Grammar TopicsFinal

ParallelismModifiers

Clear ReferenceCoordination/Subordination

Active/Passive Voice

Parallel Structure

Rule: Express parallel ideas in the same grammatical form.

Kind 1: coordinate Kind 2: contrasted Kind 3: correlative

Parallel Structure: Coordinate Coordinate ideas are of equal

rank and are connected by and, but, or, or nor.

Nouns should be paired with nouns, phrases paired with phrases, clauses with clauses, etc.

POOR: In the winter I usually like skiing and to skate.

Better: In the winter I usually like to ski and to skate.

Compared/Contrasted Ideas Ideas that are compared or

contrasted are parallel.

Poor: To think logically is as important to me as calculating accurately.

Better: Thinking logically

is as important to me as calculating accurately.

Correlative Structure

Correlative constructions are formed with the following correlative conjunctions:

Both…and Either….or Neither…nor Not only…but also

Modifiers Place phrase and clause modifiers as near as

possible to the words they modify:

Unclear: Larry spied a dog gnawing a bone on his way to school. (who is going to school, Larry or the dog?).

Better: On his way to school, Larry spied a dog eating a bone.

Problematic Modifiers Dangling Modifier: A modifying phrase or

clause must clearly and sensibly modify a word in the sentence.

Poor: Eating my dinner quietly, the explosion

made me jump.

Better: Eating my dinner quietly, I jumped up when I heard the explosion.

Problem Modifiers Two Way Modifiers: When a modifier refers to

more than one thing, it’s confusing.

Poor: The Prime Minister said in the press interview her opponent spoke honestly.

Better: In the press interview, the Prime

Minister said her opponent spoke honestly.

Modifiers-Does it work? My students wrote

essays about whales and botany on the Science exam.

Shelby told me in the evening that I could wear her jersey.

To complete her project, a set of sharpies and ruler is needed.

Clear Reference A pronoun must refer clearly

to the right antecedent.

Poor: After the children carefully wrapped the packages, Mrs. Smith sent them off. (does “them” refer to the packages or the children?)

Better: Mrs. Smith sent off the packages that the children had carefully wrapped.

Avoid General & Weak Reference

Occurs when a pronoun refers to an idea that is vaguely expressed (general) or when the antecedent has not been expressed but exists in writer’s mind (weak)

Pronouns commonly used this way include: which, this that , it.

Poor: The pie fell off the counter, the lights went out and the cat ran outside. This made me call mom for help. (general)

Better: I called mom for help after the pie fell off the counter, the lights went out and the cat ran outside.

Poor: Mother is very interested in psychiatry but she doesn’t believe they have all the answers. (weak, who is “they”)

Coordination/Subordination Make clear the relationship between

subordinate adverb clauses and independent clauses by selecting subordinate conjunctions that work.

Poor: Bertha is quiet, and she can really out perform any Senior.

Better: Although she is quiet, Bertha can out perform any Senior.

Coordination/Subordination Do these work well?

Mozart was three when he composed his first song, and he was encouraged to practice every day.

The statue, which was crafted of the finest marble, is the only remaining sculpture of the Venetian artist.

Active and Passive Voice Sentences can be written or

spoken in the active or passive voice.

In the active voice, the subject of the sentence acts upon something or someone. Ex: Barb sang the song.

In the passive voice, the subject is acted upon. Ex: The song was sung by Barb.

Active and Passive Voice

Active Voice: The twister left a path of destruction.

Passive Voice: A path of destruction was left by the twister.

It’s better to use Active Voice. Use it.

Random stuff you should know Appositive: Gary, Sponge Bob’s neighbor,

has a funny nose.

Participial Phrase: Charmed by Leslie’s speech, Maria openly wept.

Single word modifiers: Lance, exhausted and thirsty from the race, still managed to win.