Grammar Rules Flashcards
When should “from where” be used?
Never bc it is redundant; use from or where
Is larger than ____ ______
Is larger than is usual
Commas are used when?
- separating lists
- set off non vital clauses
- set off an independent clause
- use an introductory phrase followed by an independent clause
With cannot be followed by?
An independent clause
What form do the verbs followed by “either or”, “or”, or “neither nor” take?
The plurality of the last noun in the list
Adjectives are modified by?
Adverbs
Over cannot be used for….
Comparing amounts. Use more than.
A noun modifier should touch ….
The noun it modifies except vital noun modifiers (including prepositions) should come before non vital noun modifiers.
Fewer vs. less
- fewer is used for countable
- less is used for uncountable and # amounts
Many vs. much
- many is countable
- much is not countable
Greater vs. more
- More is used for uncountable and countable things
- Greater can be used for nouns that are #s
Whose/which needs to modify ______
Whose/which need to modify the noun that comes directly before comma
, which
- Modifies a noun
- , which is always non-essential
-ing separated from the clause with a comma, modifies what?
It could be a noun modifier:
Joe, seeing the fallen tree, swerved.
It could be used as and adverbial modifier:
Joe was productive, using every minute he had to study.
-ed and -ing not separated from the clause with a comma, modifies what?
Modifies the preceding noun
A pronoun or noun that modifies a gerund (-ing) should be _____.
Reflexive
Correct: The schedule depends on our receiving the materials on time.
Incorrect in formal writing: The schedule depends on us receiving the materials on time.
Subordinate clauses
- Although, before, because, if …
- Contain their own subjects and do not need to be followed by the noun it modifies
Nouns in prepositional phrases cannot ______
Be subject nouns!
Compared to vs. Unlike
Unlike should be used for opposites/yes no question
What do we need to check with SANAMs? and what words constitute SANAM?
SANAM (some, any, none, all, most/more)
We need to check the object to ensure whether it is singular or plural and then chose verbs and pronouns accordingly.
Some cats don’t like milk. (Cats is plural so we need to use the plural form of the verb)
Any help would be useful because it will increase my score. (“Help” is singular so we want to use “it,” a singular pronoun to refer to the object.
Right or wrong?
She grew up to a height of 6 feet.
WRONG!
“up to” is redundant should say “she grew to a height of 6 feet.”
What is the difference between -ed modifiers and -ing modifiers?
- ed modifiers hase to be done by something else
ex: the table created by Joe is very nice. - ing modifiers the subject is doing the action
ex: Joe, reading the newspaper, realized that the information was wrong.
