Mt. Language Help
20 Content Problems for the Most
Difficult Errors in English
Four kinds of nouns
• Concrete= a solid real thing in the physical
world.
• Abstract= an idea or feeling. These can’t be
touched by your fingers.
• Collective= a single word which means a
group. Family. Team. Class. Crew.
• compound= This is easy. There will be two or
more words. Christmas Day. Grandmother.
Possessive Nouns
or
Where do I put the apostrophe?
• If the noun is singular
and does not end in “S”
the apostrophe goes
before the s.
• Bob’s shoe
one person named Bob
who owns a shoe.
• dog’s collar
one collar belonging to
one dog.
• If the noun is plural and
ends in an “S” the
apostrophe goes AFTER
the “s”.
• Students’ tablets
tablets belonging to
many students.
• Elephants’ tusks.
Tusks belonging to
many elephants
Active Voice/ Passive Voice
(Passive voice is really inverted sentence order; the object of the preposition “BY”
becomes the subject of the passive voice sentence.)
• In active voice sentences, the subject does the action.
•
Example: Liz played the piano.
• In passive voice sentences, the subject receives the action.
•
Example: The piano was played by Liz.
"Do or do
not; there
• Can you see how the subject and the direct
is no try."
object have changed places?
This came from the website below. Go to this website for more help.
• http://englishforeveryone.org/PDFs/Active%20-%20Passive%20Voice.pdf
•
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Yoda
4. Right use of verb
Tense
Example
Explanation
Simple Present
I play football every week.
Here you want to say that it happens regularly.
Present
Progressive
I'm playing football now.
Here you want to say that it is happening at the moment.
Simple Past
I played football yesterday.
You did it yesterday, it happened in the past.
Past Progressive
I was playing football the whole
evening.
You were doing it in the past. It's not sure whether the action was finished
or not.
Present Perfect
I have just played football.
You have just finished it. So it has a connection to the present. Maybe your
clothes are dirty.
Present Perfect
Progressive
I have been playing football for 2
hours.
You want to say how long you have been doing it. (You started in the past
and it continues up to the present.
Past Perfect
I had played football before Susan
came.
The two actions are related to each other: you had finished to play football
and after that the girl arrived.
Past Perfect
Progressive
I had been playing football for two
hours when Susan came.
Here you want to point out how long you had been doing it before the girl
came.
Future
I will play football next week.
This is a prediction, you can probably do something else.
Future Progressive I will be playing football next Sunday. You do it every Sunday (as usual)
Future Perfect
I will have played football by tomorrow.
You will have done it before tomorrow.
5. Correct Fragment/Run-on Sentence
• Given an incorrect sentence or sentence
fragment, how can you make ONE
complete sentence?
make a simple sentence—one idea
make a compound sentence—two ideas
comma and a coordinating conjunction(, fanboys)
Semicolon ( ; ) to separate two independent clauses.
make a complex sentence using a
subordinating conjunction or a relative
pronoun.
6. ID Subject and Verb
• Identify the simple
subject only.
• In a declarative
sentence (not a
question) the subject
comes before the verb.
• It will NEVER be in a
prepositional phrase.
– Use your prepositional
phrase chart to filter for
prepositions.
This will be a
little easier;
verb choice
is in
parenthesis
• The verb may be a
single word, or it could
have a be verb AND an
auxiliary verb in
addition to the action
verb—
– “have been walking.”
– “were playing”
7. Correct adjective
• Positive degree just the
basic form of the
adjective.
• Comparative degree=
comparing two items=
the -ER form of the
adjective.
• Superlative degree
comparing three or more
items. It takes the –EST
form of the adjective.
• Good, strong, fast
• Better, stronger,
faster
• Best, strongest,
fastest
8. Correct adverb
99 44/100% of the time the adverb will end in
–LY. It is a very safe bet to go with that.
• Watch out for good and well.
– Good is an adjective; it will describe a noun.
– Well is an adverb; it will describe a verb, an other
adverb, or an adjective.
• Watch out for lovely and ugly; they are
adjectives.
– Slowly, quickly, graciously, fabulously, thinly, powerfully, loudly, softly –
all adverbs.
#9. Easily confused words
•
affect / effect Effect is usually a noun that means a result or the power to produce a result: “The sound of the falling rain had a calming
effect, nearly putting me to sleep.” Affect is usually a verb that means to have an influence on: “His loud humming was affecting my
ability to concentrate.” Note that effect can also be a verb meaning to bring about or execute: “The speaker's somber tone effected a
dampening in the general mood of the audience.”
•
cite / site Cite is a verb that means to quote as an authority or example: “I cited several eminent scholars in my study of water
resources.” It also means to recognize formally: “The public official was cited for service to the city.” It can also mean to summon before
a court of law: “Last year the company was cited for pollution violations.” Site is a noun meaning location: “They chose a new site for
the factory just outside town.”
•
few / less Few is an adjective that means small in number. It is used with countable objects: “This department has few employees.”
Less is an adjective that means small in amount or degree. It is used with objects of indivisible mass: “Which jar holds less water?”
•
their / there / they're Their is the possessive form of they; there refers to place; and they're is the contraction of they are. “They're
going there because their mother insisted they become proficient in Serbo-Croatian.”
•
who's / whose Who's is the contraction of who is. Whose is the possessive form of who. “Who's going to figure out whose job it is to
clean the stables?”
•
it's / its It's is a contraction for it is, whereas its is the possessive form of it: “It's a shame that we cannot talk about its size.”
•
your / you're Your is the possessive form of you; you're is the contraction you are. “If you're planning on swimming, then be sure to
bring your life vest and flippers.”
•
stationary / stationery Stationary is an adjective that means fixed or unmoving: “They maneuvered around the stationary barrier in the
road.” Stationery is a noun that means writing materials: “We printed the letters on company stationery.”
•
principal / principle Principal is a noun that means a person who holds a high position or plays an important role: “The school principal
has 20 years of teaching experience.” Principal is also an adjective that means chief or leading: “The necessity of moving to another city
was the principal reason I turned down the job offer.” Principle is a noun that means a rule or standard: “They refused to compromise
their principles.”
•
laid / lain / lay Laid is the past tense and the past participle of the verb lay and not the past tense of lie. Lay is the past tense of the
verb lie and lain is the past participle: “He laid his books down and lay down on the couch, where he has lain for an hour.”
•
Read more: Easily Confused or Misused Words | Infoplease.com http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0200807.html#ixzz2QGYHGegU
10. Verb tense
This is from this web site: http://www.englishpage.com/verbpage/verbtenseintro.html
Simple Present
Simple Past
I study English every day.
Two years ago, I studied English in
England.
Simple Future
If you are having problems, I will study
English with you.
I will study English next year.
( NOT ON Mt. Language)Present Continuous
I am studying English now.
Present Perfect
I have studied English in several
different countries.
(Not on Mt. Language)Past Continuous
I was studying English when you called
yesterday.
Past Perfect
I had studied a little English before I
moved to the U.S.
(Not on Mt. Language) Future Continuous
I will be studying English when you
arrive tonight.
I am going to be studying English when
you arrive tonight.
Future Perfect
I will have studied every tense by the
time I finish this course.
I will have studied every tense by the
time I finish this course.
11. Pronoun Case
• Usage - Pronoun Case
Subjective or
nominative case
Objective case
Possessive case
1st person
I
me
mine
2nd person
you
you
yours
3rd
person
he
she
it
him
her
it
his
hers
its
1st person
we
us
ours
2nd person
you
you
yours
3rd person
they
them
theirs
Who?
Whom?
Whose?
Whoever?
Whomever?
relative
which/that/ who
which/that/
whom
Whose
indefinite
pronouns
Everybody all
most some
Everybody
nobody
everybody's
personal
pronouns
singular
plural
interrogative
pronouns
#12 Pronoun Types
Personal
I, me, we, us, you, he, him, she, it, they, them
Possessive
My, mine, our, ours, your, yours, his, her, hers, its, their, theirs
**Relative**
Used in subordinate clauses to create complex sentences.
That, which, who, whom, whose
Demonstrative “Determiners”
This these those that
Intensive/Reflexive
Himself, herself, itself, themselves, myself
Interrogative
What, which, who, whom, whose
Any
Indefinite
All
Each
Many
Nobody Other Both few
Either Much One Somebody More None
Several
Anyone Everything Most No one Some
#12. Pronoun types
This is from http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0885483.html
Pronouns
•
A pronoun is used in place of a noun or nouns. Common pronouns include he, her, him, I, it, me, she, them, they, us, and we.
•
Often a pronoun takes the place of a particular noun. This noun is known as the antecedent. A pronoun "refers to," or directs your
thoughts toward, its antecedent.
Let's call Luma and ask her to join the team. (Her is a pronoun; Luma is its antecedent.)To find a pronoun's antecedent, ask yourself what that
pronoun refers to.
What does her refer to in the sentence above—that is, who is the her? The her in the sentence is Luma; therefore,
Luma is the antecedent.
Subjective / Nominative Pronouns
•
A subjective pronoun acts as the subject of a sentence—it performs the action of the verb. The subjective pronouns are he, I, it, she, they,
we, and you.
•
He spends ages looking out the window. After lunch, she and I went to the planetarium.
Objective Pronouns
•
An objective pronoun acts as the object of a sentence—it receives the action of the verb. The objective pronouns are her, him, it, me,
them, us, and you.
•
Cousin Eldred gave me a trombone. Take a picture of him, not us!
Possessive Pronouns
•
A possessive pronoun tells you who owns something. The possessive pronouns are hers, his, its, mine, ours, theirs, and yours.
•
The red basket is mine. Yours is on the coffee table.
Demonstrative Pronouns
•
A demonstrative pronoun points out a noun. The demonstrative pronouns are that, these, this, and those.
•
That is a good idea. These are hilarious cartoons. A demonstrative pronoun may look like a demonstrative adjective, but it is used
differently in a sentence: it acts as a pronoun, taking the place of a noun.
#12. Pronoun types
This is from http://www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0885483.html
Interrogative Pronouns
•
An interrogative pronoun is used in a question. It helps to ask about something. The interrogative pronouns are what, which,
who, whom, and compound words ending in "ever," such as whatever, whichever, whoever, and whomever.
•
What on earth is that? Who ate the last Fig Newton?
•
An interrogative pronoun may look like an interrogative adjective, but it is used differently in a sentence: it acts as a
pronoun, taking the place of a noun.
Indefinite Pronouns
•
An indefinite pronoun refers to an indefinite, or general, person or thing. Indefinite pronouns include all, any, both, each,
everyone, few, many, neither, none, nothing, several, some, and somebody.
•
Something smells good. Many like salsa with their chips.
•
An indefinite pronoun may look like an indefinite adjective, but it is used differently in a sentence: it acts as a pronoun,
taking the place of a noun.
Relative Pronouns
•
A relative pronoun introduces a clause, or part of a sentence, that describes a noun. The relative pronouns are that, which,
who, and whom, whose.
•
You should bring the book that you love most. That introduces "you love most," which describes the book.
•
Hector is a photographer who does great work. Who introduces "does great work," which describes Hector.
Reflexive Pronouns
•
A reflexive pronoun refers back to the subject of a sentence. The reflexive pronouns are herself, himself, itself, myself,
ourselves, themselves, and yourselves. Each of these words can also act as an intensive pronoun (see below).
•
I learned a lot about myself at summer camp. (Myself refers back to I.)They should divide the berries among themselves.
(Themselves refers back to they.)
Intensive Pronouns
•
An intensive pronoun emphasizes its antecedent (the noun that comes before it). The intensive pronouns are herself,
himself, itself, myself, ourselves, themselves, and yourselves. Each of these words can also act as a reflective pronoun (see
above).
I myself don't like eggs. The queen herself visited our class
#13. Choose the correct pronoun
• Is the correct word a contraction? A
contraction is the combination of two words;
one is usually a verb.
• Take the contraction apart and put it into the
two word format, then read the sentence.
Does it now make sense? If not the other
choice is correct.
#14 Combining two sentence with an appositive.
An appositive is an adjective phrase that adds additional information to a preceding noun. It
provides a second image, expanding the details of the original idea.
An appositive will NOT have a verb inside it! It is 100% adjective!
ORIGINAL SENTENCE: The raft drifted slowly down the winding river.
NEW SENTENCE: The raft, a skimpy wooden structure, drifted slowly down the winding river.
ORIGINAL SENTENCE: The waterfall poured the fresh pure spray into the creek.
NEW SENTENCE: The waterfall, a tilted pitcher, poured the fresh, pure spray into the creek.
EXAMPLE: A poisonous snake, the creepy rattler, slithered through the tall grass.
Now you try it!
A motorbike drove down the street.
EXAMPLE: ________________________________________________________________
Taken from Image Grammar by Harry S. Noden C. 1999
#15. Prefixes, root words, and suffixes.
• You can go to this web site for extensive help.
– http://www.prefixsuffix.com/rootchart.php
Ask: is there a prefix? Where does it start? Stop?
Ask: is there a suffix? Where does it start? Stop?
What is left is the root word. It may not even
look like a word, but what remains is the root.
#16. Sentence types
• Is the sentence
– Declarative—a simple statement of fact.
– Interrogative—asking a question?
– Imperative—giving a command. (Do this!)
– Exclamatory—exclaiming about something
exciting!
#17 Subject complements: predicate nominative, predicate adjectives
or
Direct objects and indirect objectives
• Start with identifying the verb.
Is the verb linking or transitive?
If the verb is linking then the
underlined word will be a predicate
nominative or predicate adjective.
If the verb is transitive, carrying the
action of the verb, it can only be a
direct object or an indirect object.
Test for DO= verb what? Answer? DO
Test for IO= to whom? For whom? IO.
#18. Prepositional PHRASES
• Prepositions: if the following words do not have an object, then they are
not being used as a prepositional phrase. (up the hill, behind the house,
on the chair.)
about
above
according to
across
after
against
in spite of
instead of
into
like
near
of
regarding
since
through
throughout
to
toward
along
below
beneath
beside
between
beyond
but (meaning
except)
by
off
under
amid
among
around
at
atop
because of
before
behind
concerning
down
during
except
for
from
in
inside
on
on account of
onto
out
out of
outside
over
past
underneath
until
up
upon
with
within
without
#19. Proofreading for mistakes.
• The sentences here will have mistakes which
need correcting. The mistakes will be with
capitalization and punctuation. Re-write the
sentence correctly.
• Do not revise or re-word the sentence; simply
proofread for errors. Be sure to include an
end mark; all sentence end with end marks.
#20. Sentence structure type.
• Is the sentence simple? Is it one independent
clause? (Just one idea?)
• Is the sentence compound; does it join two
independent clauses together with a comma and
a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon? (two
ideas about the same topic?)
• Is the sentence complex? Does it have a
subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun
in a relative clause forming a dependent clause
with an independent clause?