Conjunctions: Coordinating Conjunctions

February 3, 2022February 3, 2022 US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

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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Grammar Lesson: Phrasal Verbs

January 10, 2022January 10, 2022 US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

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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Grammar Lesson on Reported Speech

December 29, 2021January 4, 2022 US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

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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Which is which?

December 6, 2021 US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

Today’s lesson is about clarifying another confusing mixup for many students. With a little practice, you’ll get it!

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Phrasal Verbs

November 22, 2021November 22, 2021 US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

Phrasal verbs are short expressions of 2 words that act as one action.

Their meaning is not the same as the meaning of the 2 words separately.

Here are some examples:

Take a Quiz to see which ones you know:

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Subject-Verb Agreement

August 9, 2021August 9, 2021 US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

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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Either, Neither, and Both

July 12, 2021July 11, 2021 US Adult LiteracyLeave a comment

either = one OR the other	Would you like tea or coffee? ∼ Either; I don’t mind. (= ‘You can give me tea OR coffee; I have no preference.’)
neither = not one and not the other	Would you like ham or beef in your sandwich? ∼ Neither; I’m a vegetarian. (= ‘I don’t want ham and I don’t want beef.’)
both = the first AND the second	I take both* milk and sugar in my coffee.* (= ‘I take sugar. I also take milk.’)
We use either with a singular noun. We use either of with a plural noun. We use a singular verb with either and either of.	either car either of the cars Either day is fine for me. Either of the days is fine for me.
We use neither with a singular noun. We use neither of with a plural noun. We use a singular verb with neither and neither of.	neither house neither of the houses Neither day was suitable. Neither of the days was suitable.
We use both with a plural noun.	both houses both of the houses Both (of) my brothers are tall.
We use of before the pronouns us, you, them.	both of us, both of you, either of them, neither of them, etc.
Between of and a noun we use these, those or my, your, John’s, etc., or the.	both of those* houses, neither of my brothers, both of John’s sisters, either of the cinemas*