Tuesday, March 18, 2025

Lesson 432 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Parentheses

View lesson on Daily Grammar

Use parentheses to mark numbered or lettered divisions within sentences or paragraphs. 
 
Example: 
We will read the following chapters for our discussion tomorrow: (1) Africa, (2) India, and (3) Iceland.

Instructions: Use parentheses where needed in these sentences.

1. Before you turn in your paper, check 1 spelling, 2 punctuation, 3 capitalization, and 4 footnotes.

2. Our trip will take us to 1 Swanee, 2 Moreno Valley, 3 Taber, and 4 Rio de Janeiro.

3. We must set 1 our short term goals, 2 our long term goals, and 3 the ways they will be accomplished.

4. Our possible means of transportation are as follows: 1 bicycle, 2 ox cart, 3 train, 4 bus, or 5 by foot.

5. We must include 1 our family, 2 our friends, and 3 our neighbors so we don't offend anyone.


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. Before you turn in your paper, check (1) spelling, (2) punctuation, (3) capitalization, and (4) footnotes.

2. Our trip will take us to (1) Swanee, (2) Moreno Valley, (3) Taber, and (4) Rio de Janeiro.

3. We must set (1) our short term goals, (2) our long term goals, and (3) the ways they will be accomplished.

4. Our possible means of transportation are as follows: (1) bicycle, (2) ox cart, (3) train, (4) bus, or (5) by foot.

5. We must include (1) our family, (2) our friends, and (3) our neighbors so we don't offend anyone.



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 132 - Parts of the Sentence - Nouns of Address

View lesson on Daily Grammar

Nouns or nominatives of address are the persons or things to which you are speaking. They are set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma or commas, may have modifiers, and are not related to the rest of the sentence grammatically. You can remove them and a complete sentence remains. They may be first, last or in the middle of the sentence. 
 
Examples: 
John, where are you going? 
Where are you going, John
Where, John, are you going?

Instructions: Find the verbs, subjects, predicate nominatives, direct objects, and nouns of address in these sentences and tell whether the verb is transitive active (ta), transitive passive (tp), intransitive linking (il), or intransitive complete (ic).

1. Here, Mary, is a glass of water.

2. My fellowmen, there is no need for worry.

3. What happened to my car, Dad?

4. You, my friends, are so kind!

5. We have no more candy, Jeanne.


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. is = verb (ic), glass = subject, Mary = noun of address

2. is = verb (ic), need = subject, fellowmen = noun of address

3. happened = verb (ic), what = subject, Dad = noun of address

4. are = verb (il), you = subject, friends = noun of address

5. have = verb (ta), we = subject, candy = direct object, Jeanne = noun of address


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 17, 2025

Lesson 431 - Mechanics - Punctuation - Parentheses

View lesson on Daily Grammar

Parentheses are used much like the dash, but it is used to set off unimportant material that interrupts the sentence thought or structure.

Use parentheses to set off supplementary, parenthetic, or explanatory material that does not change the meaning of the main sentence. 
 
Example: 
Joe Jones (you knew him) visited me yesterday.

Instructions: Use parentheses where needed in these sentences.

1. We fished or should I say drowned worms in the murky river.

2. They listened to the teacher's stories they were very dull which gave some background for the book.

3. Terri and Mark you remember them moved to a new house last week.

4. Even though he was not qualified according to his transcripts, he knew more than most of the others.

5. Another possibility the possibilities seem endless was suggested by a person at the back of the room.


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. We fished (or should I say drowned worms) in the murky river.

2. They listened to the teacher's stories (they were very dull) which gave some background for the book.

3. Terri and Mark (you remember them) moved to a new house last week.

4. Even though he was not qualified (according to his transcripts), he knew more than most of the others.

5. Another possibility (the possibilities seem endless) was suggested by a person at the back of the room.



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 131 - Parts of the Sentence - Nouns of Address

View lesson on Daily Grammar

Nouns or nominatives of address are the persons or things to which you are speaking. They are set off from the rest of the sentence by a comma or commas, may have modifiers, and are not related to the rest of the sentence grammatically. You can remove them and a complete sentence remains. They may be first, last or in the middle of the sentence. 
 
Examples: 
John, where are you going? 
Where are you going, John
Where, John, are you going?

Because I use diagramming to teach in the classroom and can't on the internet, I will be asking you to find various parts of the sentence for the repetition. The repetition should help you remember the parts of the sentence.

Instructions: Find the verbs, subjects, predicate nominatives, direct objects, and nouns of address in these sentences and tell whether the verb is transitive active (ta), transitive passive (tp), intransitive linking (il), or intransitive complete (ic).

1. Sir, may I speak with you for a moment?

2. Jeff, are you leaving tomorrow?

3. Listen carefully to the instructions, boys and girls.

4. Fred, Anna needs your assistance for the afternoon.

5. Please, Mr. President, accept our apologies.


--For answers scroll down.











Answers:

1. may speak = verb (ic), I = subject, sir = noun of address

2. are leaving = verb (ic), you = subject, Jeff = noun of address

3. listen = verb (ic), you (understood) = subject, boys and girls = nouns of address

4. needs = verb (ta), Anna = subject, assistance = direct object, Fred = noun of address

5. accept = verb (ta), you (understood) = subject, apologies = direct object, Mr. President = noun of address


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.