D.L.P. – Week One
G R A DE E IG HT
Day One – Skills
• Sentence Fragment
A fragment occurs because a sentence is missing a vital part, a subject or a verb. Correct it by adding the
missing part. A second way that a fragment occurs is that it is not a complete thought. Perhaps, it is only a
dependent clause. Correct this type of fragment by adding an independent clause.
• Punctuation – Comma – Compound Sentence
When two independent clauses are combined with a conjunction to form a compound sentence, a comma must
be placed before the conjunction.
• Capitalization – Proper Adjectives
Adjectives describe nouns. When a proper noun is changed into an adjective form, then it must be capitalized.
America is a proper noun, so when it becomes the adjective American, it must still be capitalized.
• Punctuation – End Marks
Sentences must end with proper punctuation to signal that a thought has ended. Declarative sentences or
statements end in a period. Interrogative sentences, which are also known as questions, must end in a question
mark. Imperative sentences are punctuated based on how they are said. Commands that are forceful would
end in an exclamation point, but a calmly stated command would merit a period. Finally, exclamatory
sentences end in exclamation points since they are spoken with such enthusiasm.
D AY O NE – SE NT E NCE O NE
Yoshiko Uchida was born in
California. To parents who
came from Japan.
Yoshiko Uchida was born in
California to parents who came
from Japan.
D AY O NE – SE NT E NCE T WO
Uchida learned about her
Japanese culture but she always
knew she was an american
Uchida learned about her Japanese
culture, but she always knew she
was an American.
Day Two – Skills
• Dates
A date that contains the month, day, and year can be written two ways. It can be done
numerically (9/4/66) or in words (September 4, 1966). Note that in the written form, a
comma is needed after the day, and the year contains four digits. When an entire date
is included in the context of a sentence, it must be followed by a comma.
• Capitalization – First Word in a Sentence
Sentences must begin with a capital letter to signal that a new thought has begun.
• Verb Usage – To sink
The verb sink is an action verb that is irregular. In the past it changes to sank. As a past
participle, it becomes have sunk.
D AY T WO – SE NT E NCE O NE
On December 7 1941 the Japanese
attacked the U.S. naval base at
Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
On December 7, 1941, the
Japanese attacked the U.S. naval
base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.
D AY T WO – SE NT E NCE T WO
by the end of the day, the
attack had sank many American
ships.
By the end of the day, the
attack had sunk many American
ships.
Day Three– Skills
• Punctuation – Hyphen
Some compound words are connected by a hyphen. To be certain if a word needed a hyphen, consult a dictionary.
Hyphens are also used at the end of a written or typed line of text if the complete word does not fit. Use the hyphen
between syllables of the word.
• Agreement – Pronoun and antecedent
A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun. An antecedent is the noun that the pronoun replaces. They must
agree. For example, if one is singular, then the other must be. If one is masculine, then the other must be.
• Negatives – Elimination of Doubles
Only one negative word should be used per sentence. Negative words include no, not, never, and none.
• Verb Usage – To be
The verb “be” is a linking verb. Oddly, it is never used without another helping verb before it. (will be) The verb “be”
is conjugated as am, are, is, are in the present tense, was, were in the past tense, and be in the future tense with
either will or shall preceding it. The other two linking verbs been and being come from other tenses of this verb.
• Spelling – ie/ei
Most English words follow the rule, “I before e except after c.” Hence, these words are spelled as such: piece and
ceiling.
D AY T HR E E – SE NT E NCE O NE
After Pearl Harbor, a confused
country turned on their
Japanese American citizens.
After Pearl Harbor, a confused
country turned on their
Japanese-American citizens.
D AY T HR E E – SE NT E NCE T WO
Many wouldn’t hardly beleive that
people with Japanese names and
faces be loyal Americans.
Many would hardly believe that
people with Japanese names
and faces were loyal Americans.
Day Four– Skills
• Punctuation – Hyphen
Some compound words are connected by a hyphen. To be certain if a word needed a hyphen, consult a
dictionary.
Hyphens are also used at the end of a written or typed line of text if the complete word does not fit. Use
the hyphen between syllables of the word.
• Agreement – Indefinite Pronouns
Indefinite pronouns are words that can take the place of nouns, but they are not specific. They are also
complicated to use since they affected by whether they are singular or plural.
Another, anybody, anyone, anything, everybody, everyone, everything, much, nobody, no one, nothing,
one, somebody, someone, and something are singular. That means these words would pair with an
action verb that ends in an s or a linking verb like “is” or “was.”
Both, few, many, and several are plural. That means these words would pair with an action verb that
does not end in an s or a linking verb like “are” or “were.”
All, any, more, most, none, and some can be either singular or plural. To determine how to make these
words agree with their verb, look at the object of the preposition that follows the pronoun. If it is
singular, it needs a singular verb. (All of ice is melted.) If it is plural, it needs a plural verb. (All of the
pages are torn.)
Day Four– Skills – Cont.
• Confused Words – desert/dessert
The word desert can be a noun or a verb. As a noun, it is a barren area full of sand. As a verb, it means to
leave. The words dessert is a noun that means a sweet after dinner treat. Remember, more dessert is
desired, so double the s!
• Pronoun Usage – Case
Pronouns are used differently depending on what case they are. Subject pronouns, also known as
nominative pronouns can work as subjects or predicate nouns. They are I, we, you, he, she, it, and they.
Objective pronouns can work as direct objects, indirect objects, or objects of the preposition. They are me,
us, you, him, her, it, and them. Possessive pronouns show ownership. They are my, mine, our, ours, your,
yours, his, her, hers, its, their, and theirs. Note that possessive pronouns do not have apostrophes.
• Pronoun Usage - Case with Compounds
To use pronouns correctly, they must be in the right case. See the explanation in the above entry. When the
pronoun is compound, it must still be in the case to match the function of the pronoun in the sentence.
(Maxine and I are friends. I talked to him and her.) If the pronoun is paired with a noun, the noun will precede
the pronoun in the pair (Bobby and me).
• Plurals – Distinguished from possessives
A plural means that there is more than one of something. (boys, cats) A possessive means that something is
owned. (the boy’s bat, the cat’s toy) Do not confuse the two. Plurals never have apostrophes. Possessives
do.
D AY FO UR – SE NT E NCE O NE
Many innocent Japanese Americans
was arrested and sent to camps in
the Utah dessert.
Many innocent JapaneseAmericans were arrested and sent
to camps in the Utah desert.
D AY FO UR – SE NT E NCE T WO
Them and their families lost
their homes and business’s.
They and their families lost their
homes and businesses.
Day Five– Skills
• Punctuation – Apostrophes in Possession
An apostrophe is used to show possession or ownership. If the word showing ownership is singular, then the
apostrophe is placed before the s. (boy’s) If the word is plural and ends in an s, then the apostrophe is placed
after the s. (groups’) However, if the plural word does not end in an s, then the apostrophe is placed before
the s. (children’s)
Joint possession means more than one person owns something. If one thing is owned by more than one
person, the apostrophe and s appear only on the final person in the group. (Bob and Mark’s car)
• Punctuation – Comma – Coordinate Adjectives
Two adjectives next to each other that could include the word and between them should be separated by a
comma. (big, red boat)
• Run-on Sentences
Run-on sentences occur when two complete thoughts run together without proper connection or
punctuation. Run-ons can be corrected in one of three ways. First, simply separate the two sentences with
proper end punctuation. However, if the two sentences can be connected by meaning, connect them with a
comma and the proper conjunction. Finally, the two sentences can have a semicolon placed between them if
the clauses relate closely in meaning. Note that the sentence following the semicolon would not begin with a
capital unless that word is a proper noun or the pronoun I.
D AY FIVE – SE NT E NCE O NE
Yoshiko Uchidas experience did
not turn her into a bitter angry
person.
Yoshiko Uchida’s experience did
not turn her into a bitter, angry
person.
D AY FIVE – SE NT E NCE T WO
After her release, she became a
teacher and a writer, her theme was
tolerance for all people and races.
After her release, she became a
teacher and a writer; her theme
was tolerance for all people and
races.