Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Lesson 197 - Parts of the Sentence - Objective Complement

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An objective complement can be a noun or an adjective which follows the direct object renaming or modifying it. It is used with verbs like make, name, call, choose, elect, and appoint. It is not set off with commas as an appositive is. 
 
Example: 
I call my dog Badger (noun).

A verb that has an objective complement in the active voice may in the passive voice have a predicate nominative or a predicate adjective
 
Example: 
I call my dog Badger. (objective complement)
My dog is called Badger by me. (predicate nominative)
 
Example: 
I consider my dog smart. (objective complement)
My dog is considered smart by me. (predicate adjective)

Instructions: Find the objective complements in the following sentences and tell whether they are nouns or adjectives.

1. The man down the lane calls his farm Alfalfa.

2. The sergeant appointed the new recruit leader of the group.

3. Diligent practice can make one a skilled person.

4. Many people named Lincoln the best President.

5. Your irritableness makes everyone moody.


--For answers scroll down.













Answers:

1. The man down the lane calls his farm Alfalfa.
    - Alfalfa - noun

2. The sergeant appointed the new recruit leader of the group.
    - leader - noun

3. Diligent practice can make one a skilled person.
    - person - noun

4. Many people named Lincoln the best President.
    - President - noun

5. Your irritableness makes everyone moody.
    - moody - adjective



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Lesson 397 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Italics & Underlining

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Italicize figures, letters, signs and words referred to as words. 
 
Example: 
How many j's are there in your brother's name?
 
Material that is italicized in print or by computer is underlined in typewritten or hand written work.

Instructions: Italicize those words, figures, letters, or signs which need italics in these sentences.

1. Have you crossed your t's and dotted your i's?

2. I am tired of all your answers being wait.

3. Do not use &'s in place of and's in your paper.

4. Your m's look like w's most of the time.

5. There are three 5's in her phone number.


--For answers scroll down.













Answers:

1. Have you crossed your t's and dotted your i's?

2. I am tired of all your answers being wait.

3. Do not use &'s in place of and's in your paper.

4. Your m's look like w's most of the time.

5. There are three 5's in her phone number.



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Monday, June 22, 2026

Lesson 196 - Parts of the Sentence - Objective Complement

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An objective complement can be a noun or an adjective which follows the direct object renaming or modifying it. It is used with verbs like make, name, call, choose, elect, and appoint. It is not set off with commas as an appositive is. 
 
Example: 
I call my dog Badger (noun).

A verb that has an objective complement in the active voice may in the passive voice have a predicate nominative or a predicate adjective
 
Example: 
I call my dog Badger. (objective complement)
My dog is called Badger by me. (predicate nominative)
 
Example: 
I consider my dog smart. (objective complement)
My dog is considered smart by me. (predicate adjective)

Instructions: Find the objective complements in the following sentences and tell whether they are nouns or adjectives.

1. Have you named Mr. Jones temporary chairman?

2. We called the boy on the horse Jock.

3. The team elected the twins co-captains.

4. The explorers found the old building empty.

5. Our present renters have kept the apartment clean.


--For answers scroll down.













Answers:

1. Have you named Mr. Jones temporary chairman?
    - chairman - noun

2. We called the boy on the horse Jock.
    - Jock - noun

3. The team elected the twins co-captains.
    - co-captains - noun

4. The explorers found the old building empty.
    - empty - adjective

5. Our present renters have kept the apartment clean.
    - clean - adjective



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Lesson 396 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Italics & Underlining

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Italicize foreign words not yet accepted as part of our language. 
 
Example: 
Do this tout de suite.
 
Material that is italicized in print or by computer is underlined in typewritten or hand written work.

Instructions: Italicize those words which need italics in these sentences.

1. Sarah likes the expression tout a fait.

2. Have you ever noticed how tempus fugit?

3. Everyone has heard c'est la vie.

4. Tanto faz is my favorite foreign phrase.

5. Some people always have to have the dernier cri.


--For answers scroll down.













Answers:

1. Sarah likes the expression tout a fait.

2. Have you ever noticed how tempus fugit?

3. Everyone has heard c'est la vie.

4. Tanto faz is my favorite foreign phrase.

5. Some people always have to have the dernier cri.



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Saturday, June 20, 2026

Quiz for Lessons 191-195 - Parts of the Sentence - Review

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Instructions: Using all the knowledge learned in the previous lessons, find the verbs (v), subjects (subj), predicate nominatives (pn), direct objects (do), appositives (app), nouns of address (na), adjectives (adj), predicate adjectives (pa), adverbs (adv), prepositions (prep), objects of the preposition (op), prepositional phrases (p ph), and indirect objects (io) in the following sentences.

1. The car dealer gave Jim a low price for his old car.

2. Will wanted a job at the ranger station.

3. My neighbors brought me some candy and a basket of fruit for my birthday.

4. We gave the man the name of a lodge near Trial Lake.

5. An unknown donor gave the hospital a million dollars for research.

6. The frightening experience taught the child some important lessons.

7. You should have given Boyd and me more time.


--For answers scroll down.













Answers:

1. gave = v; dealer = subj; price = do; Jim = io; the/car = adj modifying dealer; a/low = adj modifying price; for his old car = p ph modifying either gave or price; for = prep; car = op; his/old = adj modifying car

2. wanted = v; Will = subj; job = do; a = adj modifying job; at the ranger station = p ph modifying job; at = prep; station = op; the/ranger = adj modifying station

3. brought = v; neighbors = subj; candy/basket = do; me = io modifying brought; my = adj modifying neighbors; some = adj modifying candy; a = adj modifying basket; of fruit modifying basket/for my birthday modifying brought = p ph; of/for = prep; fruit/birthday = op; my = adj modifying birthday

4. gave = v; we = subj; name = do; man = io; the = adj modifying man; the = adj modifying name; of a lodge modifying name/near Trial Lake modifying lodge = p ph; of/near = prep; lodge/Trial Lake = op; a = adj modifying lodge

5. gave = v; donor = subj; dollars = do; hospital = io; an/unknown = adj modifying donor; the = adj modifying hospital; a/million = adj modifying dollars; for research = p ph modifying gave; for = prep; research = op

6. taught = v; experience = subj; lessons = do; child = io modifying taught; the/frightening = adj modifying experience; the = adj modifying child; some/important = adj modifying lessons

7. should have given = v; you = subj; time = do; Boyd/me = io modifying should have given; more = adj modifying time



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Quiz for Lessons 391 - 395 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Colons

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Instructions: Place colons where needed.

1. Dear Chairman

2. There are four classes of poetic meter classified as follows iambic, trochaic, anapestic, and dactylic.

3. For this poll we need men, women and children.

4. The following are the three football positions that never carry the ball guard, tackle and center.

5. The polls close promptly at 800 P.M.

6. I just read Job 1414.

7. Volume 20 pages 22-28 had the material that I needed.

8. Jared showed that he was better prepared He was wearing thermal clothes.

9. Have you read The Work and the Glory So Great a Cause?

10. Consider Franklin D. Roosevelt's words to Congress "We have had the lesson before us over and over again -- nations that were not ready and were unable to get ready found themselves overrun by the enemy."


--For answers scroll down.














Answers:

1. Dear Chairman:

2. There are four classes of poetic meter classified as follows: iambic, trochaic, anapestic, and dactylic.

3. No colons needed. They are direct objects.

4. The following are the three football positions that never carry the ball: guard, tackle and center.

5. The polls close promptly at 8:00 P.M.

6. I just read Job 14:14.

7. Volume 20: pages 22-28 had the material that I needed.

8. Jared showed that he was better prepared: He was wearing thermal clothes.

9. Have you read The Work and the Glory: So Great a Cause?

10. Consider Franklin D. Roosevelt's words to Congress: "We have had the lesson before us over and over again -- nations that were not ready and were unable to get ready found themselves overrun by the enemy."



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Friday, June 19, 2026

Lesson 195 - Parts of the Sentence - Indirect Objects

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An indirect object is really a prepositional phrase in which the preposition to or for is not stated but understood. It tells to whom or for whom something is done. The indirect object always comes between the verb and the direct object
 
Example: 
She gave me a gift. (indirect object)
She gave to me a gift. (prepositional phrase)
 
The indirect object always modifies the verb. It may have modifiers and be compound. It is used with verbs such as give, tell, send, get, buy, show, build, do, make, save, and read
 
Example: 
She sent the man and me a gift. (indirect object)
She gave to the man and to me a gift. (prepositional phrases)

Instructions: Using all the knowledge learned in the previous lessons, find the verbs (v), subjects (subj), predicate nominatives (pn), direct objects (do), appositives (app), nouns of address (na), adjectives (adj), predicate adjectives (pa), adverbs (adv), prepositions (prep), objects of the preposition (op), prepositional phrases (p ph), and indirect objects (io) in the following sentences.

1. At the mall Pam bought her children two new toys.

2. Tomorrow you should send your friend a thank you card.

3. The veteran pitcher threw the rookie hitter a fast-breaking curve ball.

4. The public defender gave her client her best advice.

5. Eric showed his math teacher a problem with the question.


--For answers scroll down.














Answers:

1. bought = v; Pam = subj; toys = do; children = io modifying bought; two/new = adj modifying toys; her = adj modifying children; at the mall = p ph modifying bought; at = prep; mall = op; the = adj modifying mall

2. should send = v; you = subj; card = do; friend = io modifying should send; a/thank you = adj modifying card; your = adj modifying friend; tomorrow = adv modifying should send

3. threw = v; pitcher = subj; ball = do; hitter = io modifying threw; the/veteran = adj modifying pitcher; the/rookie = adj modifying hitter; a/fast-breaking/curve = adj modifying ball

4. gave = v; defender = subj; advice = do; client = io modifying gave; the/public =adj modifying defender; her = adj modifying client; her/best = adj modifying advice

5. showed = v; Eric = subj; problem = do; teacher = io modifying showed; his/math = adj modifying teacher; a = adj modifying problem; with the question = p ph modifying problem; with = prep; question = op; the = adj modifying question



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Lesson 395 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Colons

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Instructions: Place colons where needed.

1. The statement from "Gargantua" "Half the world does not know how the other half lives." is still true today.

2. I recall Emerson's words "If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a better mouse-trap than his neighbor, though he builds his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door."

3. I am concerned about my mother She is not eating enough.

4. The meeting must include the following people Mark, Jay, Chris, and Rulon.

5. My daughters-in-law are Martha, Mary, Jane, and Jen.


--For answers scroll down.













Answers:

1. The statement from "Gargantua": "Half the world does not know how the other half lives." is still true today.

2. I recall Emerson's words: "If a man can write a better book, preach a better sermon, or make a better mouse-trap than his neighbor, though he builds his house in the woods, the world will make a beaten path to his door."

3. I am concerned about my mother: She is not eating enough.

4. The meeting must include the following people: Mark, Jay, Chris, and Rulon.

5. No colon needed. They are predicate nominatives.



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Thursday, June 18, 2026

Lesson 194 - Parts of the Sentence - Indirect Objects

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An indirect object is really a prepositional phrase in which the preposition to or for is not stated but understood. It tells to whom or for whom something is done. The indirect object always comes between the verb and the direct object
 
Example: 
She gave me a gift. (indirect object)
She gave to me a gift. (prepositional phrase)
 
The indirect object always modifies the verb. It may have modifiers and be compound. It is used with verbs such as give, tell, send, get, buy, show, build, do, make, save, and read
 
Example: 
She sent the man and me a gift. (indirect object)
She gave to the man and to me a gift. (prepositional phrases)

Instructions: Rewrite the following sentences so each has an indirect object.

1. I asked an important question of my mother.

2. Grandpa read the nursery rhymes to the grandchildren.

3. She bought a new dress for herself.

4. He did a great favor for the whole town.

5. The artist showed his most famous painting to the viewers.


--For answers scroll down.













Answers:

1. I asked my mother an important question.

2. Grandpa read the grandchildren the nursery rhymes.

3. She bought herself a new dress.

4. He did the whole town a great favor.

5. The artist showed the viewers his most famous painting.



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Lesson 394 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Colons

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Place a colon outside of quotation marks. 
 
Example: 
That reminds me of a line from "A Psalm of Life": "Let us, then, be up and doing."

Instructions: Place colons where needed.

1. When offered an alcoholic drink, one should remember Martial's line in "A Total Abstainer" "No, I really don't care for a drink."

2. Do you remember the quote from "Carpe Diem" "This day's thine own; the next may be denied."

3. A man and a wife should use a line from "The Task" "With all thy faults, I love thee still."

4. Do you agree with this line from "Lacon" "Imitation is the sincerest of flattery."?

5. Whittier says in "Ichabod" "When faith is lost, when honor dies, The man is dead!"


--For answers scroll down.













Answers:

1. When offered an alcoholic drink, one should remember Martial's line in "A Total Abstainer": "No, I really don't care for a drink."

2. Do you remember the quote from "Carpe Diem": "This day's thine own; the next may be denied."

3. A man and a wife should use a line from "The Task": "With all thy faults, I love thee still."

4. Do you agree with this line from "Lacon": "Imitation is the sincerest of flattery."?

5. Whittier says in "Ichabod": "When faith is lost, when honor dies, The man is dead!"



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, June 17, 2026

Lesson 193 - Parts of the Sentence - Indirect Objects

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An indirect object is really a prepositional phrase in which the preposition to or for is not stated but understood. It tells to whom or for whom something is done. The indirect object always comes between the verb and the direct object
 
Example: 
She gave me a gift. (indirect object)
She gave to me a gift. (prepositional phrase)
 
The indirect object always modifies the verb. It may have modifiers and be compound. It is used with verbs such as give, tell, send, get, buy, show, build, do, make, save, and read
 
Example: 
She sent the man and me a gift. (indirect object)
She gave to the man and to me a gift. (prepositional phrases)

Instructions: Find the verb, direct object, and indirect object in the following sentences.

1. The new manager offered Jay a higher position.

2. This spring Carl told us his plans for the summer.

3. Many jobs don't pay the employees much money.

4. Mr. Blower read the neighbor children some interesting stories about Australia.

5. Mr. Smith, my broker, sold my parents some stock yesterday.


--For answers scroll down.













Answers:

1. The new manager offered Jay a higher position.
    - offered = verb; position = direct object; Jay = indirect object

2. This spring Carl told us his plans for the summer.
    - told = verb; plans = direct object; us = indirect object

3. Many jobs don't pay the employees much money.
    - do pay = verb; money = direct object; employees = indirect object

4. Mr. Blower read the neighbor children some interesting stories about Australia.
    - read = verb; stories = direct object; children = indirect object

5. Mr. Smith, my broker, sold my parents some stock yesterday.
    - sold = verb; stock = direct object; parents = indirect object



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Lesson 393 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Colons

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Use a colon to introduce a long or formal quotation.

Instructions: Place colons where needed.

1. I like the words of Emerson "The true test of civilization is not the census, nor the size of cities, nor the crops--no, but the kind of man the country turns out."

2. The letter to his firm began as follows "Gentlemen We received your last order in May, 1998."

3. Article l, Section l of the Constitution of the United States reads "All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives."

4. The councilman began with these words "If we don't act now and work together, our city faces economic ruin, physical deterioration, and cultural decline. The issues are critical, and the system of government under which we now function must be changed."

5. He said "I will join your group tomorrow."


--For answers scroll down.













Answers:

1. I like the words of Emerson: "The true test of civilization is not the census, nor the size of cities, nor the crops--no, but the kind of man the country turns out."

2. The letter to his firm began as follows: "Gentlemen: We received your last order in May, 1998." (Two colons)

3. Article l, Section l of the Constitution of the United States reads: "All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives."

4. The councilman began with these words: "If we don't act now and work together, our city faces economic ruin, physical deterioration, and cultural decline. The issues are critical, and the system of government under which we now function must be changed."

5. He said, "I will join your group tomorrow." (use only a comma since the quote is not long nor formal)



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Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Lesson 192 - Parts of the Sentence - Indirect Objects

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An indirect object is really a prepositional phrase in which the preposition to or for is not stated but understood. It tells to whom or for whom something is done. The indirect object always comes between the verb and the direct object
 
Example: 
She gave me a gift. (indirect object)
She gave to me a gift. (prepositional phrase)
 
The indirect object always modifies the verb. It may have modifiers and be compound. It is used with verbs such as give, tell, send, get, buy, show, build, do, make, save, and read
 
Example: 
She sent the man and me a gift. (indirect object)
She gave to the man and to me a gift. (prepositional phrases)

Instructions: Find the verb, direct object, and indirect object in the following sentences.

1. Has Terri shown Jeanne and Barbara her new ring?

2. The new highway saved the travelers several miles.

3. Did the workers give the spies confidential information?

4. Will Jim get us tickets to the game?

5. I bought Ila and Jeff two big pieces of cake.


--For answers scroll down.














Answers:

1. Has Terri shown Jeanne and Barbara her new ring?

2. The new highway saved the travelers several miles.

3. Did the workers give the spies confidential information?

4. Will Jim get us tickets to the game?

5. I bought Ila and Jeff two big pieces of cake.



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 392 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Colons

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Use a colon to separate two complete sentences when the second sentence explains, amplifies, or illustrates the first. 
 
Example: 
Jim had a good idea: He wanted to consult with the builder.

Instructions: Place colons where needed.

1. There has been no change in our plans. We will leave at 1000 P.M.

2. He stated his plans. He would borrow money; he would secure a plane; he would fly around the world.

3. That morning the people saw the problem. During the night a tree had downed the power lines.

4. Now the men knew what to do. The pressure would be increased in the forward compartment.

5. They were worried about Fred. He would fall asleep at work and spend too much time alone.


--For answers scroll down.












Answers:

1. There has been no change in our plans: We will leave at 10:00 P.M. (two colons)

2. He stated his plans: He would borrow money; he would secure a plane; he would fly around the world.

3. That morning the people saw the problem: During the night a tree had downed the power lines.

4. Now the men knew what to do: The pressure would be increased in the forward compartment.

5. They were worried about Fred: He would fall asleep at work and spend too much time alone.



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.