Monday, May 26, 2014

Grammar - 5/26/14

Subordinating Conjunctions (memorize)
after
since
unless
although
though
than
as
when
so that
before
whenever
because
wherever
once
even if
while
*if
until

This website has a lot of information of subordinating conjunctions

What is the common mistake when using the subordinating conjunction in a sentence:  Having the S.C. function as a preposition.
ex.  After school, she walked home.
After = preposition
school = object of preposition (noun)
Another mistake is forgetting to add a subject to the dependent clause.
ex.  INCORRECT:  Before going home, she stopped at the market.
CORRECT:  Before she went home, she stopped at the market.

Outline:
Subordinating conjunction --> (leading into) dependent clause --> comma --> independent clause (simple sentence).

**You can put the subordinating conjunction in the second part of the sentence, but it changes the punctuation.
ex.  Jenny will not marry Steven if he is not rich.
- There is no comma when the S.C. is in the middle of the sentence.

* the S.C. "IF" moves the sentence from the indicative ("what is") mood to the subjunctive ("I wish") mood.

Review:
simple sentence = 1 independent clause.
ex.  I love you.
Simple sentence with a compound subject:
Sarah and Matthew married each other.
Simple sentence with compound predicate:
Jacob jumped onto his bicycle and rode it to town.

compound sentence = 2 independent clauses put together by a comma + coordinating conjunction.
ex.  Jessica poured water into the glass, but she did not drink it.
Semicolons also create compound sentences:
Compound sentence with an adverbial conjunction:
Tara is a musician; also, she is a great Shakespearean actress.
Compound sentence with transitional phrase:
Julie fell down the stairs; as a result, she broke her leg.
Basic semicolon construction sentence:  Sarah loves John; he hates her.

complex sentence = independent clause + dependent clause put together with a subordinating conjunction
ex)  After she went to school, she walked home.
After = Subordinating conjunction
After she went to school = dependent clause
she walked home = independent clause

Independent clause = subject, verb, complete thought
dependent clause = lacks a subject, verb, and/or complete thought
What is the guiding principle in writing?  Variety (use many types of sentences)

Good luck!  :)  The test is on Wednesday and will combine grammar + vocabulary.
- Dario

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Vocabulary List 8

1.  machiavellian - adj.
being or acting in accordance with the principles of government analyzed in "The Prince"; having political expediency above morality; characterized as unscrupulous, cunning, deceptive or dishonest.
Most politicians today devise Machiavellian strategies to achieve power.
The ethics of Wall Street are Machiavellian.

2.  mercenary - adj.
primarily influenced by greed or desire for gain; grasping; covetous; avaricious; acquisitive; working merely for money; acting only for reward.
The student's motives for becoming a physician were purely mercenary.
Teachers ought to rise above mercenary concerns to reach for the enlightenment of their students.

3.  cite -v.
to quote or refer to a passage, book, or author in substantiation as an authority, proof, or example; to summon to appear in a court of law; to mention in support, proof, or confirmation as an authority; to commend for bravery or meritorious action.
King Duncan cited Macbeth for his bravery on the battlefield.
The student cited William Shakespeare as the authority on love.

4.  ascertain - v.
to make certain; to discover; to learn unquestionable; to fine out definitely; to establish; to confirm.
The students at LaGuardia Arts found it difficult to ascertain who would be their principal after Kim Bruno resigned.
Experts have found it difficult to ascertain the future of technology.

5.  pundit - n.
an expert; a person who knows a great deal about a particular subject; a learned person; a scholar; a person of great authority; a critic; a commentator.
Dr. Phil is the leading pundit on television on dysfunctional families.
Teenagers are the leading pundits on popular music.

6.  contretemps - n.
an unlucky event; inopportune occurrence; an embarrassing mischance; a mishap; a blunder; a social embarrassment.
The contretemps between the security guard and the student resulted in a meeting with the dean in his office.
There was something of a contretemps between two students in the cafeteria who believed they had mistakenly picked up each others' cell phones.

7.  anathema - n.
a person or thing detested or loathed; someone or something greatly disliked or disapproved of; a formal ecclesiastical sure of imprecation; someone or something accursed or consigned to damnation.
Math was anathema to the ballerina.
Meat is anathema to vegetarians.

8.  scrutinize - v.
to examine minutely; to inspect critically; to look with close attention to detail.
The student scrutinized his term paper for errors in punctuation.
The lawyer scrutinized the contract searching for loopholes.

9.  pernicious - adj.
very destructive or harmful usually in an inconspicuous and relentless way; tending to cause death; fatal; deadly.
The dictators in the Middle East use pernicious chemical weapons to gain control of the masses.
According to Machiavelli, the pernicious ruler is often most effective in retaining power.

10.  ignominy - n.
great personal dishonor or humiliation; disgrace; shameful action, conduct or character.
President William Clinton suffered great ignominy over his alleged affair with Monica Lewinsky.
The ignominy of the student caught cheating was reflected in the lowering of his grade for poor conduct.

11.  prevaricate -v.
to speak falsely; to lie; to deliberately misstate; to create an incorrect impression; to deceive.
Abraham Lincoln never prevaricated according to legend.
When the student's mother realized he had prevaricated about doing his homework, she punished him.

12.  harbinger - n.
a messenger; a herald; a person sent in advance of troops to provide lodgings; a person who goes ahead to make known the approach of another; anything that foreshadows a future event; a future event; an omen.
Frost is a harbinger of winter.
The newscasters on television are sometimes harbingers of doom.

13.  promulgate - v.
to proclaim; to publicly or formally declare something; to officially announce; to set forth.
The principal of LaGuardia Arts promulgated her resignation to take a position in Los Angeles.
The spokesman for Buckingham Palace promulgated the news of Prince George's birth.

14.  heathen - n.
an unconverted individual who does not acknowledge God of the Bible; a person who is neither a Christian, Jew, or Muslim; a pagan.
During the Crusades, the Christians executed Muslims as heathens.
The minister refused to let the heathens pray in church.

15.  exacerbate - v.
to aggravate; to increase the severity of; to make worse; to make harsher; to embitter the feelings of; to irritate.
Some seniors exacerbate the freshmen's insecurity in a new school by bullying them
The teacher was exacerbated by the student's excessive lateness.

Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Vocabulary List 7

1.  parricide - n.
murder of a father; the act of killing one's father; patricide.
Duncan's sons were suspected of parricide.
The deranged son committed parricide in front of his horrified mother.

2.  quell - v.
to suppress; to put an end to; to extinguish; to vanquish; to subdue; to calm; to pacify.
Inoculation was used to quell to scourge of smallpox.
The mother quelled the qualms of her child.

3.  forbear - v.
to patiently endure something which is unpleasant; to keep oneself in check; to control oneself; to refrain from doing something one is inclined to perform.
Macduff could not forbear taking revenge on Macbeth for the slaying of his family.
Macbeth could not forbear the aggressive drive of his own ambition.

4.  surreptitious - adj.
secretive; clandestine; sneaky; acting in a stealthy way; furtive; characterized by fraud.
The student cast a surreptitious glance at the test of her classmate sitting next to her.
The slaying of Duncan was a surreptitious act.

5.  thrall - n.
a slave; a person in bondage; a person who is morally or mentally enslaved by some power; a vassal; a serf.
Macbeth was a thrall of ambition.
The guards of King Duncan, whom Lady Macbeth had drugged, were thralls of sleep when Macbeth committed the murder.

6.  homage - n.
reverential regard; respect shown through external action; an expression of great honor.
Macbeth pretended to pay homage to King Duncan.
On Thanksgiving, Americans pay homage to their founding fathers.

7.  rue - v.
to regret; to mourn; to feel sorry about something; to feel remorse; to wish an act could be undone.
Lady Macbeth rued the day she convinced her husband to murder the king.
The student rued his decision not to study for the Scholastic Aptitude Test.

8.  rebuke - v.
to scold; to reprimand; to take to task; to criticize harshly.
The teacher rebuked the student for her continual lateness.
Macbeth could not stand to be rebuked by his wife.

9.  minion - n.
a servile follower; a subordinate of a person in power; a minor official; a favorite dependent especially a fawning one.
Macbeth was one of King Duncan's minions who led Scotland to victory in battle.
Were the witches the minions of Satan?

10.  knave - n.
a young male servant; a miscreant; a rascal; a rogue; a tricky, deceitful person; a dolt.
The knave cut class on the day of the final exam.
Some politicians consider Edward Snowden a knave for revealing secret documents to the media.

11.  posterity - n.
offspring; all descendants; future generations; progeny; lineage; issue; a group of those descended directly from the same parents or ancestors.
A record of events was preserved for posterity.
Judgement of this age must be left to posterity.

12.  mien - n.
air; bearing; demeanor; manner.
Macbeth had the mien of a general but the heart of a killer.
The President of the United States has a noble mien.

13.  scepter - n.
a rod or wand borne in the hand as an emblem of regal or imperial power; a symbol of sovereignty; a ceremonial staff held by a monarch as a symbol of authority.
Macbeth usurped the scepter from Duncan.
He who claims the scepter rules.

14.  internecine - adj.
of or relating to a struggle within a nation or organization; mutually destructive; characterized by bloodshed; involving conflict within a group.
The internecine struggle for power in Scotland ended with the beheading of Macbeth.
The Civil War involved the most brutal internecine conflict in the history of The United States.

15.  bellicose - adj.
warlike in a manner or temperament; pugnacious; combative; eager to fight; aggressively hostile.
On the battlefield, Macbeth was a bellicose warrior.
The militants in Egypt were bellicose and fearless.

Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Grammar Lesson - Apostrophe

* What is the purpose of the apostrophe?
     - To show possession/ownership
* What is the biggest mistake made?
     - Using the apostrophe with plurals
          ex.  The boys are going to sleep. = correct
          ex.  The boy's are going to sleep. = incorrect
In possessives, the placement of the apostrophe depends on whether the noun that shows possession is singular or plural.

Basic Use - Singular:
   The boy's cat is sick.
The boy owns the cat, therefore boy's has an apostrophe s.
* alternative:  of / of the
  The cat of the boy is sick.

* Exception:  When talking about anything living, use the apostrophe or of the/of, but when talking about inanimate/nonliving things, only use of the.
ex.  The back of the chair.  NOT:  The chair's back.

* Do not use double apostrophe.
ex.  The boy's father's cat was hungry.
Instead, use:
The father of the boy's cat was hungry.

When name ends in s, 99 percent of the time use apostrophe s.
If the person is an iconic figure, use s apostrophe.
(Know 5 iconic figures for the test) ex.  Zeus', Sophocles', Jesus', Moses', Confucius', Odysseus', Archimedes'

Plural
When making most singular words plural, we add s, or es.  For these words, just add an apostrophe.
ex) boy's --> boys'
      girl's --> girls'

Sometimes, the actual word changes from singular to plural.  Know 5 of these:
Singular   Plural
man's        men's
woman's   women's
person's    people's
child's       children's
mouse's     mice's

* Use the apostrophe and s after the second name only if two people possess the same item.  If there is separate ownership, each name gets an apostrophe s.
ex.  Micah and Taitu's house is made of brick.  The same house is owned by both Taitu and Micah.
ex. 2.  Anatola's and Josephine's dogs play in the park.  Each person has their own dog (they do not share ownership of the same dog).

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Grammar Lesson - Pronouns - 20 March 2014

Pronouns - GRAMMAR TEST TOMORROW 3/21/14!

Definition of a pronoun:  a pronoun replaces a noun or nouns (antecedent)
Antecedent:  a noun which is replaced by a pronoun.

Name the different cases of pronouns:
Nominative
Objective
Possessive
How is each case used?
Nominative - functioning in sentence as the subject.
Objective - functions as a direct object, and indirect object, or the object of a preposition.
Possessive - functions as an adjective or pronoun.

When a pronoun precedes a gerund:  only in possessive case.
ex.  She hate him laughing at her. = correct
She hate his laughing at her. = incorrect
  • you do not need to memorize the nominative/objective/possessive pronouns for this test!  Just know the three cases and how each one functions.

Indefinite pronoun definition:  Pronoun which does not refer to a specific antecedent.
Know 10 indefinite pronouns!
Here are 10:  another, each, either, each other, neither, much, one another, anybody, everybody, somebody
Here are the plural indefinite pronouns:  both, several, many, few
Collective noun:  a group functioning in unison as one entity or individual.
example of a singular collective noun:  The cast performed on stage.
example of a plural collective noun:  The cast performed their individual roles.
10 collective nouns:  team, committee, troop, army, fleet, band, cast, audience, orchestra, tribe

The number of the subject (singular or plural) determines the form of the verb and the pronoun.
ex.  Everybody loves his/her English teacher.
Everybody is a singular subject.
Loves is a singular verb.
His/Her is a singular pronoun.

ex. 2.  Many love their English teacher.
Many is a plural subject.
Love is a plural verb.
Their is a plural pronoun.

Sexy = transitional phrase (do not start a sentence with a transitional phrase)
For example
For instance
To illustrate
In other words
On the contrary
In contrast
In addition
In fact
As a result
At any rate
Of course
Above all
In truth
In particular
As an illustration
That is to say
In short
In brief
In conclusion
To this end

Semicolon construction with transitional phrase:  simple sentence ; transitional phrase (lowercased) , simple sentence (lowercase unless starting with a proper noun).
ex.  Julie fell down the stairs; as a result, she broke her leg.

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Grammar Lesson - Sentence Structure

Indefinite Pronouns - Pronouns that can be singular or plural, and the pronoun must match the verb in number.  THE NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT DETERMINES THE FORM OF THE VERB AND PRONOUN.

Singular Indefinite Pronouns
another
each
each other
either
neither
much
one another
anybody
everybody
nobody
somebody
anything
everything
nothing
something
anyone

Plural Indefinite Pronouns
both
several
many
few

Here are a few examples:
1)  Shoes of those kind are/is bad for the feet.
- The common noun, shoes, is plural
- of those kind is a prepositional phrase
- are is plural, is is singular, so the correct choice is are because of the number rule.

2)  One of our satellites are/is lost in space.
- One is singular
- are is plural, and is is singular, therefore is is the correct choice because of the number rule.

3) Incorrect:  The woman went their way.
Correct:  The women went their way.

Here is some review:

What is a sentence?
- subject, verb, and complete thought
ex.  The water is hot.

Types of sentences:  simple, compound, and complex.

What are the two basic mistakes?
- Fragments and Run on (also known as comma splice).
Fragment = structure missing a subject, verb, or complete thought.
ex.  Received a valentine.  This phrase is a fragment because it is missing a subject.
Run on/comma splice = two sentences separated by a comma.  Note:  Comma is internal punctuation, not ending punctuation.
ex.  The man walked across the street, he tripped on a stone.

Conditions for simple sentence:  Subject.  Verb.  Complete Thought.
ex.  The man and woman walked across the street.  This is a simple sentence with a compound subject.  A compound subject has 2+ things/subjects - the two become one subject.
ex. 2.  The boy and girl played together.  If there are two subjects, there is NO COMMA.
* Plural subject does not make a compound subject (ex. boys).  There must be two or more entities to make a compound subject.
* A simple sentence can have both a compound subject and a compound predicate.

If there are two verbs, or simple predicates in a simple sentence, then it becomes a simple sentence with a compound predicate.
ex.   Jacob jumped on his bike and rode around the park.  This is a simple sentence with a compound predicate because there is no comma and there are two verbs supporting the proper noun Jacob.

Compound sentence - combine two sentences.
- two simple sentences connected by a comma and coordinating conjunction.
There are seven coordinating conjunctions:  Remember F.A.N.B.O.Y.S.
For
And
Nor
But
Or
Yet
So
* Do not start a sentence with a coordinating conduction because then it will not function as a coordinating conjunction.

examples of compound sentences:  Jessica poured the water into the glass, but she did not drink it.
- Jessica is subject
- two simple sentences separated by a comma and joined together by a coordinate conjunction (but)
- compound predicate - poured and drink

Note:  Compound predicate and compound sentence are punctuated differently.
ex. compound predicate:  Julian hugged and kissed Sarah.  There is no comma unlike the compound sentence.

Edit from class on 10 March 2014:
one = his/her
plural = their

For the test, memorize 10 indefinite pronouns
Indefinite Pronoun:  pronoun does not refer to a specific antecedent.

3 cases of pronouns: 
nominative - subject
objective - direct object/indirect object/object of preposition
possessive (2 cases)- adjective/pronoun

Semicolon

Basic semicolon construction = simple sentence ; simple sentence with second simple sentence starting with a lowercase letter unless it is a pronoun.
ex.  Sarah loves Julian; he hates her.
ex. 2:  Leonardo DiCaprio was nominated for an award; he did not win.
ex 3:  The boy ran away; he returned home.

Each example provides opposition between the two simple sentences.  

Semicolon Construction with the Adverbial Conjunction:  simple sentence ; adverbial conjunction (lowercased) , simple sentence
Do not start sentence with adverbial conjunction.

List of adverbial conjunctions:
 also
 hence
 thus
 still
 instead
 however
 therefore
 furthermore
 moreover
 consequently
 likewise
 similarly
 regardless
 nonetheless
 nevertheless
 otherwise


ex.  Tara is a musician; also, she is a great Shakespearean actress.

Review:

What are the rules for quotation?  PUNCTUATION INSIDE QUOTES!
1) Quotations are another person's direct words/exact words
2) Attribution is source of quotation.
3) Use a colon when calling special attention to what is being said, if it is a literary quotation, if it is an authority figure, or if the attribution comes before the quote.
ex.  Franklin Delanor Roosevelt wrote:  "men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds."
If starting with According to . . . :
- According to ____ , "___."

Paraphrase:  Putting some else's ideas into one's own words.

Participle - a verb that functions as an adjective or verb form by adding ing or ed.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Vocabulary - List 6 - Macbeth

1.  deign - v.
to believe something or someone to be beneath one's dignity; to condescend; to stoop; to lower oneself; to patronize.
ex. 1.  The teacher did not deign to reply to the student when asked a question during a test.
ex. 2.  The haughty woman did not deign to invite her poor neighbors to her lavish Christmas party.

2.  laud - v.
to give praise; to glorify; to honor; to express approval or admiration.
ex. 1.  King Duncan lauded Macbeth for his bravery in battle.
ex. 2.  Macbeth lauded Duncan to his face but plotted murder behind his back.

3.  castigate - v.
to inflict severe punishment; to criticize severely; to punish in order to correct; to chastise.
ex. 1.  Lady macbeth castigated her husband about his manhood to goad him into killing Duncan.
ex. 2.  The master castigated his slaves for failing to work hard enough by whipping them.

4.  impugn - v.
to challenge another's statements or motives; to cast doubt upon; to attack as false or questionable.
ex. 1.  Many scientists have tried to impugn the theory of global warming.
ex. 2.  The Republicans are constantly trying to impugn Barrack Obama's character.

5.  swine - n.
the domestic pig, hog; wild boar; a coarse, gross, or brutishly sensual person; a contemptible person.
ex. 1.  The Bible says not to cast pearls before swine.
ex. 2.  The followers of Islam are forbidden from eating swine.

6.  nemesis - n.
something or someone a person cannot conquer; something a person cannot achieve; an opponent; a rival whom a person cannot best or overcome; a foe; an antagonist; an enemy.
ex. 1.  Banquo became the nemesis of Macbeth.
ex. 2.  Potato chips were the nemesis of the overweight woman.

7.  deprecate - v.
to belittle; to depreciate; to express disapproval of; to deplore.
ex. 1.  Lady Macbeth deprecated the conscience of her husband an unmanly.
ex. 2.  The pianist deprecated his own talent when he admitted that he did not think he could win the competition.

8.  acquiesce - v.
to give consent; to accept by keeping silent or not making objections; to agree or submit quietly.
ex. 1.  Macbeth acquiesced to his wife's desire to murder the king.
ex. 2.  The parents reluctantly acquiesced to their son's demand for new sneakers even though he had yet to wear his old ones.

9.  palpable - adj.
detectable by touch; tangible; readily or plainly seems, heard, or perceived.
ex. 1.  Macbeth's ambition became palpable after killing the king.
ex. 2.  Before the test, the tension in the classroom was palpable.

10.  rapt - adj.
deeply engrossed; completely involved; concentrating on something to the exclusion of everything else; absorbed; enthralled; spellbound.
ex. 1.  Macbeth was rapt in his vision of glory after listening to the witches' prophecies.
ex. 2.  Rapt in the music of Mozart, the student could not concentrate on the lesson in English class.

11.  missive - written message; a letter; a formal or official communicational  a dispatch.
ex. 1.  Macbeth shared his secrets in a missive to his wife.
ex. 2.  Emails are technological missives.

12.  thane - n.
member of any aristocratic class of men granted land for military service; to chief of a Scottish clan who became a baron to the king; a lesser noble who was an official of the crown holding authority over land.
ex. 1.  Macbeth had ambitions beyond the status of a thane.
ex. 2.  As a thane, Macbeth had only limited power in a restricted area.

13.  bode - v.
to be an omen of; to foretell; to forecast; to portend; to predict.
ex. 1.  Thunder bodes rain.
ex. 2.  A high score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test bodes success in college.

14.  augment - v.
to increase; to expand; to make greater; to enlarge.
ex. 1.  Banquo was willing to augment his power as long as he did not lose his honor in the process.
ex. 2.  The employee wanted a promotion to augment his salary.

15.  suborn - v.
to persuade another to do wrong; to induce another person to commit an unlawful or evil act; to cause a person to perjure himself.
ex. 1.  Lady Macbeth suborned her husband to commit murder even though he had second thoughts.
ex. 2.  In order to win the case, the district attorney suborned a witness to lie under oath.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Grammar Midterm Review

Here are some of the topics that will be on the tests:
Nouns
Types of writing
What is grammar and its purpose
3 verbals
sentence structure
quotes

Grammar Review
Grammar - rules of the language
Purpose of grammar - clarity
What are the parts of speech - building blocks of sentence structure
Noun - person, place, thing, idea, activity

There are 5 types of nouns:
Proper - specific and capitalized
  ex. Izzy finished her homework.
Common - general and not capitalized
  ex. The man was tired.
Collective noun - noun functioning in unison as one entity or individual
  ex.  Singular:  The cast performed on stage.
         Plural:  The cast performed their individual roles.
Gerund - verb functioning as a noun by adding ing.
  ex.  Running is Dario's favorite sport.
Infinitive - to/full infinitive:  a verb functioning as a noun, adjective or adverb by adding the preposition to to the stem of the verb.  Bare infinitive:  verb functioning as a noun, adjective or adverb by dropping the preposition to to the stem of the verb.
ex. to infinitive:  Izzy loves to dance.
ex. bare infinitive:  I watched the plane take off.

Collective noun examples:
class     school     family     legislative
troop     army        navy       faculty
student body   pack   committee   audience
troupe     company    orchestra    band    team

Verbal - verb form in which the verb functions as a different part of speech.
- When a verbal is proceeded by "to be, is, was, were (auxiliary verbs)" they bond together and become the progressive tense of a verb.
There are three verbals:  Gerund, infinitive, and participle
Gerund - verb functioning as a noun by adding ing.
Infinitive - to infinitive:  verb functioning as a noun, adjective, or adverb by adding the preposition to to the stem of the verb.  Bare infinitive:  verb functioning as noun, adjective, or adverb by removing the preposition to to the stem of the verb.
To create the bare infinitive:  Special verbs -----> Direct object -----> Bare infinitive
Special verbs:  let, make, see, hear, help, feel, sense, bid, watch
To find direct object: go to the main verb and ask the questions who and what.
Example of to/full infinitive:  Izzy loves to kiss.
Example of bare infinitive:  I watched the plane take off.
Participle - verb acting as an adjective or a form of verb by adding ing or ed.
Present participle example:  The boiling water on the stove is hot.
Past participle example:  Parched, Sara gulped her water.


Sentence Structure
Word = a symbol (something one is taught)
Phrase = a group of words (2 phrases)
Clause = subject, verb, thought (independent and dependent)
- a thought is direct and makes a point

Phrases - prepositional and participial
- Prepositional phrases - preposition followed by a noun
10 examples of prepositional phrases:
along  around
above  in
to        on
found  for
over    with
Example of prepositional phrase:  The boy rode on the horse.
on = preposition
the = article (not needed all the time)
horse = noun
*Noun in prepositional phrase is called object of preposition.

Participial phrases - a word group (2 or more words) consisting of a present or past participle plus any modifies, objects, and complements. (definition found on about.com)
- placement of participle must be closest to the noun/pronoun it modifies, otherwise it becomes a dangling participle (misplaced participle).
Correct:  Smiling, David gave Victoria a flower.  The present participle is modifying the pronoun David.
Incorrect:  Shaken, the wrecked car frightened Victoria.  The past participle shaken in this sentence is modifying car, when one really means to modify Victoria.  This is a dangling participle because it is misplaced.
- Comma is essential when starting sentence with participle.
* Phrases are not essential for sentence structure.  They add info to the base of the sentence.
ex.  Sleeping in class (participial phrase) + comma + Sarah missed the lesson. (independent clause)

Clauses:  the two clauses are independent and dependent clauses
Independent clauses:  AKA simple sentence
- subject, verb, COMPLETE thought
- capitalize first letter of independent clause and end with end punctuation (? ! .).
ex.  Sarah fell down the stairs.
Sarah = subject
Fell = verb
Has a complete thought/gets to point.
Dependent clauses:
- subject, verb, INCOMPLETE thought.
A fragment lacks either a subject, verb, or complete thought.
ex.  Because he was late.
He = subject
Was = verb
Does not have a complete thought/does not get to the point.
Combine independent + dependent clause to get a complex sentence.
Ex.  Because she was mad, Julian rejected her.

Quotations (do not write quotes)
Quotations - exact words
- only quote when text is available and do not make up a quote
Quotations are short, focused, and frequent.
Tradition - begin with attribution
attribution - source of quotation who said/wrote it.
ex.  Victoria said,
Punctuation follows - usually use comma, but colon is formal and is used when something has an unusual importance.
ex.  Victoria said:  "I am singing at the Metropolitan Opera."
- Writer decides what is important.
- When quoting an eminent figure, always use a comma.  The person must be iconic (like Mandela, not like Snooki).
- If quoting from a literacy, use a colon
* Only use a colon when attribution comes first.
- colon is followed by a double quotation (") and a capital letter - NO fragments!
- end with end punctuation INSIDE THE QUOTES.
ex. Ralph Waldo Emerson stated: "Trust thyself."
- If beginning with a quote, end with attribution.
ex.  "I am singing at the Met?" asked Victoria.
- When attribution follows quote, comma, question mark, and exclamation points are used.
Direct quotation = exact words
Indirect quotation = not exact words - paraphrase
- When paraphrasing, one is putting ideas of another person in own words.
- No quotation marks are needed.
- Still need attribution

First person: I love
Second person: you love
Third person: he/she/it loves

Run-ons, or comma splices are when two sentences are separated by a comma.
ex.  Victoria loves, bagels, she ate five for dinner.

Possessive is NOT on test
Indefinite -  NOT on test

GOOD LUCK!!!!!
Dario ;)

Saturday, January 4, 2014

Vocabulary List 5 - TEST ON WEDNESDAY 1/8/14

1.  admonition - n.
a gentle reproof; counsel; advice; a firm warning; reproach; reprimand; rebuke.
ex. 1.  Jane defiantly ignored Mrs. Reed's harsh admonitions and verbally rebuked her.
ex. 2.  The student should heed the teacher's admonition to study more.

2.  latent - adj.
present but not visible, apparent, or actualized; existing as potential; existing in the unconscious but potentially able to achieve expression; hidden; undeveloped; potential.
ex. 1.  Latent in the lithesome ballerina was an extraordinary dramatic expression.
ex. 2.  The visual artist had latent talent in math which may lead him to become an architect someday.

3.  absolve - v.
to free from guilt or blame; to grant pardon for; to set free; to release from duty, responsibility, or obligation.
ex. 1.  The court absolved the defendant of all guilt in her husband's murder.
ex. 2.  Being polite does not absolve us from speaking the truth.
ex. 3.  Jane absolved her aunt of all guilt for abusing her as a child.

4.  ephemeral - adj.
lasting a short time; transitory; short-lived; evanescent; transient; fleeting.
ex. 1.  Helen Burns believed life on earth was ephemeral and embraced death as an opportunity to return to God.
ex. 2.  The beauty of each season is ephemeral.

5.  render - v.
to cause to be or become; to do; to perform; to exhibit or show obedience; to present for consideration, approval, or payment.
ex. 1.  The lawyer rendered his bill to his client.
ex. 2.  The student rendered his service to the community by helping to clean up Central Park after the parade.
ex. 3.  The student was rendered incompetent on the exam because of his excessive anxiety in taking it.

6.  ascribe - v.
to attribute; to impute; to credit or assign as to a cause or source; to accredit; to refer.
ex. 1.  Never ascribe to one's enemy meaner motives than one's own.
ex. 2.  Jane ascribed her Christian perspective to the teaching of Helen Burns.

7.  bard - n.
any poet; a person who composed and recited heroic or epic poetry while playing a lyre or a harp; a Celtic order of composers and reciters; a lyricist.
ex. 1.  William Shakespeare is often referred to as the bard of English literature.
ex. 2.  Rappers are often characterized as contemporary bards.

8.  sage - adj.
profoundly wise; judicious; prudent; enlightened; having achieved wisdom, judgment, experience.
ex. 1.  Youth sometimes rejects sage advice to pursue their own paths.
ex. 2.  Charlotte Bronte provides sage insights about human nature in Jane Eyre.

9.  alienate - v.
to make indifferent, hostile, or unfriendly; to estrange; to turn away from.
ex. 1.  Jane was alienated from the entire Reed family.
ex. 2.  The corrupt politician alienated funds from their intended purposes to finance his own campaign.

10.  transcendental - adj.
surpassing ordinary or common experience, though or beliefs; metaphysical; preternatural; abstract; spiritual.
ex. 1.  Art is a transcendental expression of the human spirit.
ex. 2.  True love must be a transcendental attraction, or it is not love at all.

11.  usurp - v.
to seize power, title or land without legal right; to arrogate authority; to appropriate; to assume.
ex. 1.  The king's wicked brother tried to usurp the throne.
ex. 2.  The Germans usurped control of Poland during World War II.

12.  pious - adj.
having reverence from God; religious; godly; reverent; spiritual devout; virtuous; holy.
ex. 1.  Helen Burns was a pious soul.
ex. 2.  Mr. Brocklehurst pretended to be pious, but he really was a hypocrite.

13.  expediency - n.
a regard for what is politic or advantageous rather than what is right or just; a sense of self-interest; the equality of being suited to the end in view; adherence to self-serving means.
ex. 1.  Contemporary politicians are guided by expediency rather than principle.
ex. 2.  Jane's decision to flee Thornfield Hall was based on spiritual principle not expediency.

14.  efface - v.
to erase; to obliterate; to wear away as by time; to eradicate; to erode.
ex. 1.  Jane could not efface her love for Edward Rochester by running away.
ex. 2.  Even on her dying bed, Mrs. Reed could not efface her hostility toward Jane Eyre.

15.  plight - n.
an unfortunate condition, state, or situation; a predicament; a condition of extreme hardship or danger; quandary.
ex. 1.  Destitute and homeless, Jane found herself in a sorry plight when she left Thornfield Hall.
ex. 2.  President Obama has vowed to improve the plight of illegal immigrants in this country through new legislation.

Good luck!