Pennington Publishing Blog

Commas with Coordinate Adjectives

Commas with Coordinate Adjectives       

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.

Common Core Language Standard 2

When adjectives of a similar category are used in a list, they have to be separated. We use commas to separate similar items.

Today’s mechanics lesson is on commas with coordinate adjectives. Remember that coordinate adjectives work equally to modify a noun.

Now let’s read the mechanics lesson and study the examples.

To determine if adjectives are coordinate adjectives, try placing the word and between the adjectives. Second, try reversing them. If, the phrases sound fine both ways, the adjectives are coordinate adjectives and require commas between each. Example: A large, angry dog

Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to mechanics lesson.

Practice: Their back yard has a high stone fence patrolled by a mean, angry watchdog.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: Their back yard has a high stone fence patrolled by a mean, angry watchdog.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using coordinate adjectives.

*****

Pennington Publishing Grammar Programs

Teaching Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School) are full-year, traditional, grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics programs with plenty of remedial practice to help students catch up while they keep up with grade-level standards. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep lessons in print or interactive Google slides with a fun secret agent theme. Simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts, video lessons, sentence dictations. Plenty of practice in the writing context. Includes biweekly tests and a final exam.

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Interactive Notebook (Grades 4‒8) is a full-year, no prep interactive notebook without all the mess. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep grammar, usage, and mechanics lessons, formatted in Cornell Notes with cartoon response, writing application, 3D graphic organizers (easy cut and paste foldables), and great resource links. No need to create a teacher INB for student make-up work—it’s done for you! Plus, get remedial worksheets, biweekly tests, and a final exam.

Syntax in Reading and Writing is a function-based, sentence-level syntax program, designed to build reading comprehension and increase writing sophistication. The 18 parts of speech, phrases, and clauses lessons are each leveled from basic (elementary) to advanced (middle and high school) and feature 5 lesson components (10–15 minutes each): 1. Learn It!  2. Identify It!  3. Explain It! (analysis of challenging sentences) 4. Revise It! (kernel sentences, sentence expansion, syntactic manipulation) 5. Create It! (Short writing application with the syntactic focus in different genre).

Get the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments, Matrix, and Final Exam FREE Resource:

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers

Using Demonstrative Pronouns

Demonstrative Pronouns                 

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.

Common Core Language Standard 1

Demonstrative pronouns are different than demonstrative adjectives. The only difference is that the former stands on its on while the latter connects to a following noun. Both rely on our knowledge of distance for proper usage.

Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on demonstrative pronouns. Remember that a pronoun takes the place of a noun.

Now let’s read the grammar and usage lesson and study the examples.

When the words this, that, these, and those take the place of nouns, they are called demonstrative pronouns. The words this (singular) and these (plural) are close to the writer (speaker). The words that (singular) and those (plural) are away from the writer (speaker). If the demonstrative pronoun has a vague (unclear) reference to its noun, add the noun after the pronoun.

Examples: this right here, that over there, these up close, those far away

Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to grammar and usage lesson.

Practice: This right there is heavier than these over here. This is lighter than this other car.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers:

This right here is heavier than those over there. This is lighter than that other car.

or

That right there is heavier than these over here.

That is lighter than this other car.

Now let’s apply what we have learned.

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a demonstrative pronoun.

*****

Pennington Publishing Grammar Programs

Teaching Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School) are full-year, traditional, grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics programs with plenty of remedial practice to help students catch up while they keep up with grade-level standards. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep lessons in print or interactive Google slides with a fun secret agent theme. Simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts, video lessons, sentence dictations. Plenty of practice in the writing context. Includes biweekly tests and a final exam.

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Interactive Notebook (Grades 4‒8) is a full-year, no prep interactive notebook without all the mess. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep grammar, usage, and mechanics lessons, formatted in Cornell Notes with cartoon response, writing application, 3D graphic organizers (easy cut and paste foldables), and great resource links. No need to create a teacher INB for student make-up work—it’s done for you! Plus, get remedial worksheets, biweekly tests, and a final exam.

Syntax in Reading and Writing is a function-based, sentence-level syntax program, designed to build reading comprehension and increase writing sophistication. The 18 parts of speech, phrases, and clauses lessons are each leveled from basic (elementary) to advanced (middle and high school) and feature 5 lesson components (10–15 minutes each): 1. Learn It!  2. Identify It!  3. Explain It! (analysis of challenging sentences) 4. Revise It! (kernel sentences, sentence expansion, syntactic manipulation) 5. Create It! (Short writing application with the syntactic focus in different genre).

Get the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments, Matrix, and Final Exam FREE Resource:

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers

Commas with Complex Sentences

Commas with Complex Sentences                                             

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.

Common Core Language Standard 2

When students begin to write in complex sentences, the quality and maturity of their writing increases significantly. The complex sentence has two parts: the dependent clause and the independent clause. 

Today’s mechanics lesson is on commas with complex sentences. Remember that a complex sentence connects a dependent clause to an independent clause. A dependent clause is a noun and connected verb that does not express a complete thought, while the independent clause is a noun and connected verb that does express a complete thought. A subordinating conjunction begins a dependent clause.

Now let’s read the mechanics lesson and study the examples.

Place a comma after a dependent clause that begins a sentence. Place commas before and after a dependent clause in the middle of the sentence. Don’t place a comma before a dependent clause that ends a sentence. Example: After I sneeze, I always blow my nose. I stop when he asks me.

Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to mechanics lesson.

Practice: Even though you disobeyed me, I know why you did it, although I still disapprove.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: Even though you disobeyed me, I know why you did it although I still disapprove.

Now let’s apply what we have learned.

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a dependent clause at the beginning of a sentence.

*****

Pennington Publishing Grammar Programs

Teaching Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School) are full-year, traditional, grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics programs with plenty of remedial practice to help students catch up while they keep up with grade-level standards. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep lessons in print or interactive Google slides with a fun secret agent theme. Simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts, video lessons, sentence dictations. Plenty of practice in the writing context. Includes biweekly tests and a final exam.

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Interactive Notebook (Grades 4‒8) is a full-year, no prep interactive notebook without all the mess. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep grammar, usage, and mechanics lessons, formatted in Cornell Notes with cartoon response, writing application, 3D graphic organizers (easy cut and paste foldables), and great resource links. No need to create a teacher INB for student make-up work—it’s done for you! Plus, get remedial worksheets, biweekly tests, and a final exam.

Syntax in Reading and Writing is a function-based, sentence-level syntax program, designed to build reading comprehension and increase writing sophistication. The 18 parts of speech, phrases, and clauses lessons are each leveled from basic (elementary) to advanced (middle and high school) and feature 5 lesson components (10–15 minutes each): 1. Learn It!  2. Identify It!  3. Explain It! (analysis of challenging sentences) 4. Revise It! (kernel sentences, sentence expansion, syntactic manipulation) 5. Create It! (Short writing application with the syntactic focus in different genre).

Get the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments, Matrix, and Final Exam FREE Resource:

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers

Interrogative Pronouns

Interrogative Pronouns                      

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.

Common Core Language Standard 1

A pronoun that begins a question is called an interrogative pronoun. The interrogative pronoun is never the subject of the sentence.

Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on interrogative pronouns. Remember that a pronoun takes the place of a noun. An interrogative is a question.

Now let’s read the grammar and usage lesson and study the examples.

An interrogative pronoun is used to ask a question. Only five pronouns are interrogative pronouns: who, whom, whose, what, and which. Use what to refer to a general thing and which to refer to a specific thing. Examples: What do you want? Which do you prefer?

Each of the pronouns can add the “_ever” and “_soever” suffixes to refer to any person, place, thing, or idea. Examples: Whoever or Whosoever leaves last should lock the door.

Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to the grammar and usage lesson.

Practice: Why aren’t you working? Who knows if your job will last? What if you didn’t work. Whom did you ask for help? Which one would you choose.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: Why aren’t you working? Who knows if your job will last? What if you didn’t work? Whom did you ask for help? Which one would you choose?

Now let’s apply what we have learned.

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using an interrogative pronoun.

*****

Pennington Publishing Grammar Programs

Teaching Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School) are full-year, traditional, grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics programs with plenty of remedial practice to help students catch up while they keep up with grade-level standards. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep lessons in print or interactive Google slides with a fun secret agent theme. Simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts, video lessons, sentence dictations. Plenty of practice in the writing context. Includes biweekly tests and a final exam.

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Interactive Notebook (Grades 4‒8) is a full-year, no prep interactive notebook without all the mess. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep grammar, usage, and mechanics lessons, formatted in Cornell Notes with cartoon response, writing application, 3D graphic organizers (easy cut and paste foldables), and great resource links. No need to create a teacher INB for student make-up work—it’s done for you! Plus, get remedial worksheets, biweekly tests, and a final exam.

Syntax in Reading and Writing is a function-based, sentence-level syntax program, designed to build reading comprehension and increase writing sophistication. The 18 parts of speech, phrases, and clauses lessons are each leveled from basic (elementary) to advanced (middle and high school) and feature 5 lesson components (10–15 minutes each): 1. Learn It!  2. Identify It!  3. Explain It! (analysis of challenging sentences) 4. Revise It! (kernel sentences, sentence expansion, syntactic manipulation) 5. Create It! (Short writing application with the syntactic focus in different genre).

Get the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments, Matrix, and Final Exam FREE Resource:

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers

Commas with Phrases and Clauses

Commas with Phrases and Clauses                  

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.

Common Core Language Standard L.1

Both phrase and clauses are used as parts of sentences. Because the phrase and clause are parts, they need to be separated from the rest of the sentence. Often that separation requires punctuation. The rules vary depending upon the location of the phrase or clause within the sentence.

Today’s mechanics lesson is on commas with phrases and clauses. Remember that a phrase is a group of related words without a noun and connected verb. Display Instructional PowerPoint Slides

Now let’s read the mechanics lesson and study the examples.

Use commas to set off phrases or clauses that are separate from or interrupt the main clause of the sentence. Example: She has, if I’m not mistaken, been here before.

If an introductory phrase is four words or less, don’t follow with a comma, unless the phrase is given special emphasis. Examples: Over there I waited; Beneath the fluffy white clouds, I hiked.

Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to mechanics lesson.

Practice: Under the covers, she crawled after the ghost story was finished. She was scared, but not terrified by the spiders.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: Under the covers she crawled after the ghost story was finished. She was scared, but not terrified by the spiders.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using an introductory phrase.

*****

Pennington Publishing Grammar Programs

Teaching Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School) are full-year, traditional, grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics programs with plenty of remedial practice to help students catch up while they keep up with grade-level standards. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep lessons in print or interactive Google slides with a fun secret agent theme. Simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts, video lessons, sentence dictations. Plenty of practice in the writing context. Includes biweekly tests and a final exam.

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Interactive Notebook (Grades 4‒8) is a full-year, no prep interactive notebook without all the mess. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep grammar, usage, and mechanics lessons, formatted in Cornell Notes with cartoon response, writing application, 3D graphic organizers (easy cut and paste foldables), and great resource links. No need to create a teacher INB for student make-up work—it’s done for you! Plus, get remedial worksheets, biweekly tests, and a final exam.

Syntax in Reading and Writing is a function-based, sentence-level syntax program, designed to build reading comprehension and increase writing sophistication. The 18 parts of speech, phrases, and clauses lessons are each leveled from basic (elementary) to advanced (middle and high school) and feature 5 lesson components (10–15 minutes each): 1. Learn It!  2. Identify It!  3. Explain It! (analysis of challenging sentences) 4. Revise It! (kernel sentences, sentence expansion, syntactic manipulation) 5. Create It! (Short writing application with the syntactic focus in different genre).

Get the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments, Matrix, and Final Exam FREE Resource:

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers

Indefinite Pronouns

Indefinite Pronouns               

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.            

Common Core Language Standard 1

Since pronouns take the place of nouns or refer to nouns, the number of the pronoun must match its noun. Some of our pronouns are indefinite. The prefix “in” can mean in or into, but it can also mean not. So indefinite means not definite or not specific.

Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on indefinite pronouns. Remember that a pronoun takes the place of a noun.

Now let’s read the grammar and usage lesson and study the examples.

An indefinite pronoun does not refer to a specific noun. Indefinite pronouns ending in “_body” or “_one” are singular. Examples: anybody, anyone

These indefinite pronouns are plural: both, few, many, and several.

Indefinite pronouns that express quantity or measurement may be singular or plural depending upon the surrounding word clues. Examples: all, any, half, more, most, none, other, and some

Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to grammar and usage lesson.

Practice: Everybody was prepared, but only a few players on the team was willing to play the champions again.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: Everybody was prepared, but only a few players on the team were willing to play the champions again.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a singular and plural indefinite pronoun.

*****

Pennington Publishing Grammar Programs

Teaching Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School) are full-year, traditional, grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics programs with plenty of remedial practice to help students catch up while they keep up with grade-level standards. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep lessons in print or interactive Google slides with a fun secret agent theme. Simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts, video lessons, sentence dictations. Plenty of practice in the writing context. Includes biweekly tests and a final exam.

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Interactive Notebook (Grades 4‒8) is a full-year, no prep interactive notebook without all the mess. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep grammar, usage, and mechanics lessons, formatted in Cornell Notes with cartoon response, writing application, 3D graphic organizers (easy cut and paste foldables), and great resource links. No need to create a teacher INB for student make-up work—it’s done for you! Plus, get remedial worksheets, biweekly tests, and a final exam.

Syntax in Reading and Writing is a function-based, sentence-level syntax program, designed to build reading comprehension and increase writing sophistication. The 18 parts of speech, phrases, and clauses lessons are each leveled from basic (elementary) to advanced (middle and high school) and feature 5 lesson components (10–15 minutes each): 1. Learn It!  2. Identify It!  3. Explain It! (analysis of challenging sentences) 4. Revise It! (kernel sentences, sentence expansion, syntactic manipulation) 5. Create It! (Short writing application with the syntactic focus in different genre).

Get the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments, Matrix, and Final Exam FREE Resource:

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers

Commas with Quotation Marks and Speaker Tags in Dialogue

Commas with Quotation Marks and Speaker Tags in Dialogue   

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.            

Common Core Language Standard 2

Comma placement in dialogue can be challenging. One reason things get confusing is that we Americans like to place most punctuation, including commas, inside our quotation marks. The British like to keep punctuation outside.

Today’s mechanics lesson is on commas with quotation marks and speaker tags in dialogue. Remember that a speaker tag is the person speaking and the connected verb. Also remember to begin a new paragraph whenever the speaker changes in dialogue.

Now let’s read the mechanics lesson and study the examples.

In dialogue sentences, place commas:

After a beginning speaker tag to the left of the quotation marks. Example: I said, “No.”

Before and after a middle speaker tag to the left of both quotation marks. Example: “We must go,” I explained, “before it’s too late.”

Before an ending speaker tag to the left of the quotation marks. Example: “Go,” I plead.

Practice: 

I said, “Text me when you can.”

“If I do have time to text,” he explained “it will have to be late tonight.”

“I’ll still be awake” she replied.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers:

I said, “Text me when you can.”

“If I do have time to text,” he explained,“it will have to be late tonight.”

“I’ll still be awake,” she replied.

Now let’s apply what we’ve learned.

Writing Application: Write three of your own sentences using beginning, middle, and ending speaker tags.

*****

Pennington Publishing Grammar Programs

Teaching Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School) are full-year, traditional, grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics programs with plenty of remedial practice to help students catch up while they keep up with grade-level standards. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep lessons in print or interactive Google slides with a fun secret agent theme. Simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts, video lessons, sentence dictations. Plenty of practice in the writing context. Includes biweekly tests and a final exam.

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Interactive Notebook (Grades 4‒8) is a full-year, no prep interactive notebook without all the mess. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep grammar, usage, and mechanics lessons, formatted in Cornell Notes with cartoon response, writing application, 3D graphic organizers (easy cut and paste foldables), and great resource links. No need to create a teacher INB for student make-up work—it’s done for you! Plus, get remedial worksheets, biweekly tests, and a final exam.

Syntax in Reading and Writing is a function-based, sentence-level syntax program, designed to build reading comprehension and increase writing sophistication. The 18 parts of speech, phrases, and clauses lessons are each leveled from basic (elementary) to advanced (middle and high school) and feature 5 lesson components (10–15 minutes each): 1. Learn It!  2. Identify It!  3. Explain It! (analysis of challenging sentences) 4. Revise It! (kernel sentences, sentence expansion, syntactic manipulation) 5. Create It! (Short writing application with the syntactic focus in different genre).

Get the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments, Matrix, and Final Exam FREE Resource:

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers

Noun Phrases

Noun Phrases                 

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left back arrow to return to this lesson.

Common Core Language Standard 1

A noun phrase adds modifiers to a noun to specifically identify that noun.

Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on noun phrases. Remember that a noun is an idea, person, place, or thing.

Now let’s read the grammar and usage lesson and study the examples.

A noun phrase consists of a named or unnamed person, place, thing, or idea and any words which modify or identify the noun. It acts as a single part of speech and can be referred to with a single pronoun. Examples: The tired young man (he) asked all his friends (them) to leave.

Now circle or highlight what is right and revise what is wrong according to grammar and usage lesson.

Practice: The lazy young men sitting in their plastic lawn chairs did nothing the entire afternoon.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: The lazy,young men sitting in their plastic lawn chairs did nothing the entire afternoon.

Now let’s apply what we have learned.

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a noun phrase.

*****

Pennington Publishing Grammar Programs

Teaching Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics (Grades 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and High School) are full-year, traditional, grade-level grammar, usage, and mechanics programs with plenty of remedial practice to help students catch up while they keep up with grade-level standards. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep lessons in print or interactive Google slides with a fun secret agent theme. Simple sentence diagrams, mentor texts, video lessons, sentence dictations. Plenty of practice in the writing context. Includes biweekly tests and a final exam.

Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Interactive Notebook (Grades 4‒8) is a full-year, no prep interactive notebook without all the mess. Twice-per-week, 30-minute, no prep grammar, usage, and mechanics lessons, formatted in Cornell Notes with cartoon response, writing application, 3D graphic organizers (easy cut and paste foldables), and great resource links. No need to create a teacher INB for student make-up work—it’s done for you! Plus, get remedial worksheets, biweekly tests, and a final exam.

Syntax in Reading and Writing is a function-based, sentence-level syntax program, designed to build reading comprehension and increase writing sophistication. The 18 parts of speech, phrases, and clauses lessons are each leveled from basic (elementary) to advanced (middle and high school) and feature 5 lesson components (10–15 minutes each): 1. Learn It!  2. Identify It!  3. Explain It! (analysis of challenging sentences) 4. Revise It! (kernel sentences, sentence expansion, syntactic manipulation) 5. Create It! (Short writing application with the syntactic focus in different genre).

Get the Diagnostic Grammar, Usage, and Mechanics Assessments, Matrix, and Final Exam FREE Resource:

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers