English Grammar for the Utterly Confused - Laurie Rozakis 2003

English Grammar for the Utterly Confused - Laurie Rozakis 2003

Acknowledgments

Preface

Organization of the Text

Part 1 Welcome to grammarland

Chapter 1. Parts of Speech

Adjectives

Adverbs

Conjunctions

Interjections

Nouns

Prepositions

Pronouns

Verbs

Questions

Answer key

Chapter 2. Using Pronouns Correctly

Overview of Pronoun Case

Using the Nominative Case

Using the Objective Case

Using the Possessive Case

Three Other Rules for Using Pronouns

Use Correct Pronoun Reference

The Generic Masculine Pronoun

Using Who, Which, That

Questions

Answer key

Chapter 3. Using Verbs Correctly

Overview of Verb Functions

The Six Verb Tenses

Regular and Irregular Verbs

How to Use Tenses

Active and Passive Voice

Questions

Answer key

Part 2 Usage and Abusage

Chapter 4. Using Adjectives and Adverbs Correctly

Is It an Adjective or an Adverb?

Positive, Comparative, and Superlative Degrees of Comparison

Comparing with Adjectives and Adverbs

Using Predicate Adjectives after Linking Verbs

Double Negatives

Questions

Answers

Chapter 5 Agreement: Matching Sentence Parts

Like Peas in a Pod

A Singular Subject Must Have a Singular Verb

A Plural Subject Must Have a Plural Verb

Collective Nouns and Indefinite Pronouns

Special Problems in Agreement

Agreement of Pronouns and Antecedents

Questions

Answers

Chapter 6 The 25 Most Common Usage Problems

Top Trouble Spots in Writing

Most Common Grammar and Usage Errors

Most Common Sentence Errors

Most Common Spelling Errors

Most Common Punctuation Errors

Most Common Capitalization Errors

Most Common Proofreading Errors

Improve Your Writing, One Step at a Time

Questions

Answer key

Part 3 Sentence Sense

Chapter 7 Phrases and Clauses

Overview of Phrases

Prepositional Phrases

Appositives and Appositive Phrases

Verbal Phrases

Infinitive Phrases

Overview of Clauses

Dependent Clauses

Questions

Answer key

Chapter 8 Writing Correct and Complete Sentences

What is a Sentence

The Four Different Sentence Functions

The Four Different Sentence Types

Choosing Sentence Types

Sentence Errors: Run-on Sentences and Comma Splices

Sentence Errors: Fragments

Questions

Answer key

Chapter 9 Sentence Coordination and Subordination

Coordinating Sentence Parts

Subordinating Sentence Parts

Coordination versus Subordination

Parallel Structure

Questions

Answer key

Part 4 A Writers Tools

Chapter 10 Punctuation

Apostrophes

Brackets

Colons

Commas

Dashes

Ellipsis

Exclamation Marks

Hyphens

Parentheses

Periods

Question Marks

Quotation Marks

Semicolons

Slashes

Questions

Answer key

Chapter 11 Capitalization and Abbreviations

Avoiding Capital Offenses: The Rules of Capitalization

Capitalize Names and Titles

Capitalize Names of Places and Events

Capitalize Names of Languages and Religions

Capitalize Proper Adjectives and Product Names

Capitalize Names of Organizations, Institutions, Courses, and Famous Buildings

Capitalize Names of Days, Months, and Holidays

Capitalize Time and Other Proper Nouns

Capitalize the First Word of

Good Things Come in Small Packages: The Rules of Abbreviations

Questions

Answer key

Part 5 Struttin Your Stuff with Style

Chapter 12 Developing Your Own Writing Style

What is Style in Writing

The Elements of Style

Audience and Style

Purpose and Style

Developing Your Style

Questions

Answer key

Chapter 13 Diction and Conciseness

What is Diction

Levels of Diction

Choosing the Appropriate Level of Diction

Less Is More: Be Concise

Three Ways to Write Concise Sentences

Questions

Answer key

Chapter 14 Words and Expressions to Avoid

Use Nonbiased Language

Replace Cliches with Fresh Expressions

Avoid Empty Language

George Orwell on Style

Questions

Answer key