ACT Punctuation Review

1. ACT Punctuation Review Spring 2014

2. Apostrophes (use & misuse) • PLURALS • If a noun does not end in s, make plural by adding s dog  dogs • If a noun does end in s, make plural by adding es boss bosses • Never make plural by adding apostrophe s (’s) • The rules holds for family names and proper nouns • The Smiths are going on vacation. • The Kellys bought a new house. • The Robertses are going on vacation. • The Joneses like to go bowling. If you don’t like these, change the sentence: The Jones family likes to go bowling.

3. Possessives • To make most singular nouns possessive, add apostrophe and s (’s) • The dog’s collar is leather. (one dog) • For a plural noun ending in s, add only the apostrophe • The dogs’ collars are leather. (more than one dog) • For plural nouns not ending in s, add apostrophe and s (’s) • The women’s department is on this floor. • These rules are true with family names and initials used as a name (FDR). • Charles’s friends met him at the game. • Mr. Jones’s car is in the garage. • The Smiths’ house is blue. • The Joneses’ cars are Toyotas.

4. Apostrophe Reminders • Possessive pronouns do NOT have apostrophes! • Her’s Their’s Your’s It’s = WRONG!! (It’s = it is) • In a compound word or group, add apostrophe to the end: • Father-in-law’s hat • Rose and Denise’s idea • Add the number of apostrophes for each thing owned. • Josh’s and Parker’s rooms (each have their own) • Josh and Parker’s Wii (they share one) • Use possessives for time and amounts • A week’s vacation • A dollar’s worth Ended here Week 3-Day 1

5. Apostrophe Practice – correct the mistakes It is her’s. Women’s department That boys’ radio Who’s is it? Fly’s wings Five dollar’s worth Mice’s tails Childrens’ program No ones’ fault San Jose’s industries A Buddhist’s beliefs Leaves’ color Jeff’s and Joey’s room Soldiers’ rations It’s shiny surface That is their’s. Sister in laws’ house Churches’ spire The Siouxs’ land A horses’ hooves Mom’s and Dad’s cars

6. 2 GROUPS OF PUNCTUATION The function of periods, colons, and semicolons is to separate sentences. 2) The function of commas, dashes, and parentheses is to set off clauses or ideas WITHIN sentences.

7. JOINING SENTENCES Where does the sentence end? Listen for the split. Complete Sentence . Complete Sentence Complete Sentence ; Complete Sentence Complete Sentence : Complete Sentence Complete Sentence : List Complete Sentence : Point of emphasis

8. JOINING SENTENCES I am going to apply to four colleges.I hope they all accept me. I am going to apply to four colleges;I hope they all accept me. I am going to apply to four colleges:surely one will accept me! I am going to apply to four colleges: Drury, MU, Rolla, and Yale.

9. EXCEPTION – FAN BOYS • You can use ,to separate two sentences if you add one of the “FAN BOYS” • (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) • I am going to apply to four colleges,and I hope they all accept me.

10. COLONS and DASHES • COLONS are used to make an ‘announcement’ or draw attention to what follows a complete thought: • Use a colon before a list of items • We traveled through the following states: Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Virginia. • Do NOT use a colon after a verb • My three hobbies are: sewing, cooking, and painting. NO!! • My three hobbies are sewing, cooking, and painting. • Dashes indicate an abrupt break in thought. These are stronger than just parentheses or commas.

11. COMMA REMINDERS Separate items in a list of three or more items. He ordered cake, pie, and ice cream. Set off an introductory phrase from the main clause. After eating 8 donuts, John felt bloated. Set off an extra, non-essential information. Washington, the capitol of the US, was built on marshlands.

12. COMMA REMINDERS COMMA = PAUSES A comma acts like a Yield sign. You must s-l-o-w d-o-w-n for a comma when you read.

13. Subordinate Conjunctions (SC) Punctuation rules: SCS + V , S + V. If the dependent clause precedes the independent clause, a comma is needed between the clauses. S + VSCS + V. You add no punctuation when the dependent clause follows the independent clause.

14. Dependent Clause Sentences Do I use a comma? Because I got a 3.0 first semester, I was invited to the PNH dessert bar. I was invited to the PNH dessert bar because I got a 3.0 first semester.

15. PHRASES & MODIFIERS • Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. • Nailed to the gate, a no-trespassing sign attracted Patty’s attention.

16. PHRASES & MODIFIERS • Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. • Nailed to the gate, a no-trespassing sign attracted Patty’s attention. Sign is nailed to the gate.

17. PHRASES & MODIFIERS • Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. • Nailed to the gate, a no-trespassing sign attracted Patty’s attention. Sign is nailed to the gate. • Sleeping during history class, the teacher marked me absent.

18. PHRASES & MODIFIERS • Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. • Nailed to the gate, a no-trespassing sign attracted Patty’s attention. Sign is nailed to the gate. • Sleeping during history class, the teacher marked me absent. The teacher is sleeping during class!?

19. PHRASES & MODIFIERS • Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. • Nailed to the gate, a no-trespassing sign attracted Patty’s attention. Sign is nailed to the gate. • Sleeping during history class, the teacher marked me absent. The teacher is sleeping during class!? • Sleeping during history class, I was marked absent.

20. PHRASES & MODIFIERS • Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. • Walking down the street, his eyes were wide with wonder.

21. PHRASES & MODIFIERS • Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. • Walking down the street, his eyes were wide with wonder. Did his eyes start walking?

22. PHRASES & MODIFIERS • Participles should be placed as close as possible to the word it modifies. • Walking down the street, his eyes were wide with wonder. Did his eyes start walking? • Walking down the street, he expressed wide eyed wonder.

23. PHRASES & MODIFIERS Don’t leave your participles dangling! Having selected a college, a trip to the campus was planned.

24. PHRASES & MODIFIERS Don’t leave your participles dangling! Having selected a college, a trip to the campus was planned. - Who selected the college?

25. PHRASES & MODIFIERS Don’t leave your participles dangling! Having selected a college, a trip to the campus was planned. - Who selected the college? - Having selected a college, my family and I planned a trip to the campus.