Lesson 367 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Commas

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Use a comma after a conjunctive adverb or phrases like for example, in fact, or for instance used to join two main clauses. Common conjunctive adverbs are therefore, nevertheless, moreover, consequently, furthermore, besides, then, thus, instead, accordingly, otherwise, so, yet, still, hence, however. 

 

Example: 

Jill knew she could not win; nevertheless, she kept running.

Instructions: Place commas where they are needed.

1. The trip was wonderful; in fact everyone raved about it.

2. Will wants a promotion; therefore he is working overtime.

3. I do not believe a word he says; otherwise I would listen to his presentation.

4. You seem to be well-qualified; however your price is too high.

5. Your goals are unclear to me; so I will not vote for you.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The trip was wonderful; in fact, everyone raved about it.

2. Will wants a promotion; therefore, he is working overtime.

3. I do not believe a word he says; otherwise, I would listen to his presentation.

4. You seem to be well-qualified; however, your price is too high.

5. Your goals are unclear to me; so, I will not vote for you.

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Lesson 67 - Parts of Speech - Adverbs

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The adjective good should not be used for the adverb well. Well should be used for an adjective only when it refers to health or appearance.

Instructions: Choose the correct form for each of these sentences.

1. This food tastes very (good, well).

2. Ann doesn't drive very (good, well).

3. Dad writes (good, well).

4. Becky worked (good, well) today.

5. That hot sun feels (good, well).

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. good

2. well

3. well

4. well

5. good

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Lesson 366 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Commas

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Use a comma before the co-ordinate conjunctions that join independent clauses in a compound sentence. Very short clauses joined by and may omit the comma.

 

Examples: 

Harry will leave on the next flight, but you will join him in a week. 

You wash and I will dry.

Instructions: Place commas where they are needed.

1. She walked and he ran.

2. I went to New York by train but I returned by plane.

3. I neither like you nor will I assist you in your request.

4. He will have to help or the project will not be completed.

5. The boss will be here tomorrow and we will ask for a raise.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. She walked and he ran. (no comma needed, but you would not be wrong to use one after walked)

2. I went to New York by train, but I returned by plane.

3. I neither like you, nor will I assist you in your request.

4. He will have to help, or the project will not be completed.

5. The boss will be here tomorrow, and we will ask for a raise.

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Lesson 66 - Parts of Speech - Adverbs

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People often confuse the use of some adverbs and adjectives. The next few lessons will cover some common mistakes. Remember that adjectives modify nouns or pronouns. Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

This lesson will be about the use of the adjective sure and the adverbs surely, certainly, and really. Use sure only when one of these three adverbs does not make sense.

      Examples: 

      Jim is sure he is right. 

      Surely he is right.

Instructions: Choose the correct form for each of these sentences.

1. You seem very (surely, sure) of yourself.

2. Ila (surely, sure) is tired from work.

3. The milk (surely, sure) tastes sour.

4. Are you (surely, sure) this is the right road?

5. This story (surely, sure) is exciting.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. sure

2. surely

3. surely

4. sure

5. surely

Note: Each answer in which you used surely could be substituted with the other adverbs really and certainly and still make sense.

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Quiz for Lessons 361 - 365 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Commas

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Instructions: Place commas where they are needed.

1. Within the business was in turmoil.

2. Matthew is going to law school; John to the Air Force.

3. To Jim Ryan is a hero.

4. I like Halloween; Mother Thanksgiving; Barbara Christmas.

5. The antique which avoided being broken for many years was given to my grandmother by George Washington.

6. An apple not an orange keeps the doctor away.

7. We are still going on the hike aren't we?

8. The letter sent through the mail changed the course of the war.

9. You really like her don't you!

10. A person's personality not his looks really is important in a husband.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Within, the business was in turmoil.

2. Matthew is going to law school; John, to the Air Force.

3. To Jim, Ryan is a hero.

4. I like Halloween; Mother, Thanksgiving; Barbara, Christmas.

5. The antique, which avoided being broken for many years, was given to my grandmother by George Washington.

6. An apple, not an orange, keeps the doctor away.

7. We are still going on the hike, aren't we?

8. The letter, sent through the mail, changed the course of the war.

9. You really like her, don't you!

10. A person's personality, not his looks, really is important in a husband.

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Quiz for Lessons 61-65 - Parts of Speech - Adverbs

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Instructions: Find the adverbs and tell what they modify in the following sentences.

1. After the hike my muscles were extremely tired and very sore.

2. Yesterday I had hardly completed my very hard assignment when I was rudely interrupted.

3. Gradually everyone reached the top of the mountain they had climbed before.

4. Just now he remembered his rather important assignment.

5. Often you go too far with your jokes.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. After the hike my muscles were extremely tired and very sore.

    - extremely modifies tired 

    - very modifies sore

2. Yesterday I had hardly completed my very hard assignment when I was rudely interrupted.

    - yesterday and hardly modify had completed

    - very modifies hard 

    - rudely modifies was interrupted

3. Gradually everyone reached the top of the mountain they had climbed before.

    - gradually modifies reached

    - before modifies had climbed

4. Just now he remembered his rather important assignment.

    - just modifies now

    - now modifies remembered

    - rather modifies important

5. Often you go too far with your jokes.

    - often modifies go

    - too modifies far

    - far modifies go

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Lesson 365 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Commas

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Use a comma wherever necessary for clarity to prevent misreading. 

 

Example: 

Beneath, the water sparkled brilliantly. (clear) 

Beneath the water sparkled brilliantly. (confusing)

Instructions: Place commas where they are needed.

1. To write one must spend much time revising and proofreading.

2. After washing the boy left for the game.

3. Although a real diamond mine is rather small.

4. Inside the store contained many beautiful statues.

5. When eating a person should use good manners.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. To write, one must spend much time revising and proofreading.

2. After washing, the boy left for the game.

3. Although a real diamond, mine is rather small.

4. Inside, the store contained many beautiful statues.

5. When eating, a person should use good manners.

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Lesson 65 - Parts of Speech - Adverbs

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Adverbs are words that modify (1) verbs, (2) adjectives, and (3) other adverbs. They tell how (manner), when (time), where (place), how much (degree), and why (cause). Why is a common one-word adverb that tells why. 

 

Adverbs that tell us how, when, where, and why always modify the verb. Adverbs that tell us how much modify adjectives or other adverbs. These adverbs are also called qualifiers because they strengthen or weaken the words they modify.

      Examples: 

      He kicked the ball solidly. (how)

      He kicked the ball immediately. (when)

      He kicked the ball forward. (where)

      He kicked the ball too hard. (how much)

Instructions: These sentences have adverbs that modify other adverbs and tell us how much. List all the adverbs and what they modify.

1. The carpenter worked somewhat cautiously.

2. The project was moving rather slowly.

3. The amusement ride was much too fast for me to try.

4. The program lasted much too long for Paul.

5. Halloween was too far away for little Jim.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The carpenter worked somewhat cautiously.

    - somewhat modifies cautiously

    - cautiously modifies worked

 

2. The project was moving rather slowly.

    - rather modifies slowly 

    - slowly modifies was moving

3. The amusement ride was much too fast for me to try.

    - much modifies too 

    - too modifies fast

4. The program lasted much too long for Paul.

    - much modifies too 

    - too modifies long

5. Halloween was too far away for little Jim.

    - too modifies far 

    - far modifies away  

    - away modifies was

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Lesson 364 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Commas

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Use commas to set off nonrestrictive clauses and phrases. Nonrestrictive clauses and phrases are modifiers that can be omitted without changing the meaning of the main clause. 

 

Example: 

Our new boat, which we bought last week, is a pleasure to use. 

(The adjective clause is not needed to understand the meaning of the main clause.)

Instructions: Place commas where they are needed.

1. The Jazz which is a much different team from last year start the season next week.

2. The waiter balancing two trays of food saw our signal for the check.

3. Ads which are essential to our economy are very annoying much of the time.

4. For this job we need a person who is very creative.

5. The new baby delivered in the taxi changed our lives completely.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The Jazz, which is a much different team from last year, start the season next week.

2. The waiter, balancing two trays of food, saw our signal for the check.

3. Ads, which are essential to our economy, are very annoying much of the time.

4. No comma needed. The clause "who is very creative" is needed for the meaning of the main sentence.

5. The new baby, delivered in the taxi, changed our lives completely.

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Lesson 64 - Parts of Speech - Adverbs

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Adverbs are words that modify (1) verbs, (2) adjectives, and (3) other adverbs. They tell how (manner), when (time), where (place), how much (degree), and why (cause). Why is a common one-word adverb that tells why. 

 

Adverbs that tell us how, when, where, and why always modify the verb. Adverbs that tell us how much modify adjectives or other adverbs. These adverbs are also called qualifiers because they strengthen or weaken the words they modify.

      Examples: 

      He kicked the ball solidly. (how)

      He kicked the ball immediately. (when)

      He kicked the ball forward. (where)

      He kicked the ball too hard. (how much)

Instructions: These sentences have adverbs that modify adjectives and tell us how much. List the adverbs and what they modify.

1. Ila is an unusually good cook.

2. Jeff is very hungry.

3. We all want a perfectly just government.

4. The Internet is an entirely modern concept.

5. These sentences are extremely brief ones.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Ila is an unusually good cook.

    - unusually modifies good

2. Jeff is very hungry.

    - very modifies hungry

3. We all want a perfectly just government.

    - perfectly modifies just

4. The Internet is an entirely modern concept.

    - entirely modifies modern

5. These sentences are extremely brief ones.

    - extremely modifies brief

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Lesson 363 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Commas

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Use commas to set off contrasted expressions. 

 

Example: 

His mother, not his father, is in charge.

Instructions: Place commas where they are needed.

1. Your car not your truck is the better vehicle to use.

2. My aunt not my uncle used to live here before.

3. You need to talk to the man at the end of the table not the one near the window.

4. Our track team not our baseball team won the championship.

5. Be sure to see the owner not the manager about the job.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Your car, not your truck, is the better vehicle to use.

2. My aunt, not my uncle, used to live here before.

3. You need to talk to the man at the end of the table, not the one near the window.

4. Our track team, not our baseball team, won the championship.

5. Be sure to see the owner, not the manager, about the job.

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Lesson 63 - Parts of Speech - Adverbs

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Adverbs are words that modify (1) verbs, (2) adjectives, and (3) other adverbs. They tell how (manner), when (time), where (place), how much (degree), and why (cause). Why is a common one-word adverb that tells why. 

 

Adverbs that tell us how, when, where, and why always modify the verb. Adverbs that tell us how much modify adjectives or other adverbs. These adverbs are also called qualifiers because they strengthen or weaken the words they modify.

      Examples: 

      He kicked the ball solidly. (how)

      He kicked the ball immediately. (when)

      He kicked the ball forward. (where)

      He kicked the ball too hard. (how much)

Instructions: These sentences have adverbs that modify the verb and tell us where. Find the adverbs and tell what they modify.

1. The fighter moved forward to meet his opponent.

2. There went the boy for some fun.

3. Sit here in this comfortable chair.

4. We are playing outside.

5. Where have you been?

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. The fighter moved forward to meet his opponent.

    - forward modifies moved

2. There went the boy for some fun.

    - there modifies went

3. Sit here in this comfortable chair.

    - here modifies sit

4. We are playing outside.

    - outside modifies are playing

5. Where have you been?

    - where modifies have been

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Lesson 362 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Commas

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Use a comma when words are omitted from parallel clauses in a compound sentence. 

 

Example: 

Mother baked an apple pie, and Aunt Gayle, a chocolate cake.

Instructions: Place commas where they are needed.

1. Fred asked the question; Sarah the answer.

2. I like classical music; my wife country music.

3. Ann graduated from Utah State University, and Boyd Arizona State University.

4. This box has the books, and that box the recordings.

5. Stephanie told a funny story; Alaina a scary one.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. Fred asked the question; Sarah, the answer.

2. I like classical music; my wife, country music.

3. Ann graduated from Utah State University, and Boyd, Arizona State University.

4. This box has the books, and that box, the recordings.

5. Stephanie told a funny story; Alaina, a scary one.

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Lesson 62 - Parts of Speech - Adverbs

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Adverbs are words that modify (1) verbs, (2) adjectives, and (3) other adverbs. They tell how (manner), when (time), where (place), how much (degree), and why (cause). Why is a common one-word adverb that tells why. 

 

Adverbs that tell us how, when, where, and why always modify the verb. Adverbs that tell us how much modify adjectives or other adverbs. These adverbs are also called qualifiers because they strengthen or weaken the words they modify.

      Examples: 

      He kicked the ball solidly. (how)

      He kicked the ball immediately. (when)

      He kicked the ball forward. (where)

      He kicked the ball too hard. (how much)

Instructions: These sentences have adverbs that modify the verb and tell us when. Find the adverbs and tell what they modify.

1. As the car caught fire, he jumped immediately from it.

2. Daily I go to the gym for exercise.

3. The campfire was glowing later to our surprise.

4. We will now finish the assignment.

5. The work will be done tomorrow.

--For answers scroll down.

Answers:

1. As the car caught fire, he jumped immediately from it.

    - immediately modifies jumped

2. Daily I go to the gym for exercise.

    - daily modifies go

3. The campfire was glowing later to our surprise.

    - later modifies was glowing

4. We will now finish the assignment.

    - now modifies will finish

5. The work will be done tomorrow.

    - tomorrow modifies will be done

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