Quick Grammar Lesson

A Painless Reminder of the Simple Rules of

Grammar

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Using Verb Tense Consistently

You Can’t Move from the Present to the Past!

So, what types of tenses are there?

Active vs. Passive Voice Simple Present Present Progressive Simple Past Past Progressive Future Present Perfect

Present Perfect Progressive Past Perfect Future Perfect Modals

Scary, huh…

Active Voice In sentences written in active voice, the subject

performs the action expressed in the verb; the subject acts.

The sasquatch bit my grandfather. Sasquatch will present his research at the

conference. Sasquatches have conducted experiments with

turnips.

In each example above, the subject of the sentence performs the action expressed in the verb.

Passive Voice In sentences written in passive voice, the subject

receives the action expressed in the verb; the subject is acted upon.

The agent performing the action may appear in a "by the . . ." phrase or may be omitted.

My grandfather was bitten by the sasquatch. Research will be presented by the sasquatch in

due time. Experiments have been conducted by

sasquatches…

Which One Do You Use?

A Very Good Question Which Can Be

Answered Simply By Asking…

WWGD?(What Would Gordon Do?)

In English Classes, WWGD?

Most times, the use of passive voice can create awkward sentences.

Also, overuse of passive voice throughout an essay can cause your prose to seem flat and uninteresting.

• Is that what you want? I didn’t think so… When is passive voice used?

• Mostly in scientific writing where it is less personal and more objective.

As much as possible, you should try to write in the Active Voice!

When Proofreading…(and you MUST proofread!)

You can recognize passive-voice expressions because the verb phrase will always include a form of be, such as am, is, was, were, are, or been. The presence of a be-verb, however, does not necessarily mean that the sentence is in passive voice.

They were given lunch on Saturday.

Another way to recognize passive-voice sentences is that they may include a "by the..." phrase after the verb; the agent performing the action, if named, is the object of the preposition in this phrase.

The bear was attacked by the ferocious rabbit.

Choosing the Active Voice:

In most nonscientific writing situations, active voice is preferable to passive for the majority of your sentences.

Sentences in active voice are generally clearer and more direct than those in passive voice.

Grade tens always use the active voice, but they are a very civilized bunch.

Examples: Passive (Bad)

The entrance exam was failed by over one-third of the school’s students.

The brakes were slammed on by the driver as the car sped downhill.

The businessman’s bicycle was damaged by me.

Active (Good) One-third of the school’s students

failed the entrance exam. The driver slammed on the brakes

as the car sped downhill. I damaged the businessman’s

bicycle.

Formal vs. Informal Language Usage:

It is crucial to learn the difference between formal and informal language. Essays and reports require a more

formally constructed language than everyday speech.

It is all too easy to pepper written work with colloquial phrases or weak constructions that come naturally to mind but are incorrect or inadequate in formal writing.

What’s a Colloquial Phrase?

A colloquialism is an expression not used in formal speech or writing.

Colloquialisms can include words (such as "gonna" or "grouty"), phrases (such as "ain't nothin'" and "dead as a doornail"), or sometimes even an entire saying: ("There's more than one way to skin a cat").

Formal vs Informal vs Popular

Language is sometimes divided into three major styles: formal, informal, and popular (vulgar).

• That’s why it’s popular.

Formal Writing: Formal English is written English.

In general, it deals with serious stuff: textbooks, academic or technical works, and most essays you will write if you attend university.

Formal language tends to be impersonal (rarely using “I”) and precise, and often uses long, carefully constructed sentences.

Formal writers will avoid contractions (can’t or won’t, etc) and abbreviations, and will use a more specialized and complex vocabulary than what is used in everyday speech.

Informal Writing: Informal English is the language spoken by most

people every day.

Informal writers are more relaxed about grammar and less concerned with vocabulary when they're having ordinary conversations.

Informal writing reflects this relaxation. Sentences are shorter, and tend to avoid the more formal punctuation of the semi-colon and colon.

Contractions and the first person (I, we) are acceptable.

Newspaper articles and columns are usually written informally, and you use informal language when you write to your friends (OMG, LOL).

Popular Writing: Popular English can be colorful and highly

expressive, but it is out of place in any writing unless you are reporting speech.Formal Informal Popularcomprehend understand get itintoxicated drunk wastedexhausted tired baggeddejected sad bummed

What is a Pronoun?A word that can be substituted

for a noun!

Because a pronoun takes the place OR refers back to a noun, you MUST use the correct pronoun so that your reader (teacher or peer(s)) knows which noun you’re referring to.

Agreement in Number: If the pronoun takes the place of a SINGULAR

NOUN, you must use a singular pronoun. (If a student parks his car on campus, he must buy a parking sticker.)

Remember, EVERYBODY, ANYONE, EACH, NEITHER, NOBODY, SOMEONE, A PERSON are singular and take singular pronouns.

Neither of the ladies brought her umbrella. (GOOD)

Neither of the ladies brought their umbrella. (BAD)

Agreement in Person: If you are writing in the FIRST PERSON (I), don’t

confuse the reader by switching to the SECOND PERSON (you) or THIRD PERSON (he, she, it, they).

Also, if you are using the SECOND PERSON, don’t switch to FIRST or THIRD.

When a student comes to class, he should have his homework ready. (GOOD)

When a student comes to class, you should have your homework ready. (BAD)

Refer Clearly to a Specific Noun:

Don’t be vague (unclear) or ambiguous. NOT: Although the motorcycle hit the tree,

it was not damaged. (is ‘it’ the motorcycle or the tree?)

NOT: I don’t think they should show violence in video games. (Who are ‘they’?)

NOT: Vacation is coming soon, which is nice. (What is nice, the vacation or the fact it is coming soon?)

Types of PronounsSubjective Case

pronouns used as subjects

Objective Case pronouns used as objects

Possessive Case pronouns which express ownership

Subjective Pronouns: IYouHe, She, ItWeTheyWho

Objective Pronouns:MeYouHim, Her, ItUsThemWhom

Possessive Pronouns:My (mine)Your (yours)His, her (hers), it (its)Our (ours)Their (theirs)Whose

Pronoun Quiz!