1
GSP Journalism Test Review
(Updated 25 June 2008)
General Rules About the Test
 Mark the error/section where it is wrong, not where the correction should be.
 Always assume the subject is correct and the verb is wrong.
 Pronoun is wrong when dealing with pronouns and antecedents.
 Dangling participles do not belong in the sentences
 There are no capitalization errors on the test.
 There are no misspelled proper names or nouns on the test.
 There are no correct sentences on the test
Part 1: Spelling—The test asks you to identify misspelled words, not correct them.
English is very tricky when it comes to spelling. Here are some general rules to follow:
 Don’t rely too heavily on pronunciation to determine spelling
 Familiarize yourself with a list of homophones—words that have similar pronunciations but
different meanings
 Familiarize yourself with some common spelling rules
 Familiarize yourself with commonly misspelled words
Part 2: Punctuation—The test asks you to identify errors in punctuation, not correct them.
Commas
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction joining independent clauses.
But
Do not use a comma to connect independent clauses connected without a conjunction.
(comma splicing) example: I like beer, he likes whiskey.
Do not use a comma when what follows the conjunction is not an independent clause.

Use a comma after an introductory clause or phrase

Use a comma between items in a series, but since this is journalism, do not use a comma
before and with items in a series.

Setting off parenthetical expressions

Setting off appositives

Setting off non-restrictive expressions
Terminal Punctuation
When a period follows an abbreviation at the end of the sentence, it can serve as terminal
punctuation. Correct example: Class starts at 2 p.m. Incorrect: Class starts at 2 p.m..
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Colons and Semicolons
The colon is a mark of introduction, but do not use a colon after a verb to introduce directs
objects of that verb.
Incorrect: The three new courses are: calculus, geology, and linguistics.
The semicolon is used to separate two independent clauses when there is no coordinating
conjunction. Correct example: I like milk; he likes beer.
Dashes and Hyphens
Dashes and hyphens are often confused. Dashes separate; hyphens connect. In typing, the dash
is formed by striking the hyphen key twice in succession (--).
Use hyphens to form compound modifiers that come before a noun (a full-time job), but don’t use
hyphens with adverbs ending in ly to form a compound modifier.
Parentheses
Parentheses enclose additional information not essential to the flow of the sentence.
Note: If the words in parentheses form a sentence, the terminal punctuation for the parenthetical
sentence falls inside the parentheses.
The Apostrophe
Use the apostrophe to indicate omission (forming a contraction) or to indicate possession.
Be careful not to confuse its (possessive pronoun) with it’s (contraction for it is). Others to watch
for are whose, who’s, there, their, they’re.
In general, the possessive of nouns not ending in s is formed by adding an apostrophe and s:
John, John’s; city, city’s
The AP stylebook mandates apostrophe and s to form possessives with singular common nouns
ending in s, unless the next word begins with an s.
Thus: witness’s testimony but witness’ sister
For plural common nouns ending in s, the possessive is formed by adding an apostrophe only:
writers, writers’; brothers, brothers’
For proper names ending in s, the possessive is formed by adding an apostrophe only: James,
James’; Charles, Charles’
In expression of joint ownership, the possessive is formed with the last name only: Strunk and
White’s book.
Quotation Marks
Quotation marks are used to indicate direct quotation and at times to enclose terms used in special
ways, like nicknames.
Incorrect example: “It was wrong, she said, to punctuate in that way.”
Correct: “It was wrong,” she said, “to punctuate in that way.”
When a quotation falls within another quotation, single marks are used for the internal quotation:
“Why did he say ‘I do not choose to run’?” Smith asked.
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GSP Spelling Review
Homophones: Words with similar pronunciation and different meanings.
accept (to receive)
except (to take or leave out)
affect (v., to exert an influence)
effect (v., to accomplish; n., result)
ascent (a climb)
assent (agreement)
brake (something used to stop movement)
break (to split or smash into pieces)
cite (to quote)
sight (vision)
site (position, place)
manner (way)
manor (house)
Pair (set of two)
pare (to prepare, trim)
pear (a fruit)
passed (past tense of the verb pass)
past (belonging to a former time)
principal (most important; a person who has
authority)
principle (a general or fundamental truth)
complement (something that completes)
compliment (praise)
rain (water falling in drops)
reign (to rule)
rein (restraining influence)
coarse (of ordinary or inferior quality)
course (path, policy chosen)
raise (to lift)
raze (to destroy, to lay level with the ground)
desert (v., to withdraw from; n., uninhabited
and arid land)
dessert (sweet course at the end of a meal)
stationary (standing still)
stationery (writing paper)
discreet (prudent, tactful)
discrete (constituting a separate entity)
elicit (to draw or bring out)
illicit (illegal)
eminent (famous, respected)
immanent (indwelling, inherent)
imminent (ready to take place)
formally (in a customary manner)
formerly (in time past)
hole (hollow place)
whole (entire, unhurt)
its (of or belonging to it)
it’s (contraction for it is)
lead (n., metal; v., to guide)
led (past tense of the verb lead)
loose (free, not securely attached)
lose (to fail to keep, to be deprived of)
straight (free from curves, bends, or angles)
strait (narrow space or passage)
than (conj., used to compare)
then (adverb of time)
their (belonging to them)
they’re (contraction of they are)
there (that place or position)
to (prep., toward)
too (also, excessively)
two (one more than one in number)
weather (state of the atmosphere)
whether (indicating a choice between
alternatives)
who’s (contraction of who is)
whose (possessive of who)
your (possessive of you)
you’re (contraction of you are)
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GSP Study Guide: Additional Troublesome Words
a, an (Use an if the following word
begins with a vowel sound. Be
careful with words beginning
with the letter h: An hour, a
hotel.)
dual, duel
liquefaction
due to
literally
ecology, environment
loose, lose
about, approximately (Use about)
e.g., i.e.
majority, plurality
aid, aide
emigrant, immigrant
mantel, mantle
all right, alright (Alright is all wrong.
Use all right.)
eminent, imminent
media, medium
enormity
naval, navel
etc.
ok
faculty (singular group noun except
when the members of the
group are acting as individuals)
pastor, minister
farther, further
people, persons
faze, phase
phenomena, phenomenon
flack, flak
pore, pour
flammable, inflammable
presently
flaunt, flout
principal, principle
flier, flyer
rebut, refute
forego, forgo
that, which
foreword, forward
till, until
fortuitous, fortunate
whether (or not)
allude, elude
allusion, illusion
already, all ready
pedal, peddle
alumnus, alumna, alumni
among, between
amoral, immoral, unmoral
anybody, anyone
as, like (Use like where it sounds
right.)
assure, ensure, insure (Use insure
when referring to business.)
average, mean, median, mode
awhile, a while
B.C. A.D. (B.C. should follow dates
and A.D. should precede them.)
gender
baited, bated
got, gotten
bimonthly, biweekly
hangar, hanger
bloc, block
hanged, hung
blond, blonde
hearsay, heresy
British thermal unit (Btu for both
plural and singular.)
imply, infer
induction, deduction
continual, continuous
lay, laid, lain, lie
data
lightening, lightning
disinterested, uninterested
light-year
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Be Aware of These Major Spelling Rules
1. Use I before e except after c or when sounded like ay,
as in neighbor and weigh.
5. Add s to form the plural of most nouns; add es to
singular nouns ending in s, sh, ch, and x.
I before E
relieve, believe, sieve, frieze
table, tables; paper, papers
E before I
receive, deceive, sleigh, freight, eight
church, churches; dish, dishes
Exceptions seize, either, weird, height, foreign, leisure
2. Generally, drop a final silent e when adding a suffix
that begins with a vowel. Keep the final e if the suffix
begins with a consonant.
Ordinarily add s to nouns ending in o when the o is
preceded by a vowel. Add es when it is preceded by a
consonant.
radio, radios; video, videos
hero, heroes; tomato, tomatoes
desire, desiring; remove, removable
To form the plural of a hyphenated compound word, add
the s to the chief word even if it does not appear at the end
achieve, achievement; care, careful
Exceptions argument, truly, changeable
3. When adding s or ed to words ending in y, ordinarily
change y to I when the y is preceded by a consonant but
not when it is preceded by a vowel.
comedy, comedies; dry, dried
mother-in-law, mothers-in-law
NOTE: English words derived from other languages, such
as Latin or French, sometimes form the plural as they
would in their original language.
medium, media; criterion, criteria; chateau, chateaux
monkey, monkeys; play, played
With proper names ending in y, however, do not change
the y to I even if it is preceded by a consonant: Dougherty,
the Doughertys.
4. If a final consonant is preceded by a single vowel and
the consonant ends a one-syllable word or a stressed
syllable, double the consonant when adding a suffix
beginning with a vowel.
bet, betting; commit, committed; occur, occurrence
Correct any spelling mistakes in the following list of words. If a word is correct, write “correct” after it. (Use a
dictionary when in doubt.)
ellusive
beaurocrat
twelth
percieve
erasible
annoint
maladies
inconsistent
ryme
beautiful
pulleys
traceable
anullment
nuclear
retrieveable
retirment
promoteable
skis
lonley
vidio
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Learn the Following Commonly Misspelled Words
absence
academic
accidentally
accommodate
accomplish
accumulate
achievement
acknowledge
acquaintance
acquire
across
address
aggravate
all right
almost
although
altogether
always
amateur
among
analyze
annual
answer
apology
apparently
appearance
appropriate
arctic
argument
arising
arithmetic
arrangement
ascend
association
athlete
athletics
attendance
audience
bachelor
basically
beginning
believe
benefited
brilliant
Britain
bureau
business
cafeteria
calendar
candidate
category
cemetery
changeable
changing
characteristic
chosen
column
coming
commitment
committed
committee
comparative
competitive
conceivable
conference
conferred
conqueror
conscience
conscientious
conscious
convenient
courteous
criticism
criticize
curiosity
dealt
decision
definitely
descendant
describe
description
despair
desperate
develop
dictionary
dining
disagree
disappear
disappoint
disastrous
dissatisfied
eighth
eligible
eliminate
embarrass
eminent
emphasize
entirely
entrance
environment
equivalent
especially
exaggerated
exhaust
existence
experience
explanation
extraordinary
extremely
familiar
fascinate
February
foreign
forty
fourth
friend
government
grammar
guard
guidance
harass
height
humorous
illiterate
imaginary
imagination
immediately
incidentally
incredible
indefinitely
indispensable
inevitable
infinite
intelligence
interesting
irrelevant
irresistible
knowledge
laboratory
legitimate
license
lightning
literature
loneliness
maintenance
maneuver
marriage
mathematics
mischievous
necessary
nevertheless
noticeable
obstacle
occasion
occasionally’
occur
occurred
occurrence
optimistic
original
outrageous
pamphlet
parallel
particularly
pastime
perform
performance
permissible
perseverance
perspiration
phenomenon
physically
picnicking
playwright
politics
practically
precede
precedence
preference
preferred
prejudice
preparation
prevalent
primitive
privilege
probably
proceed
professor
prominent
pronunciation
quantity
quiet
quite
quizzes
receive
recognize
recommend
reference
referred
regard
religion
repetition
restaurant
rhythm
rhythmical
ridiculous
roommate
sandwich
schedule
secretary
seize
separate
sergeant
several
similar
sincerely
soliloquy
sophomore
specimen
strictly
subtly
succeed
surprise
temperature
thorough
tragedy
transferred
tries
truly
Tuesday
unanimous
unnecessarily
until
usually
vacuum
vengeance
villain
weird
whether
writing
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GSP—Grammar Review
Pronouns
Antecedents: Pronouns should refer clearly to their antecedents.
Incorrect: If your cat won’t eat raw meat, cook it.
Pronouns must agree in number with their antecedents.
Incorrect: The company admitted their mistake.
The media will use its power.
Use the correct case forms of pronouns.
Incorrect: John, Fred, and me have organized a new company.
Incorrect: He praised the doctor and myself.
Incorrect: The person whom he said was here has not arrived.
Use that to introduce restrictive clauses and which to introduce non-restrictive clauses
Verbs
Avoid shifts in tense and be sure that verbs agree with their subjects. Remember, however, that many
nouns with plural forms take singular verbs,
Example: The news is good tonight.
Modifiers
Good is an adjective, well is an adverb.
Avoid dangling and misplaced modifiers.
Incorrect: While walking along the roadside, a rock fell near my feet.
Incorrect: The coach watched the batter closely sitting on the bench.
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GSP Review Questions
1. I hoped I had chosen / a history professor who/didn’t give pop quizes.
a. I hoped I had chosen
b. a history professor who
c. didn’t give pop quizes
2. In the courtroom/ I sat next to /the witness’s sister.
a. In the courtroom
b. I sat next to
c. the witness’s sister
3. When I lived in New York, / I was a big fan / of Rodgers’ and Hammerstein’s musicals.
a. When I lived in New York,
b. I was a big fan
c. of Rodgers’ and Hammersteins’ muscials
4. If you travel around Italy,/ you will see many frescoes/ of angels wearing haloes.
a. If you travel around Italy,
b. you will see many frescoes
c. of angels wearing haloes.
5. A group of actors/planned to take/their show on the road.
a. A group of actors
b. planned to take
c. their show on the road.
6. Its not going /to take me a long time/ to finish my Christmas shopping.
a. Its not going
b. to take me a long time
c. to finish my Christmas shopping.
7. He is one of the seniors/ who is going to stay at TCU/ to do postgraduate studies.
a. He is one of the seniors
b. who is going to stay at TCU
c. to do postgraduate studies.
8. Running fast to get to class,/ Cindy’s purse got caught/ on the doorknob.
a. Running fast to get to class
b. Cindy’s purse got caught
c. on the doorknob.
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9. I drove to Virginia/ in June of 1997; and it was a beautiful trip.
a. I drove to Virginia
b. in June of 1997;
c. and it was a beautiful trip.
10. The journalism department chairman, /Anantha Babbili/ will address the convocation.
a. The journalism department chairman,
b. Anantha Babbili
c. will address the opening convocation.
11. “My favorite expression/ is “be prepared,”” /John said.
a. “My favorite expression
b. is “be prepared,””
c. John said.
12. After I made 100 on my English test, I was confidant/ I could earn an A in the class.
a. After I made 100 on my English test
b. I was confidant
c. I could earn an A in the class.
13. Sally’s engagement ring/ was centered with a diamond/ that weighed two full carets.
a. Sally’s engagement ring
b. was center with a diamond
c. that weighed two full carets.
14. John said he can never remember/ which city is the capitol/ of New Hampshire.
a. John said he can never remember
b. which city is the capitol
c. of New Hampshire.
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Usage Test A – Additional Problems
Name ____________________
Part 1. Place the letter of the correct answer in the blank at the left of each sentence.
___ 1. There are (a. fewer, b. less) rivers in Texas than in Colorado.
___ 2. Do you know (a. whom, b. who) the thief was?
___ 3. Mike is one of those students who (a. play, b. plays) tennis.
___ 4. None of the boys brought (a. his, b. their) books.
___ 5. There (a. do, b. does) remain two alternatives.
___ 6. What is the point of (a. this, b. these) kind of question?
___ 7. I read in the paper (a. where, b. that) our team won.
___ 8. Neither your friends nor Mr. Smith (a. have, b. has) worked this year.
___ 9. Everyone left (a. her, b. their) books at home.
___ 10. I forgot that he had notified us—john and (a. me, b. I ).
___ 11. The cast of players (a. change, b. changes) monthly.
___ 12. The number of people who object to the plans (a. is, b. are) small.
___ 13. I wish I (a. were, b. was) a rich person.
___ 14. Just between you and (a. I, b. me), I don’t care.
___ 15. The (a. amount, b. number) of students here is large.
___ 16. No one but Bonnie and (a. me, b. I ) went to the dance.
___ 17. Which one of the buses (a. goes, b. go) to El Dorado?
___ 18. The reason I never argue with my sister is (a. because, b. that) I am older and realize
my logic is wasted.
___ 19. Anyone as brilliant as (a. he, b. him) should make a lot of money.
___ 20. An (a. affect, b. effect) of smoking is cancer.
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Additional Problems
Name ___________________
Directions: The sentences below contain errors in grammar, usage, word choice, and idiom.
Parts of each sentence are underlined and lettered. Decide which underlined part contains the
error and circle its letter. If the sentence is correct as it stands, mark E. No sentence contains
more than one error.
1. Not wanting them to be unnecessary distressed, I didn’t tell them about our mishap
A
B
C
D
with the car. No error
E
2. By the time he reached the cabin, the mercury had dropped and his hands were
A
B
nearly froze No error
C
D
E
3. We ought to set our prejudices aside and except each other as equals. No error
A
B
C
D
E
4. Every athlete has their own way of preparing for a game. No error
A
B
C
D
E
5. As a documentary photographer for the Farm Security Administration during the
A
Depression, Dorothea Lange recorded the hardships and desperation of America’s
B
C
dispossessed. No error.
D
E
6. The Piltdown man, one of the most extraordinary scientific hoax of all time, was
A
accepted by anthropologists as the “missing link” between man and the apes.
B
C
D
No error
E
7. Lifeguards have been known to effect rescues even during storms. No error
A
B
C
D
E
8. The mayor expressed concern about the large amount of people injured at street
A
B
C
crossings. No error
D
E
9. “Let us face the fact that we’re in trouble!” he shouted. No error
A
B
C
D
E
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GSP Review: Key to Practice Questions
GSP Review Questions 1-14
1.
C (quizzes not quizes)
2.
C (just s’ because sister begins with an s)
3.
C (Rodgers and Hammerstein’s because they are a team, not working separately)
4.
C (preferred spelling is halos not haloes)
5.
C (group is a collective noun, calls for its not their)
6.
A (It’s not its)
7.
B (seniors who are not is)
8.
A (Dangling modifier)
9. B
(no ; with the conjunction)
10. B
(need commas on both sides of Anantha Babbili—appositive)
11. B (single quotation marks with use of quote within quote)
12. B (confident not confidant)
13. C (carat not caret; note that karat refers to gold, carat refers to gems, caret is a ^, and carrot is a vegetable)
14. B (capital is the city, capitol is the building)
Additional Problems—part 1
1. A (fewer and number refer to things that can be counted, less and amount refer to things that can’t be counted)
2. B (The thief was who?—Linking verbs never take the objective case of pronouns)
3.
A (students who play—who is a plural subject here because it refers to students)
4.
A (none is singular)
5.
A (two do remain)
6. A (this kind)
7. B (where always refers to place)
8. B (subject closest to verb determines number of verb with neither/nor and either/or)
9.
A (everyone is singular)
10. A (us renames object of preposition)
11.
B (cast is a singular collective noun)
12. A (the number is small)
13. A (use were not was with the subjunctive signaled by if or wish)
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14. B (object of preposition between)
15. B (use number with items that can be counted)
16. A (except is a preposition, object needed)
17. A (one goes to El Dorado)
18. B (the reason is always that, not because)
19. A (anyone as brilliant as he is brilliant—understood verb with as and than)
20. B (in most cases, affect is a verb and effect is a noun)
Additional problems part 2
1.
B (unnecessarily not unnecessary because the word is used as an adverb)
2.
D (frozen not froze)
3.
C (accept not except)
4.
B (his not their because every is singular)
5.
E correct sentence
6.
A (one of the hoaxes)
7.
B (to affect)
8.
C (number not amount because people can be counted)
9. E correct sentence
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Usage Review #1
Circle the correct word in each sentence.
1. (Who/Whom) do you have in mind?
2. One of the players who (have/has) good potential is leaving the team.
3. Either my sister or my brother (have/has) been here while we were gone.
4. The best part of the program (was/were) the games.
5. He has made better grades than (I/me).
6. They decided to go to Europe with my wife and (I/me).
7. If the water (raises/rises) two feet, the town will flood.
8. Tired, but unable to sleep, he stretched out on the couch and (lay/laid) there.
9. In the foreground of the picture are a pear and a peach, neither of which (look/looks) edible.
10. Roaring with rage, Martin (swang/swung/swinged) the cat over his head.
11. If Charlie could pitch (like/as) his brother does, we would wind more games.
12. No one except Balder and (I/me/myself) should have access to the safe.
13. To (he/him) (who/whom) comes away the victor (belong/belongs) the spoils.
14. My boss paid me a nice (compliment/complement) this morning.
15. The (affect/effect) of the cotton gin on the South was revolutionary.
16. The (principle/principal) reason for his missing class was illness.
17. Everyone must bring (their/his) own food to the campout.
18. Joe is a (real/really) serious boy.
19. He should (have/of) thought of that before he left.
20. I never met anyone as brilliant as (he/him).
Usage Review #2
Underline the error in the following sentences. If the sentence is correct, write C after the sentence.
1. He had a peculiar habit. Pinching his nose before he spoke.
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2. I saw a man leading a dog that I recognized as my cousin.
3. Angered, the color rose in her face.
4. Turmish is quiet, industrious, intelligent, and loves to have fun.
5. When Jim was in grade school, he didn’t like his English teacher because he made him work even
when he didn’t want to.
6. Those of you who attended high school with Frank Rogers will recall that he was very strong and of
great skill.
7. We have placed mousetraps in every room; I am certain they won’t bother us much longer.
8. I am not likely to forgive Lovelace, Clarissa claims that she does.
9. Because of her teacher’s inspiring example, she decided to be one herself when she grew up.
10. First I rake the soil, then I lay out rows and plant the seeds.
11. It is useless to talk to him about your football because it will just go in one hear and out the other.
12. Searching for a place to hide my treasure, a loose stone in the wall caught my attention.
13. Who’s did you suppose it was?
14. When I walked into the Pentagon, I was overwhelmed by the amount of corridors and the acres of
offices.
15. After we had reached the dead end, we realized we should of turned left at the intersection.
16. Have you ever known people as stingy as them?
17. Taking all things into consideration; I guess fall is my favorite season.
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Usage review #3
Underline the error in the following sentences. If the sentence is correct, write C beside it.
1. Bart not only likes pizza but also lasagna.
2. Having eaten the canned cat food, Larry decided that the cat was no longer hungry.
3. The teacher gave us a lecture on how to behave ourselves in school about every two weeks.
4. The hamburgers were given to all the guests smothered in onions.
5. Not noticing who had just entered the room, Jen’s conversation continued unchecked.
6. The major reason for Stevenson’s continuing popularity is his story telling ability.
7. We saw Johnny hit a home run from the bleachers.
8. We put alcohol in the gas tank, thus we kept the lines free of ice.
9. Everyone is supposed to show their identification card when the usher asks for it.
10. A good set of box-end wrenches cost nearly one hundred dollars.
11. There have been a large number of forest fires, therefore, extra precautions are being taken.
12. The Milky Way is one of the giant galaxies; however, that are visible at great distances.
13. Helen Keller is one of the many persons who has triumphed over physical handicaps.
14. The man either picked up his check or had it sent directly to the bank.
15. There were several reports from the radar stations all of them were conflicting.
16. When mother came home from Europe, she started planning another trip.
17. If you ask me, Charley is being lead down the primrose path.
18. The automobile industry has been effected by Ralph Nadar’s investigations.
19. A dog’s affections are more obvious than a cat.
20. I wish I was fishing on Beaver Lake rather than sitting in my back yard.
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Review of Subject-Verb Agreement
Choose the correct form of the verb within parentheses in each sentence below. Make sure
the verb agrees with its subject.
1. Neither Professor Barr nor Professor Neill (think, thinks) that the problem is solved.
2. Attitudes about responsibility, of course, (vary, varies).
3. Every one of the items (was, were) inventoried last month.
4. A low wall and a high hedge (provide, provides) privacy for the entrance.
5. Neither of them even (know, knows) when to stop.
6. There (comes, come) to my mind now the titles of the award-winning novels.
7. The sweepstakes prize (was, were) ten million dollars.
8. A rustic lodge, as well as a game refuge and fishing waters, (is, are) near by.
9. Such computers, which (stores, store) personal data, (jeopardizes, jeopardize) the privacy
of millions.
10. An understanding of mathematics (is, are) facilitated by a knowledge of number theory..
20
Review of Pronoun Case Form
Choose the correct pronoun within the parentheses in each of the following sentences.
1. When choosing a career, people like Lucille and (I, me) have many options.
2. (She, Her) and (I, me) applied for a small federal grant.
3. It was Dean and (she, her) who volunteered to do the publicity.
4. Are Mitch and (they, them) still looking for a job?
5. Between Lana and (she, her) there is little cooperation.
6. Mr. Liu will hire a new programmer, either Sam or (he, him).
7. Leaving Scot and (he, him) at home, we went to town with Elizabeth and (she, her).
8. My family and (I, me, myself) expected Bobby and (she, her) to declare bankruptcy.
9. Two employees in our office, Tom and (he, him), talked with the boss.
10. After the meeting, the boss talked with two employees, Tom and (he, him).
21
Case Forms of Nouns and Pronouns
Nouns
Subjective
boy
Jessie
Personal Pronouns
Singular
1st person
I
2nd person
you
3rd person
he
she
it
Plural
1st person
we
2nd person
you
3rd person
they
Objective
boy
Jessie
Possessive
boy’s
Jessie’s
me
you
him
her
it
my, mine
your, yours
his
her, hers
its
us
you
them
our, ours
your, yours
their, theirs
Relative and Interrogative Pronouns
who
whom
whoever
whomever
which, that
which, that
what
what
Indefinite Pronouns
everybody
everybody
Singular
Reflexive Pronouns
1 Person
2nd Person
myself
yourself
Plural
ourselves
st
yourselves
whose
---------
everybody’s
3rd Person
himself
herself
itself
themselves
22
Main Uses of the Comma
To separate main clauses linked by a coordinating conjunction (opposite).
Main Clause
for and or
so but nor
yet
,
.
Main Clause
The building is finished, but it has no tenants.
To set off most introductory elements (opposite).
Introductory
Element
,
.
Main Clause
Unfortunately, the only tenant pulled out.
To set off nonessential elements.
Main Clause
,
.
Nonessential
Element
The empty building symbolizes a weak local economy, which affects everyone.
Beginning of
Main Clause
,
,
Nonessential
Element
End of
Main Clause
.
The primary cause, the decline of local industry, is not news.
To separate items in a series.
…
item 1
,
,
item 2
and
or
item 3
.
The city needs healthier businesses, new schools, and improved housing.
To separate coordinate adjectives.
…
First Adjective
,
Second Adjective
Word Modified
…
A tall, sleek skyscraper is not needed.
Other uses for commas: To separate parts of dates, addresses, long numbers.
To separate quotations and signal phrases.