EXAM REVIEW

APOSTROPHE Use an apostrophe and s (‘s) to form the

possessive of a singular nounGirl + ‘s= girl’s James + James’s

Use an apostrophe and s (‘s) to form the possessive of a plural noun that does not end in s

Men + ‘s = men’s geese + geese’s Women + ‘s = women’s

Use an apostrophe alone to form the possessive of a plural noun that ends in s.

Boys + ‘ = boys’ judges + ‘ = judges’

Practice Apostrophes1. The girls chorus and the boys glee

club will sing at the nursing center on Saturday.

2. Ill tell Debbies father the news.3. Someones history book is in the

teachers workroom.4. The dog put its head on my knee.5. The childrens party will begin at one at

our house.6. Shell put everyones reports on the

bulletin board.

7. The cars engine sputtered, and its frame shook.

8. That bicycle isnt yours.9. It’s a quarter to three, and

nobodys parents have arrived to collect their children.

10.Youre in charge of the luncheon for the womens political club.

Answers Apostrophes1. The girls’ chorus and the boy’s

glee club will sing at the nursing center on Saturday.

2. I’ll tell Debbie’s father the news.3. Someone’s history book is in the

teachers’ workroom.4. Correct.5. The children’s party will begin at

one at our house

6. She’ll put everyone’s reports on the bulletin board.

7. The car’s engine sputtered, and its frame shook.

8. That bicycle isn’t yours.9. It’s a quarter to three, and

nobody’s parents have arrived to collect their children.

10. You’re in charge of the luncheon for the women’s political club.

Colon and Semicolon1. Use a semicolon to join the main clauses of

a compound sentence if they are not joined by a conjunction such as for, and, but, or, yet, so. I want ice cream for supper; she wants steak for dessert.

2. Use a semicolon even when you are using a “fanboy” if you have already used several commas and the two main clauses are long.Before the invention of the automobile, people rode horses, bicycles, or streetcars for short distances; and they used horse-drawn carriages, trains or boats for trips.

3. Use a semicolon with conjunctive adverbs, such as consequently, furthermore, however, moreover, nevertheless, or therefore.

I started my homework immediately after school; consequently, I finished before dinner.

Only use the semicolon if there is a complete sentence on each side of the conjunctive adverb.

Otherwise, use commas - I want to go to the movies with my mom and sister; my mom, however, doesn’t want to go.

4. Use a colon to introduce a list of items that ends a sentence. Use a word or a phrase such as these, the following, or as follows before the list.

I’ll need these supplies for my project: newspapers, flour, water, string, and paint.

I participate in the following sports: softball, tennis, basketball, and swimming.

Do NOT USE A COLON AFTER A verb or a preposition

My subjects include reading, math, English, and science.

I sent messages to Grandma, Aunt Rita, and Julie.

5. Use a colon to separate the hour and the minutes when you use numerals to write the time of day

The train left the station at 10:17 A.M.

6. Use a colon after the salutation of a business letter

Dear Editor in Chief:Dear Professor Davis:

Practice Colon & Semicolon

1. Night fell the moon rose.2. Please do not bring any of the se items

to the test site radios, pagers, food, beverages.

3. The three travelers looked at the object in amazement they had never seen anything like it.

4. It was 312 P.M. when I looked at the clock.

5. I have received pamphlets from Camp Lookout, Camp Dawn, and the Camp in the Pines however I have not yet made my selection.

6. During the last two years, our family has traveled to Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana and in the next three months, we will see California, Arizona, and Mexico.

7. The departure time for our flight is 1117 A.M. the plane lands in Houston at 104 P.M.

8. My favorite teams are the Bulls, the Cubs, and the Bears.

9. In the nineteenth century, Longfellow was a popular poet, a professor at Harvard University, and a loving husband and his works include Evangeline, The Courtship of Miles Standish, The Song of Hiawatha, and “Paul Revere’s Ride.”

Answers Colons & Semicolons1. Night fell; the moon rose. R - 12. Please do not bring any of these items to

the test site: radios, pagers, food, beverages. R - 4

3. The three travelers looked at the object in amazement; they had never seen anything like it. R - 1

4. It was 3:12 P.M. when I looked at the clock.R - 5

5. I have received pamphlets from Camp Lookout, Camp Dawn, and the Camp in the Pines; however, I have not yet made my selection. R - 3

6. During the last two years, our family has traveled to Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana; and in the next three months, we will see California, Arizona, and Mexico. R - 2

7. The departure time for our flight is 11:17 A.M. the plane lands in Houston at 1:04 P.M. R - 5

8. My favorite teams are the Bulls, the Cubs, and the Bears. - Correct

9. In the nineteenth century, Longfellow was a popular poet, a professor at Harvard University, and a loving husband; and his works include Evangeline, The Courtship of Miles Standish, The Song of Hiawatha, and “Paul Revere’s Ride.” R - 2

Commas1. Separate three or more words, phrases,

or clauses in a series.Cars, buses, and trucks clog the streets.

2. Set off an introductory word such as yes, no, or well.Yes, we enjoyed your performance in the play.

3. Set off names used in direct address.Claire, have you ever traveled on a ship?I traveled to Alaska, Mr. Hess, on a ship.

4. Set off two or more prepositional phrases at the beginning of a sentence. Set off a single long prepositional phrase at the beginning of a sentence.In the fall of 1998, Frank Jordan ran for mayor. (2 short prepositional phrases)Beneath a dozen fluttering red and blue banners, he made his campaign speech. (1 long prepositional phrase)

5. Set off participles and participle phrases at the beginning of a sentence. Talking, we lost track of time.Talking on the telephone, we lost track of time.

Set off a participle phrase that is not essential to the meaning of a sentence.

The band, marching in formation, moves down the field.

Independence Day, celebrated on July 4, is a national holiday.

6. Set off words that interrupt the flow of thought in a sentence.

Politicians, of course, sometimes forget their campaign promises after the election.

7. Use a comma after a conjunctive adverb, such as however, moreover, furthermore, nevertheless, or thereforeThe school district is growing; therefore, taxes will rise.

8. Set off an appositive that is not essential to the meaning of a sentence.

The Titanic, a luxury liner, sank on its first voyage.

COMMAS II9. Use a comma before a coordinating

conjunction ( fanboy) for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so that connects the two parts of a compound sentence. Steve opened the door, and the dog ran out.

10. Set off an adverb clause at the beginning of a sentence. Begins with a subordinating conjunction, such as after, although, as, because, before, if , since, though, unless, until, when, whenever, where, wherever, while

Whenever I feel afraid, I whistle a happy tune. When the adverb phrase is at the end of the

sentence, you do not set it off in commas.

11. Set off a nonessential adjective clause. Gives additional meaning and is not necessary to the meaning of the sentence. Usually begins with a relative pronoun, such as who, whom, whose, which, or that

My house, which has green shutter, is at the corner of Elm and Maple.

Do not set off an essential adjective clause because it is necessary to the meaning of the sentence.

The house that has green shutters is at the corner of Elm and Maple.

12. In a date, set off the year when it’s used with both the month and the day. Don’t use a comma if only the month and the year are given.The ship struck an iceberg on April 14, 1912, and sank early the next morning.The ship sank in April 1912 on its first voyage.

13. Set off the name of a state or country when it’s used after a city. Set off the name of a city when it’s used after a street address. Don’t use a comma after the state if it’s followed by a ZIP code.The ship was sailing from Southampton, England, to New York City.You can write to Lisa at 15 College Court, Stanford, CA 94305

14.Set off an abbreviated title or degree following a person’s nameMichelle Davis, Ph.D., will be the graduation speaker.Letisha Smith, M.D., is our family doctor.

15.Set off too when it is used in the middle of a sentence and means “also.” Don’t set off too at the end of a sentence.

Parents, too, will attend the ceremony. Parents will attend the ceremony too.

16.Set off a direct quotationMom asked, “Have you finished your work?”“I did it,” I replied, “in study hall.”

17.Use a comma after the salutation of a friendly letter and after the closing of both a friendly letter and a business letter.Dear Dad, Your loving daughter,Yours truly,

18.Use a comma to prevent misreadingInstead of two, five teachers made the trip.In the field below, the brook gurgled merrily.

PRACTICE COMMAS I1. Strolling through the mall Amy spotted her

aunt Marge outside the bookstore.2. Jim Wong our best pitcher has injured his

arm; furthermore Rocky Solo our best hitter has the flu.

3. In the heat of the moment Mother I lost my temper.

4. That home run by the way was Rocky’s twenty-fifth of the season.

5. The children ran out the door across the lawn and into the woods behind the house.

6. The puppy wrapped in an old blue bath towel shivered in my arms.

7. Are you going to the Toads concert Ali?

8. Yes Dad I will do my homework clean my room and wash the dishes while you’re gone.

9. Fro many years after the war there was bad feeling between the two nations; nevertheless they maintained courteous public relations.

10.Among the green blue and yellow lawn chairs the baby sat in her stroller.

Answers Commas I1. Strolling through the mall, Amy spotted

her Aunt Marge outside the bookstore. R - 5

2. Jim Wong, our best pitcher, has injured his arm; furthermore, Rocky Solo, our best hitter has the flu.

R -7 & 83. In the heat of the moment, Mother, I lost

my temper. R - 34. That home run, by the way, was Rocky’s

twenty-fifth of the season. R- 65. The children ran out the door, across the

lawn, and into the woods behind the house. R- 1

6. The puppy, wrapped in an old blue bath towel, shivered in my arms. R -5

7. Are you going to the Toads concert, Ali? R - 3

8. Yes, Dad, I will do my homework, clean my room, and wash the dishes while you’re gone. R’s 2, 3, 1

9. For many years after the war there was bad feeling between the two nations; nevertheless, they maintained courteous public relations. R - 7

10.Among the green, blue, and yellow lawn chairs the baby sat in her stroller. R - 1

USING COMMAS II1. Will your dad drive us to the museum or

shall we take a bus?2. After I had scraped the mud from my

shoes I went indoors. 3. The principal entered the room and the

students became silent.4. Jamaica Hightower who will be sixteen

soon is learning to drive.5. I have already read the book that you

chose for your report.6. Please don’t leave until I’m ready.7. Although the sun was shining the air

was cold.

8. I took my umbrella with me for it was raining hard.

9. Margarine has less animal fat but butter tastes better.

10.The dingo which is a wild dog is a native of Australia.

Answers Commas II1. Will your dad drive us to the

museum, or shall we take a bus? R -9

2. After I had scraped the mud from my shoes, I went indoors. R - 10

3. The principal entered the room, and the students became silent. R - 9

4. Jamaica Hightower, who will be sixteen soon, is learning to drive. R - 11

5. I have already read the book that you chose for your report. Correct

6. Please don’t leave until I am ready. Correct

7. Although the sun was shining, the air was cold. R - 10

8. I took my umbrella with me, for it was raining hard. R - 9

9. Margarine has less animal fat, but butter tastes better. R- 9

10.The dingo, which is a wild dog, is a native of Australia. R - 11

PRACTICE COMMAS III1. “Mrs. Roberts” I told Mom “is moving to

Atlanta Georgia in June.”2. Sweet potatoes too are high in vitamin C.3. An assassination in Sarajevo Bosnia-

Herzegovina in June 1914 set the stage for World War I.

4. “Gettysburg Pennsylvania was the scene of a major battle of the Civil War” said Serena.

5. The Carters left Los Angeles California on Thursday and arrived in Orlando Florida a week later.

6. Sam Lee Ph.D. has written a book on the environment of the Everglades.

7. John commented “Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Virginia on April 9 1865 to Ulysses S. Grant.”

8. The address on the envelope was 1234 Oak Street Houston TX 77032

9. Soon after they immigrated to the United States.

10. Write the following message, adding commas where needed.Dear Aunt Julia

Thanks for the book. Camp is great. Scott too is enjoying himself.

Your nephewDavid

Answers Commas III1. “Mrs. Roberts,” I told Mom, “is moving to

Atlanta, Georgia in June.” R’s 16 & 132. Sweet potatoes, too, are high in vitamin C.

R - 153. An assassination in Sarajevo, Bosnia-

Herzegovina in June 1914 set the stage for World War I. R - 13

4. “Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was the scene of a major battle of the Civil War,” said Serena. R - 13 & 16

5. The Carters left Lost Angeles, California on Thursday and arrived in Orlando, Florida a week later. R - 13

6. Sam Lee, Ph.D., has written a book on the environment of the Everglades. R - 14

7. John commented, “Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Virginia on April 9, 1865 to Ulysses S. Grant.”R - 13 & 16

8. The address on the envelope was 1234 Oak Street, Houston, TX 77032 R- 13

9. Soon after, they immigrated to the United States. R - 18

10.Dear Aunt Julia,

Thanks for the book. Camp is great. Scott, too, is enjoying himself.

Your nephew,David

USAGE1. A, an = Use a before words that

begin with a consonant sound. Use an before words that begin with a vowel sound.a poem, a house, a yacht, a unionan apple, an icicle, an honor, an umbrella, an only child

Accept, except = Accept is a verb that means “to receive” or “to agree to” Except is a preposition that means “but.” Except may also be a verb that means “to leave out or exclude.”

Please accept this gift.Will you accept our decision.Everyone except you.Some students may be excepted from

taking the physical exam.

Affect, effect = Affect is a verb that means “to cause a change in” or “to influence the emotions of.” Effect may be a noun or a verb. As a noun, it means “result.” As a verb, it means “to bring about or accomplish.”

The mayor’s policies have affected every city agency.

The mayor’s policies have had a positive effect on every city agency. (noun)

The mayor has effected positive change in every city agency. (verb)

» A lot - Is always written as two words.

» Awhile and a while» Use a while after a preposition and

use awhile as an adverb.» She read for (preposition) a while.» She read awhile. (as an adverb -

modifies the verb read)