English Flashcards
What is the rule for ‘I before E’?
I before E except after C
Examples include ‘conceive’ and ‘deceive’.
Give examples of words that sound like A.
their, vein, reign
These words have vowel sounds similar to A.
What are some exceptions to the ‘I before E’ rule?
caffeine, neither, weird
These words do not follow the I before E rule.
What happens to the final E when adding certain suffixes?
Drop the final E
Applies when suffixes like ‘fy’, ‘ing’, or ‘itis’ are added.
When should you keep the final E?
If the suffix begins with a vowel
Examples: ‘Duly’ from ‘Due’ and ‘peaceable’ from ‘peace’.
What happens when adding a suffix to a word ending in Y with a consonant?
Change Y to I
Example: ‘beautiful’ from ‘beauty’.
What happens when the Y is preceded by a vowel?
Keep the Y
Example: ‘playing’ from ‘play’.
What suffix begins with a vowel and affects Y?
Suffix begins with I
Example: ‘Applying’ from ‘apply’.
What is an exception to changing Y to I?
memorize
The word ‘memorize’ is an exception to the rule.
Define homophones.
Words that sound the same but are spelled differently
Examples include ‘to’, ‘two’, and ‘too’.
What is the purpose of punctuation in written language?
Punctuation provides direction as you journey through a piece of writing.
Why is mastery of punctuation important?
It allows you to read and write with clarity.
Which punctuation mark goes at the end of a question?
Question mark.
Name three types of punctuation marks mentioned.
- Commas
- Periods
- Question marks
True or False: Some punctuation rules are complex and require more thought.
True.
Fill in the blank: Punctuation is like a system of _______ for written language.
[road signs]
List four punctuation marks that have specific usage rules.
- Colons
- Semicolons
- Apostrophes
- Quotation marks
What is the relationship between punctuation and sentence complexity?
Some rules are more complex, especially with complex sentences.
What is a simple sentence?
A complete thought made up of a subject and a verb.
Example: The train arrived at six o’clock.
What defines a compound sentence?
Made up of two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction.
Examples of coordinating conjunctions include ‘and,’ ‘but,’ or ‘or.’
What punctuation is used before a conjunction in a compound sentence?
A comma.
This helps clarify the connection between the two independent clauses.
What are the three types of sentences mentioned?
Simple, compound, and complex.
Each type has specific punctuation rules.
Fill in the blank: A _______ sentence is made up of a subject and a verb.
simple
True or False: A compound sentence can have only one independent clause.
False.
A compound sentence requires at least two independent clauses.
What is the role of punctuation in sentences?
To clarify various types of sentences.
This includes distinguishing between simple, compound, and complex sentences.
What are the two independent clauses in the example sentence: ‘The train arrived at six o’clock; Joe was five minutes late’?
The train arrived at six o’clock
Joe was five minutes late
What punctuation is used to separate two independent clauses when no connecting word is present?
Semicolon
What is a conjunctive adverb?
A word that shows the connection between two independent clauses
Name four examples of conjunctive adverbs.
- however
- therefore
- otherwise
- nevertheless
In the complex sentence example, what is the structure of a complex sentence?
An independent clause and one or more dependent clauses
What is a dependent clause?
A clause that has a subject and a verb but does not express a complete thought
Fill in the blank: A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and one or more _______.
[dependent clauses]
True or False: A dependent clause can stand alone as a complete sentence.
False
What is the role of a dependent clause in a complex sentence?
It depends on the independent clause for its meaning
What is a dependent clause?
A clause that cannot stand alone without an independent clause.
In the sentence ‘Since they added that new station, the trains have been taking a lot longer to arrive’, what part is the dependent clause?
‘Since they added that new station.’
True or False: A dependent clause needs punctuation when it follows an independent clause.
False
When does a dependent clause require a comma?
When it comes at the beginning of a sentence.
Fill in the blank: A dependent clause could not stand alone without the _______.
[independent clause]
What punctuation is used to separate a dependent clause from the rest of the sentence when it is at the beginning?
A comma.
What is one use of a comma in a sentence?
To set off an introductory word, phrase, or clause
Example: “Well, that was an interesting discussion!”
How are commas used in a series?
To separate items in a series
Example: “I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.”
What is a nonessential element in a sentence?
A word, phrase, or clause that is not needed to understand the meaning of a sentence
Example: “My brother, who lives in New York, is visiting.”
True or False: Commas are needed on either side of a nonessential element that is in the middle of a sentence.
True
This indicates the nonessential nature of the element.
Fill in the blank: A comma is used to indicate _______ in the flow of a sentence.
pauses
What is the function of commas in sentences with nonessential elements at the end?
To set off the nonessential element from the rest of the sentence
Example: “The book, which I borrowed from the library, is fascinating.”
List three basic ways to use commas.
- To set off an introductory word, phrase, or clause
- To separate items in a series
- To separate nonessential elements
How does understanding the rules governing commas impact writing?
It helps in using commas correctly.
What is the purpose of the serial comma?
To clarify lists by placing a comma before the conjunction in a series.
Many editors and publishers prefer the serial comma, but it is a matter of style rather than a strict rule.
Is the lack of a serial comma before ‘and’ in a list considered an error?
No, it is a preference and not an error.
The sentence still requires commas between all other items in the series.
What are coordinate adjectives?
Adjectives that are equal and can be reordered with ‘and’ without changing meaning.
Examples include ‘healthy, delicious’ in ‘Cherries are a healthy, delicious fruit.’
When is a comma not used after an adjective?
After a noncoordinate adjective, such as those showing quantity.
Examples include ‘two,’ ‘many,’ and ‘most.’
Provide an example of using commas to separate cities and states.
Example: ‘Los Angeles, California’
A comma is placed before and after the state or country.
Fill in the blank: Commas are used to separate coordinate adjectives, which are adjectives that are _______.
equal
True or False: Commas are only used in lists.
False
Commas are also used to separate coordinate adjectives and various geographical names.
What is a specific convention for using commas in relation to cities and states?
A comma is used to separate cities and states, cities and countries, and other political units, with a comma placed before and after the state or country.
Example: Buenos Aires, Argentina, is known for its nightlife.
When is a comma used in dates?
A comma is used to separate the day from the year in a date. No comma is needed when only a month is included.
Example: My son was born on February 7, 2020. My daughter was born in January 2021.
What is the purpose of quotation marks?
Quotation marks are used for direct quotations, indicating the beginning and end of someone else’s words.
The opening quotation mark identifies where the other person’s words begin; the closing quotation mark shows where they end.
Fill in the blank: A comma is placed _______ and after the state or country in a sentence.
before
True or False: A comma is required when only the month is included in a date.
False
What is the purpose of using correct sentence structures?
To combine dependent and independent clauses and phrases correctly when prompted.
What are the Eight Parts of Speech?
Noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection.
What is a simple sentence?
An independent clause that is a complete thought made up of a subject and a predicate, which includes a verb and any modifiers.
What are the four types of sentences?
Simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.
What is an independent clause?
A clause that can stand on its own and is complete without adding any more words.
What components make up a sentence?
Subjects, predicates, phrases, and clauses.
What is the purpose of using correct sentence structures?
To combine dependent and independent clauses and phrases correctly when prompted.
What are the Eight Parts of Speech?
Noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection.
What is a simple sentence?
An independent clause that is a complete thought made up of a subject and a predicate, which includes a verb and any modifiers.
What are the four types of sentences?
Simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex.
What is an independent clause?
A clause that can stand on its own and is complete without adding any more words.
What components make up a sentence?
Subjects, predicates, phrases, and clauses.
What is a compound sentence?
A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction.
Example: The tiny kitten curled into a ball, and she slept for the entire day.
What are independent clauses?
Independent clauses are complete sentences that have their own subject and verb.
What is a coordinating conjunction?
A coordinating conjunction is a connecting word used to join independent clauses, such as ‘but,’ ‘or,’ ‘so,’ ‘for,’ or ‘and.’
What is a complex sentence?
A complex sentence consists of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
What is a dependent clause?
A dependent clause is similar to an independent clause but begins with a subordinating word and cannot stand alone as a sentence.
Example: Although the tiny kitten slept the entire day, at night she was.
What is a compound sentence?
A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses connected by a coordinating conjunction.
Example: The tiny kitten curled into a ball, and she slept for the entire day.
What are independent clauses?
Independent clauses are complete sentences that have their own subject and verb.
What is a coordinating conjunction?
A coordinating conjunction is a connecting word used to join independent clauses, such as ‘but,’ ‘or,’ ‘so,’ ‘for,’ or ‘and.’
What is a complex sentence?
A complex sentence consists of an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
What is a dependent clause?
A dependent clause is similar to an independent clause but begins with a subordinating word and cannot stand alone as a sentence.
Example: Although the tiny kitten slept the entire day, at night she was.
What is the term for how words are classified in sentences?
The term is ‘parts of speech’.
How many parts of speech are generally considered?
There are generally considered to be eight parts of speech.
What are nouns?
Nouns are people, places, objects, and ideas: transmission, computer, snow, chemistry.
What are pronouns?
Pronouns take the place of nouns: she, he, they, we.
What are verbs?
Verbs are action words: run, clutches, gasped.
What are adjectives?
Adjectives describe or modify nouns: broken, ridiculous, devastating.
What are adverbs?
Adverbs describe or modify adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs: easily, quickly, proudly.
What are prepositions?
Prepositions describe the relationships between other words: before, into, onto, according to, since.
What are conjunctions?
Conjunctions are connecting words: and, so, but, nor, for, yet.
What are interjections?
Interjections represent short bursts of emotion: Hey! Aw! Hooray!
What are the main parts of a sentence?
Parts of speech combine in various ways to make up sentence parts, including the subject and predicate of any given sentence.
What is the subject of a sentence?
The subject is who or what the sentence is about.
What does the predicate do?
The predicate tells something about the subject.
Identify the subject in the example: ‘The gracious host gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.’
The gracious host
The host is the subject.
Identify the predicate in the example: ‘The gracious host gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.’
Gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.
This action is the predicate.
What is the simple subject?
The simple subject in a sentence is the noun.
What is the complete subject?
The complete subject includes the noun and all its complements and modifiers.
Identify the simple subject in the example: ‘The gracious host gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.’
Host
‘Host’ is the simple subject.
Identify the complete subject in the example: ‘The gracious host gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.’
The gracious host
It includes the article ‘the’ and the modifier ‘gracious.’
What is the simple predicate?
The simple predicate in a sentence is the verb.
What is the complete predicate?
The complete predicate includes the verb and all its complements and modifiers.
Identify the simple predicate in the example: ‘The gracious host gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.’
Gave
‘Gave’ is the simple predicate.
Identify the complete predicate in the example: ‘The gracious host gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.’
Gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.
What are the main parts of a sentence?
Parts of speech combine in various ways to make up sentence parts, including the subject and predicate of any given sentence.
What is the subject of a sentence?
The subject is who or what the sentence is about.
What does the predicate do?
The predicate tells something about the subject.
Identify the subject in the example: ‘The gracious host gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.’
The gracious host
The host is the subject.
Identify the predicate in the example: ‘The gracious host gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.’
Gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.
This action is the predicate.
What is the simple subject?
The simple subject in a sentence is the noun.
What is the complete subject?
The complete subject includes the noun and all its complements and modifiers.
Identify the simple subject in the example: ‘The gracious host gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.’
Host
‘Host’ is the simple subject.
Identify the complete subject in the example: ‘The gracious host gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.’
The gracious host
It includes the article ‘the’ and the modifier ‘gracious.’
What is the simple predicate?
The simple predicate in a sentence is the verb.
What is the complete predicate?
The complete predicate includes the verb and all its complements and modifiers.
Identify the simple predicate in the example: ‘The gracious host gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.’
Gave
‘Gave’ is the simple predicate.
Identify the complete predicate in the example: ‘The gracious host gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.’
Gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.
What is a simple predicate?
The simple predicate is the main verb in a sentence.
Example: In the sentence ‘gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party,’ ‘gave’ is the simple predicate.
What is a complete predicate?
The complete predicate includes the verb and all the words that describe the action.
Example: In the same sentence, the complete predicate is ‘gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.’
What are direct and indirect objects?
Direct objects receive the action of the verb, while indirect objects indicate to whom or for whom the action is done.
Example: In ‘the gifts were given to the guests,’ ‘gifts’ is the direct object and ‘the guests’ is the indirect object.
What is a complement in a sentence?
A complement is a word or group of words that completes the meaning of the subject or verb.
Example: In ‘The candidates seemed disappointed with the outcome,’ ‘disappointed’ is the complement.
How can you enhance your understanding of sentence construction?
Practicing diagramming sentences can help break down sentences into their various parts.
There are many online resources available for learning about sentence diagramming.
What is a simple predicate?
The simple predicate is the main verb in a sentence.
Example: In the sentence ‘gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party,’ ‘gave’ is the simple predicate.
What is a complete predicate?
The complete predicate includes the verb and all the words that describe the action.
Example: In the same sentence, the complete predicate is ‘gave the guests gifts of appreciation at the end of the party.’
What are direct and indirect objects?
Direct objects receive the action of the verb, while indirect objects indicate to whom or for whom the action is done.
Example: In ‘the gifts were given to the guests,’ ‘gifts’ is the direct object and ‘the guests’ is the indirect object.
What is a complement in a sentence?
A complement is a word or group of words that completes the meaning of the subject or verb.
Example: In ‘The candidates seemed disappointed with the outcome,’ ‘disappointed’ is the complement.
How can you enhance your understanding of sentence construction?
Practicing diagramming sentences can help break down sentences into their various parts.
There are many online resources available for learning about sentence diagramming.
What is the main subject of the text?
The main subject of the text is about Google Chrome and its features related to English and Language Usage.
What does E 1.3 refer to?
E 1.3 refers to using correct sentence structures.
What is the first task when diagramming a sentence?
The first task is to separate the subject, verb, and object.
What is an example sentence provided in the text?
The brawny lumberjack swung his ax with awful force.
This sentence illustrates the subject (‘lumberjack’), verb (‘swung’), and object (‘ax’).
What is a prepositional phrase?
A prepositional phrase is a phrase that begins with a preposition and ends with an object.
What is the prepositional phrase in the example sentence?
The prepositional phrase in the example sentence is ‘with awful force.’
What does the object of the preposition often have?
The object of the preposition will often have one or more modifiers to describe it.
What is the modifier in the prepositional phrase ‘with awful force’?
The modifier in the prepositional phrase is ‘awful.’
What is the main subject of the text?
The main subject of the text is about Google Chrome and its features related to English and Language Usage.
What does E 1.3 refer to?
E 1.3 refers to using correct sentence structures.
What is the first task when diagramming a sentence?
The first task is to separate the subject, verb, and object.
What is an example sentence provided in the text?
The brawny lumberjack swung his ax with awful force.
This sentence illustrates the subject (‘lumberjack’), verb (‘swung’), and object (‘ax’).
What is a prepositional phrase?
A prepositional phrase is a phrase that begins with a preposition and ends with an object.
What is the prepositional phrase in the example sentence?
The prepositional phrase in the example sentence is ‘with awful force.’
What does the object of the preposition often have?
The object of the preposition will often have one or more modifiers to describe it.
What is the modifier in the prepositional phrase ‘with awful force’?
The modifier in the prepositional phrase is ‘awful.’
What is a prepositional phrase?
A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with an object, often including modifiers.
Identify the preposition and object in the phrase ‘with awful force.’
The preposition is ‘with’ and the object is ‘force.’
The modifier is ‘awful.’
How is a prepositional phrase diagrammed?
The preposition extends from the word it modifies and introduces the prepositional object with its modifiers.
What words extend from the word ‘swung’ in the phrase ‘with awful force’?
‘With’ and ‘force’ extend from ‘swung,’ while ‘awful’ extends from ‘force.’
What is the first step in sentence diagramming?
Determine the subject, verb, and object, and place them on the top line.
What happens after placing the subject, verb, and object in sentence diagramming?
All other parts of the sentence will fall into place.
What is the benefit of understanding sentence structure?
You will be able to construct better sentences of your own.
What is a prepositional phrase?
A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition and ends with an object, often including modifiers.
Identify the preposition and object in the phrase ‘with awful force.’
The preposition is ‘with’ and the object is ‘force.’
The modifier is ‘awful.’
How is a prepositional phrase diagrammed?
The preposition extends from the word it modifies and introduces the prepositional object with its modifiers.
What words extend from the word ‘swung’ in the phrase ‘with awful force’?
‘With’ and ‘force’ extend from ‘swung,’ while ‘awful’ extends from ‘force.’
What is the first step in sentence diagramming?
Determine the subject, verb, and object, and place them on the top line.
What happens after placing the subject, verb, and object in sentence diagramming?
All other parts of the sentence will fall into place.
What is the benefit of understanding sentence structure?
You will be able to construct better sentences of your own.
What is the purpose of grammar in writing?
Grammar is the set of rules and conventions that allow writers to convey ideas effectively.
What does clear communication require?
Clear communication requires a common understanding between the writer and reader.
What should you do when encountering unclear reading passages?
Take note of the unclear passages, ask why they are unclear, and consider how to improve their clarity.
What are the fundamental elements of a complete sentence?
A complete sentence must have a subject and a predicate that contains a verb and expresses a complete thought.
What is an example of a complete sentence?
The house stood abandoned for many years.
What can understanding sentence structure help you recognize?
Understanding sentence structure can help you recognize complete sentences, sentence fragments, and run-on sentences.
What is the purpose of grammar in writing?
Grammar is the set of rules and conventions that allow writers to convey ideas effectively.
What does clear communication require?
Clear communication requires a common understanding between the writer and reader.
What should you do when encountering unclear reading passages?
Take note of the unclear passages, ask why they are unclear, and consider how to improve their clarity.
What are the fundamental elements of a complete sentence?
A complete sentence must have a subject and a predicate that contains a verb and expresses a complete thought.
What is an example of a complete sentence?
The house stood abandoned for many years.
What can understanding sentence structure help you recognize?
Understanding sentence structure can help you recognize complete sentences, sentence fragments, and run-on sentences.
What is the subject in the sentence ‘You get to go away’?
The subject ‘you’ is understood.
The verb is ‘get,’ and the sentence expresses a complete idea.
What is a fragment in writing?
A fragment does not express a complete thought and is missing either the subject or the verb.
Example: ‘Abandoned for many years.’
What is a run-on sentence?
A run-on sentence runs on for too long and has extra parts that are not joined correctly due to a lack of conjunction or missing punctuation.
Example: ‘The house stood abandoned for many years no one lived in it.’
How can you fix a run-on sentence?
You can add a conjunction, such as ‘and.’
What is the importance of using descriptive and unambiguous language?
Descriptive and unambiguous language enhances clarity in writing.
Example: ‘We had a fantastic time at the county fair; there were pig races, pie contests, and many games.’
What is the difference between mood and tone in writing?
Mood describes how the writing makes the reader feel, while tone describes the writer’s attitude toward the subject.
How does audience and purpose affect diction?
Writers choose more formal vocabulary and sentence structure for formal texts than for casual communication.
How can punctuation influence mood or tone?
Writers can use punctuation to establish mood or tone in their writing.
What is the purpose of using grammar in writing?
To enhance clarity in writing.
How can punctuation affect mood or tone in writing?
Punctuation can establish mood or tone; for example, an exclamation mark can show surprise or excitement.
What is an example of word choice affecting meaning?
The sentence ‘We had a fantastic time at the music festival!’ expresses more emotion than ‘We had a good time at the music festival.’
The first sentence uses ‘fantastic’ instead of ‘good’ and an exclamation point instead of a period.
What should writers look for when revising their writing?
Writers should look for precise words with the desired nuances of meaning and consider how to construct sentences to communicate the intended mood and tone.
What types of sentences should be avoided to improve understanding?
Fragments and run-on sentences should be avoided.
What is the purpose of using grammar in writing?
To enhance clarity in writing.
What are two types of sentences that can impede understanding?
Fragments and run-on sentences.
What is a common problem with ambiguous pronouns?
They can create confusion about who or what is being referred to.
Identify the ambiguity in the following sentence: ‘Jenny and Elizabeth had an argument because she borrowed her necklace without asking.’
The pronouns ‘she’ and ‘her’ are unclear.
How can the ambiguity in the previous sentence be resolved?
By specifying the subjects: ‘Jenny borrowed Elizabeth’s necklace without asking.’
What does a clear sentence provide to the reader?
It clarifies the cause of the argument.
What can enhance clarity in writing?
Using grammar effectively can enhance clarity in writing.
What are often to blame for confusion in sentences?
Dangling and misplaced modifiers are often to blame for confusion.
What does the sentence ‘The bird looked at the cat in the tree’ imply?
It implies that the cat is in the tree due to the placement of the prepositional phrase.
How can the sentence ‘The bird looked at the cat in the tree’ be clarified?
It can be clarified to ‘The bird in the tree looked at the cat,’ indicating the bird is in the tree.
What should you consider when correcting ambiguous sentences?
Consider the placement of phrases and modifiers to avoid ambiguity.
