The Importance of Writing with grammar and reading

The Importance of Writing (with grammar and reading) an introduction. . . “The pen is mightier than the sword. ”

The Importance of Writing § For Book Publication § Research Paper § For TOEIC writing exams § Preservation of Literature § Love Letters § Business Contracts and Agreements § Constitutional Laws, and others

Essentials in Writing city, busy

Essentials in Writing The Sentence (Subject and Predicate) The Sentence (Subject and Verb Agreement) Pronoun and Its Antecedent Agreement The Sentence and Fragment

The Sentence (Subject and Predicate) A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. Subject Predicate ü The noun or its substitute (pronoun) in the sentence. ü It is basically what is spoken of in the sentence. ü The word or phrase which expresses what is said about the subject. ü It may be simple (the verb itself), compound (two or more verbs with one subject) or complete which consists of the verb and other words which may be needed to complete thought.

The Sentence (Subject and Predicate) Look at the following examples: 1. Teachers teach. 2. Teachers teach their students. 3. Teachers teach their students how to write an essay. Subject Predicate Sentence 1. Teachers teach. 2. Teachers teach their students. 3. Teachers teach their students how to Teachers teach their write an essay students how to write an essay.

The Sentence (Subject and Predicate) Activity 1 Find the subject and predicate. 1. The teachers and students are on their campus tour. 2. The sun was shining brightly. 3. The dogs were barking loudly. 4. A rich merchant was passing by the shoemaker’s window. 5. The little tree was covered with needles instead of leaves. 6. You don’t have to wait for me. 7. We will no longer tolerate this. 8. Waiting by the school gate in the rain was my mother. 9. Occasionally the predicate comes before the subject. 10. In most English sentences the subject comes before the predicate.

The Sentence (Subject and Verb Agreement) Look at the following examples: Rules in Subject – Verb Agreement Example 1. The verb agrees with the subject in person and number. ü ü ü ü 2. The verb agrees with the subject regardless of intervening words. ü Psyche, with the compassionate river god, follows the directions to accomplish her task. ü Carl, who was the brother of John, was hit by a lightning yesterday. I want … Kenny wants … The students want … Psyche was … Poseidon is … Bryan has … John and Bryan have … It does …

The Sentence (Subject and Verb Agreement) Rules in Subject – Verb Agreement Example 3. If the idea expressed by a collective ü This organization puts on a barbecue noun is that of a single group of every summer. individuals, the verb should be singular. If ü The flute ensemble are tuning the idea expressed by the collective noun their instruments. is that of a number of individuals, the verb ü The flute ensemble is playing at the should be plural. Kiwanis Music Festival. ü A huge swarm of locusts has destroyed the crops. 4. The verb must be singular when one of ü Nobody is exempted from taking the following words is the subject: each, test. either, neither, everyone, someone, ü Everybody is encouraged to participate everybody, somebody, anyone, in the parade. nobody, no one. ü Each of these sounds causes drowsiness. ü Neither of the girls is here. ü Everyone in the class has read the novel.

The Sentence (Subject and Verb Agreement) Rules in Subject – Verb Agreement Example 5. In a compound subject, if one is singular and the other is plural, the verb agrees with the subject closer to it. ü Either the teacher or his students are working hard for the program. ü Neither the boys nor Chris is present. 6. In a compound subject when one is negative and the other is positive, the verb agrees with the positive number. ü You, not he, are to represent the section. ü The teacher, not the pupils, was late. 7. A noun that is always plural in form but singular in meaning takes a singular verb. ü Mathematics is my favorite subject. ü The news has reached the other parts of the world. 8. Few, several, and many take plural verbs when used as pronouns. ü Few of the students are studious. ü Only few have submitted their projects. 9. Sums of money and units of measurements take singular verbs. ü Five hundred pesos is too much for your allowance. ü Thirty and twenty is fifty. ü Two is better than one.

The Sentence (Subject and Verb Agreement) Activity 2 Choose the verb that agrees with its subject. 1. several (has, have) 11. Venus (returns, return) 2. many (arrives, arrive) 12. Four years (is, are) 3. Everyone (tries, try) 13. Ten pesos (was, were) 4. you (was, were) 14. Physics (is, are) 5. both (is, are) 6. no one (does, do) 15. My teacher and adviser, Miss Cherry, (speaks, speak) 7. few (does, do) 16. Nobody in my family (is, are) 8. either (looks, look) 17. Bryan, not them, (is, are) 9. anyone (sees, see) 10. it (gives, give)

The Sentence (Subject and Verb Agreement) Activity 3 Choose the verb that agrees with its subject. 1. Each of the girls (look-looks) good on skis. 2. Everybody (was-were) asked to remain quiet. 3. Neither of the men (is-are) here yet. 4. All of the milk (is-are) gone. 5. (Is-Are) each of the girls ready to leave? 6. Margo and her parents (visit-visits) each other often. 7. Either the cups or the glasses (are-is) in the dishwasher. 8. There (is-are) a dog, a cat, and a bird in the garage 9. Here into the main ring of the circus (come-comes) the trained elephants. 10. A magazine and a book (was-were) lying on the floor.

The Sentence (Subject and Verb Agreement) Activity 3 Choose the verb that agrees with its subject. 11. Mumps (is-are) one of the most uncomfortable diseases. 1 12. One hundred dollars (is-are) not a lot of money to some people. 13. She (doesn’t-don’t) look very well today. 14. Twenty minutes (is-are) the amount of time it takes me to get home from work. 15. It (doesn’t-don’t) seem so cold today. 16. Gymnastics (is-are) easy for Angela. 17. Interesting news (is-are) what sells our paper. 18. A pound of cookies (cost-costs) about a dollar. 19. They (doesn’t-don’t) think they’ll win the game tonight. 20. He (don’t-doesn’t) speak very well.

Pronoun and Its Antecedent Agreement An antecedent is a word for which a pronoun stands. (ante = "before") Carlo sang his first song during the mall tour yesterday. Antecedent Pronoun Agreement in Number Examples 1. Use a singular pronoun to refer to a ü Carlo sang his first song yesterday. singular antecedent. Use a plural ü The dancers presented their part in the pronoun to refer to a plural antecedent. program last night. 2. Use plural pronoun to refer two or more ü Rose and Jack shared their happy singular antecedents joined by –and. moments during the program. 3. Use singular pronoun to refer to two or more ü Either Charlie or Martin will be absent singular antecedents joined by on his show. –or, or –nor.

Pronoun and Its Antecedent Agreement An antecedent is a word for which a pronoun stands. (ante = "before") Agreement in Gender and Person Examples 4. A pronoun should agree with is antecedent in gender and Person. ü Cherry sang her first song yesterday. ü Can you share to me your snacks? ü One can spend his or her vacation in Boracay. Indefinite Pronouns as Antecedents Examples 5. Pronouns like anybody, anyone, anything, everyone, everything, nobody, no one, nothing, somebody, each, either, someone, neither, one, something requires singular pronoun. ü Anyone can change his or her mind. ü Something was inserted in its inlet. 6. Several, many, both, and few requires plural pronouns. ü Both have explained their sides.

Pronoun and Its Antecedent Agreement Activity 4 Most of the following sentences contain errors in agreement of pronoun and antecedent. If the sentence is correct, write C. If there is an error in agreement, write the correct form of the pronoun so that it will agree with its antecedent. 1. One of my aunts takes a great deal of pride on her furniture. 2. Knowing this, nobody in our family puts their feet on chairs or sits on beds at Aunt Mary’s house. 3. One of her brothers used to think they could be an exception to the rule. 4. Uncle Charlie would often come home late at night, undress in the darkness, and then dive into his bed, nearly knocking every slat our of their place. 5. Each of these plunges left their mark on the rickety bed. 6. At first, both Aunt Mary and my mother offered their advice to Uncle Charlie and asked him to better care of the furniture.

The Sentence and Fragment While the sentence expresses a complete thought, the fragment does not. Sentences Fragments I finished the test within an hour. ü Within an hour The students have their break after the test. ü After the test He said it’s at the tip of his tongue. ü At the tip of his tongue He said that’s simply amazing. ü Simply amazing There are now on their way home. ü On their way home They are in the speech laboratory room. ü In the speech laboratory room The room is reserved for our vice president. ü For our vice president They are ready as the contest started. ü As the contest started

The Sentence and Fragment Activity 5 If the group of words is a complete sentence, write the letter S on the line. If the group of words is a fragment, write an F on the line. 1. Yesterday when I got off the school bus. 2. My friend Sheila and I saw a brown toad hopping on the sidewalk. 3. Yelled and screamed when she saw it. 4. My friend Sheila, who is scared of all reptiles. 5. I picked up the toad and looked closely at it. 6. Had dry, bumpy skin on its body. 7. Shelia said, “I don't want to see that ugly toad!” 8. Said, “Then close your eyes Sheila. ” 9. Sheila was mad and she ran off. 10. I put the toad in my backpack.

The Sentence and Fragment Activity 5 If the group of words is a complete sentence, write the letter S on the line. If the group of words is a fragment, write an F on the line. 11. Took it home to show my brother. 12. My brother wasn't home from school yet. 13. Then I put the backpack on the living room sofa. 14. The toad was still inside. 15. My mother opened the backpack to see what homework I had. 16. Hopped out of the backpack and began jumping around the living room floor. 17. Screamed loudly! 18. Do you think my mother will let me keep the little brown toad?

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Essentials in Writing Clauses/Sentences Punctuations Capitalization

Clauses What is a clause? A clause is a word group used as a part of a sentence. ü A clause contains a verb and a subject but not all clauses express a complete thought. Those that do are called independent clauses. These clauses can be written as separate sentences. On the other hand, clauses that do not make a complete sense by themselves are called dependent clause or subordinate clauses. A clause is a word group used as a part of a sentence.

Clauses Study this example below, notice that the dependent clause can come at the beginning or end of a sentence. Example They finished the task before the class ends. Independent Clause Dependent Clause After Diego graduated from college, he moved to New York. Dependent Clause Independent Clause

Clauses Study this example below, notice that the dependent clause can come at the beginning or end of a sentence. More Examples. Independent Dependent The students were ready to go when the bell rings. I never found time to do my homework because I partied all weekend. I’m sure that man is a famous actor although I don’t remember his name. Dependent Independent If you do not study, you will never be a good student. After the show is over, we went to the hospital. When you win the lottery, you can buy me dinner.

Pronoun and Its Antecedent Agreement Clauses Activity 6 Identify whether the given statements are Independent or Dependent Clause. 1. Because he ran. 2. Until the sun sets. 3. I will say good-bye. 4. When we get snow. 5. Which is the cross between a horse and a donkey. 6. The museum contains books, letters, and documents. 7. So long as you know. 8. Don’t try it on. 9. We will go sledding. 10. I hope to work as a nurse at Lovelace hospital.

Simple Sentence What is a simple sentence? - a sentence consisting of only one clause, with a single subject and predicate. ü Must have a subject and a verb. ü Must express a complete thought. ü Must only have one clause. Example: 1. Joe went to the store. 2. Sarah and Jessie are going swimming. 3. The frog jumped and landed in the pond.

Compound Sentence What is a compound sentence? • A sentence that expresses two complete thoughts is a compound sentence. ü In a compound sentence, two independent clauses can be joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or or. Example: q Chris invited me to his birthday party, and I told him I would be there. Conjunction Independent Clause

Compound Sentence What is a compound sentence? Conjunction Example: q Do you want to play basketball, or would you rather go fishing? Independent Clause q I was going to buy a candy bar, but I decided to make a healthy choice instead.

Complex Sentence What is a complex sentence? • A complex sentence has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses joined by a subordinate conjunction such as; if, although, while or because. • When the dependent clause is placed before the independent clause, the Dependent Independent two clauses must be divided by a comma; otherwise, no punctuation is Clause necessary. If the ozone layer collapses, the global community will suffer. Independent Clause or Dependent Clause The global community will suffer if the ozone layer collapses.

Complex Sentence More examples § Although Tom reads novels, Jack reads comics. § He passed the exam because he studied very hard last week. § My mother was cooking while watching TV.

Complex Sentence SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS Time Cause and Effect Opposition Condition After Before When While Since Until Because Since Now that As In order that so Although Though Even though Whereas while If Unless Only if Whether or not Even if In case that Relative Pronoun Whom Which