***Grammar
Tips ***
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Grammar is an area far too broad
to begin even a basic discussion here. Rather than attempting to cover
the subject with any type of broad brush, let us simply look at a few common
errors which can be easily fixed.
Alot - A lot
"A lot"
is spelled as two words, not one.
The word "lot" can be substituted
for "set" or "group." Therefore, to have "a lot" means to have "a set"
or "a group." For instance, people who act together are "a group," not
"agroup."
Seen - Saw
"Seen"
needs a helping verb. "Saw"
does not.
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I have
seen many types of birds in my yard.
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We had
seen the movie before.
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What had
you seen in the
past?
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She was
last seen in
the park.
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Ted saw
the car parked in the drive.
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We saw
many beautiful sights.
Then - Than
"Then"
demonstrates a progression of time. "A" happened, then
"B" happened.
"Than"
shows how items are compared. I would rather have ice cream
than
pie.
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We will watch the movie then
have dinner.
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This book is better than
any other I have read.
There - Their - They're
There - a place. Where is
the book? It is there.
Their - belonging
to them. It is their house.
They're - a contraction for
"they are."
They're (they are) going to the park
To - Too - Two
To - (preposition) tells
about motion. He was going
to math class.
Too - (adverb) [1] also.
He bought peanut butter and bread, too. [2] an excessive amount.
There was
too much to put in the box.
Two - (adj) a number. I'll
have two scoops, please.
Agreement
Subjects must agree with
verbs
in "number."
That
is, a
singular subject must have a
singular verb. A plural
subject must have a plural verb.
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The dog
barks at strangers.
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The dogs
bark at strangers.
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He wasin
quite a hurry.
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We werein
quite a hurry.
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I ama
registered voter.
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We areregistered
voters.
Pronouns must agree with antecedents.
This means they must agree with the words they replace in number,
gender
and
person.
Number
means simply singular (one) or plural (more than one.)
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Any student
(1) wishing to
register should see his
(1) guidance
counselor.
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Students
(2 or more) wishing
to register should see their
(2 or more) guidance
counselors.
Gender
means male or female.
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Bill gave
his
money to the clerk.
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The dog
buried its bone
in the flower bed.
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Sherry
called her aunt
in Kentucky.
Person
refers to who is being spoken about - the speaker ("I" - first), the listener
("you" - second), or another person ("she" - third).
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First person - I
took my money
from the account.
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Second person - Jerry,
tell your mother
that you will
be right there
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Third Person - Sally
gave her mother
a bracelet for Christmas.
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A valuable resource: To find a more
detailed discussion of grammar, go to:
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The
Strunks and White Page
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