Category: Grammar

Conjunctions: Coordinating Conjunctions

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A coordinating conjunction is a word that joins two elements of equal grammatical rank and syntactic importance. They can join two verbs, two nouns, two adjectives, two phrases, or two independent clauses. The seven coordinating conjunctions are for, and, nor, but, or, yet, and so.

The best way to remember the seven coordination conjunctions is by using the acronym FANBOYS:

F = for

A = and

N = nor

B = but

O = or

Y = yet

S = so

from grammarly

Let’s watch the video to learn how to make sentences using FANBOYS and the correct punctuation.

[qsm quiz=9]

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The Order of Adjectives

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When we use more than one adjective to describe a noun, we normally have to follow a specific order. Remember the order as NOSASCOMP or DOSASCOMP, Number-Opinion-Size-Age-Shape-Color-Origin-Material-Purpose or Determiner-Opinion-Size-Age-Shape-Color-Origin-Material-Purpose.

1. Number or Determiner: Articles and other limiters (e.g., a, your, the, five, her).

2. Opinion: Describes what is thought about the noun (e.g., pretty, expensive, delicious).

3. Size: Describes how big or small the noun is (e.g., small, big, tiny, enormous).

4. Age: Describes how young or old the noun is (e.g., young, old, ancient, new).

5. Shape: Describes what shape the noun is (e.g., round, square, flat).

6. Color: Describes what color the noun is (e.g., blue, pinkish, green).

7. Material: Describes what the noun is made of (e.g., wood, cotton, silver, metal).

8. Origin: Describes where the noun is from (e.g., American, eastern, lunar).

9. Purpose: Describes what the noun is used for or what it does (e.g., racing [as in racing car], sleeping [as in sleeping bag]).

from. Scribendi

Please watch the two videos below to learn more.

Test your knowledge of the order of adjectives with a quiz below!

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Grammar Lesson: Phrasal Verbs

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What are they?

Phrasal verbs are verbs that contain multiple words.

Like regular verbs, there are thousands, but you can find an extensive list below.

https://www.gingersoftware.com/content/grammar-rules/verbs/list-of-phrasal-verbs/

Now that you’ve seen plenty of examples, it’s time to learn how they can and can’t be used. The video below is very helpful.

Ready to test what you have learned? Try our quiz below.

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Possessive Apostrophe

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The general rule for forming possessives

The general rule is that the possessive of a singular noun is formed by adding an apostrophe and s, whether the singular noun ends in s or not.

Ex) a week’s vacation

Texas’s oil industry

The possessive of a plural noun is formed by adding only an apostrophe when the noun ends in s, and by adding both an apostrophe and s when it ends in a letter other than s.

Ex) the twins’ parents

the alumni’s fundraising

from The Punctuation Guide

Test your knowledge of the possessive apostrophe with a quiz below!

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Grammar Lesson on Reported Speech

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Reported Speech

Today’s lesson is on Reported Speech. 

Have you ever needed to tell a friend or coworker about something that someone said to you or someone else?

This is how to do it. 

We also use reported speech to talk about things said in a movie, book, and other texts. 

Rules:

Reported speech is formed by removing any directly spoken words (in quotation marks) and stating the message as news.

Change verbs in the simple present to the simple past.

Example:

“Can you pass the salt?” she asked him.

Reported speech: She asked him to pass the salt.

If the sentence contains “don’t” then re-write it with “not” and add “to.”

“Don’t arrive late,” the teacher told the students.

Reported speech: The teacher told the students not to arrive late.

[qsm quiz=1]

QUIZ

Change each sentence to reported speech.

1. “The class is on Fridays,” I told him.

2. “Don’t go home,” she said.

3. “What’s your name?” he asked me.

Try our quiz below.

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Subject-Verb Agreement

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Singular subjects take singular verbs and plural subjects take plural verbs.

Here are some common errors:

1. There are two or more subjects, so you think the verb needs to be plural.

2. There is more than one noun before the verb, so you make the verb agree with the wrong one.

3. There is a pronoun in the sentence that makes it confusing whether to use a singular or plural verb.

Examples:

1. The cat and dog are friends.

Cat and dog are singular, but together they form a plural subject.

2. The keys in the door are stuck.

Door is a singular noun, but is not the subject.

3. Any of them is fine for use in the rain.

Any refers to just one object in a bunch.

Try It:

1. Friday and Saturday ____ my favorite days of the week.

a. is

b. are

2. The library with many computers ____ a good place to study.

a. is

b. are

3. Communities with a park ____ important to have.

a. is

b. are

4. I will take whichever bus ____ first.

a. come

b. comes

Click Read More to see answers.

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