two sentences mother is the subject of the sentences.)

Instructions: Transform the following transitive active sentences into transitive passive sentences by putting the subject in a prepositional phrase.

1. The whole state elects the governor.

2. Children from all countries love that game.

3. The critics reviewed the new Broadway play.

4. The pirates hid the treasure quickly.

5. Terri examined the bugs on the tree.


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. The governor is elected by the whole state.

2. That game is loved by children of all countries.

3. The new Broadway play was reviewed by the critics.

4. The treasure was quickly hidden by the pirates.

5. The bugs on the tree were examined by Terri.

Note: Your answers may vary somewhat from mine.


For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.

Lesson 321 - Mechanics - Capitalization

View Lesson - Print Lesson

Capitalize the titles of books, newspapers, magazines, and all other kinds of literary works. Capitalize works of art, motion pictures, and musical compositions. Do not capitalize the articles (a, an, the), prepositions, or conjunctions unless they come first or last in these titles. 
 
Examples:
Death of a Salesman 
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Instructions: Capitalize each word that needs a capital letter.

1. My favorite book is a tale of two cities.

2. Have you ever heard the song "earth angel"?

3. Jeff's theme was entitled "among the stars."

4. We take two newspapers new utah and the deseret news.

5. national geographic and reader's digest are both interesting magazines.


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. My favorite book is A Tale of Two Cities.

2. Have you ever heard the song "Earth Angel"?

3. Jeff's theme was entitled "Among the Stars."

4. We take two newspapers New Utah and the Deseret News.

5. National Geographic and Reader's Digest are both interesting magazines.



For your convenience, all of our lessons are available on our website in our lesson archive. Our lessons are also available to purchase in an eBook and a workbook format.