Boredom Be Gone: Lesson 15- More Grammar
First A Review
1. If the sentence begins with”there”, make sure that the subject and verb agree. In this case, The subject will probably be after the verb. You will NEVER find a subject in a prepositional phrase.
There was a box of cookies on the shelf. (The subject is “box”, not “cookies”.)
2. When using modifiers, decide whether you need to use an adjective or an adverb. Adjectives describe. Adverbs answer the question how, when, where, or why. Adverbs often end in -ly.
You are a bad softball player. (”Bad” describes what kind of player you are, so you need to use an adjective.)
You played badly in yesterday’s game. (“Badly“ tells how you played, so you need to use an adverb.)
3. If ”either-or” appears with one singular and one plural noun, choose the noun that is closer to the verb when deciding whether you should use a singular or plural verb.
Andrea or her friends were standing outside the movie theater. (“Friends” is closer to the verb, so you need to use the plural form of the verb.)
4. “Them” is used as an object, while “those“ is used as an adjective.
Those boys are very talented..
Everyone enjoys watching them play football.
5. “Good” is an adjective. “Well” is an adverb.
Jen did a good job on her composition. (“Good” describes the kind of job she did.)
She always writes well. (“Well” tells how she writes.)
6. “Its” is a possessive pronoun that does not take an apostrophe. “It’s” is the contraction of “it is”.
The bird shook its wings.
It’s a sad day when our team loses .
7. “A lot” it’s two separate words.
They had a lot to eat.
8. Use the comparative form of an adjective if two people or things are being described. Use the superlative form if more than two people or things are being described.
John did worse than Ed on the test.
Jack did the worst of everyone in the class.
9. “Let” means allow. “Leave” means to go away.
I hope my mom lets me go to the dance:
I might have to leave early.
It’s Your Turn
Choose the correct answer for each sentence.
1. I did the (worse,worst) of all the kids in the class.
2. Come to the store with Jose and ( I, me).
3. Please give the money to (them, those) girls.
4. The (owners, owners‘) of the bar were in big trouble.
5. There were (alot, a lot) of entries in the contest.
6. Don’t forget to pick up your (cloths, clothes).
7. He spoke so softly that you couldn’t (here,hear) him.
8. Do you know (weather, whether) or not the (weather, whether) is supposed to be nice?
9. The boy (saw, seen) his friend across the street.
10. Would you please (let, leave) me go to the dance?
11. He must have (gone, went) early to school yesterday.
12. If they had brought (their. they’re) books, it wouldn’t be a problem.
13. The turtle moved (its, it‘s) head out of the shell.
14. Please don’t hang around with (them, those) people.
15. If you feel (good, well), you should be able to do your homework.
16. One of the boys (is, are)a star football player.
17. You played (bad, badly) in the game yesterday.
18. There (was, were) a group of girls in the corner.
19. A teacher or counselor (is, are) available at all times.
20. You behaved very (nice, nicely) yesterday.
answers to lesson 15 will appear at the end of lesson 16.
