Pennington Publishing Blog

Commas with Tag Questions

Commas with Tag Questions         

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

Common Core Language Standard 2

When we combine a declarative and an interrogative (a statement and a question) in one sentence, we have to divide these two types of sentences with a comma. 

Today’s mechanics lesson is on using commas before tag questions. Remember that a declarative makes a statement and an imperative gives a command. 

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

A tag question is a brief question added to a declarative sentence. Use commas to set off tag questions. Place a question mark at the end of the sentence, even though most of the sentence is a statement. Example: I don’t think he will finish, will he?

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

Practice: I will give it my best effort won’t you?

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: I will give it my best effort, won’t you?

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a tag question.

*****

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 comma rules, Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers

Subjects and Predicates

How to Teach Subjects and Predicates     

Play the quick video lesson HERE and click the upper left                                                 

Common Core Language Standard 1

It seems like English-language arts teachers do spend a lot of time getting students to identify and use subjects and predicates properly. These are the two major parts of the sentence. In fact, every complete sentence must have a subject and predicate.

Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on subjects and predicates. Remember that every sentence must have a subject and predicate.

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

The subject is the “do-er” of the sentence. It tells whom or what the sentence is about. The simple subject is the noun or pronoun that the verb acts upon. The complete subject includes additional words that describe the simple subject. The compound subject describes a subject with two or more nouns or pronouns. Examples: women, the older women, she and the older women

The simple predicate does the work of the “do-er” of the sentence. It shows a physical or mental action or it describes a state of being. The simple predicate is the verb that acts upon the subject of the sentence. The complete predicate includes additional words that modify the predicate. The compound predicate describes a predicate with two or more verbs.

Examples: danced, had danced skillfully, danced and sang

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

Practice: The subjects are underlined and the predicates are bracketed. He and Sue [arrived]. Their friends [had just left]. We had [asked to come], but [couldn’t go].

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: He and Sue [arrived]. Their friends [had just left]. We [had asked to come], but [couldn’t go].

Now let’s apply what we have learned.

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a complete subject and a complete predicate.

*****

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, subjects and predicates, writing openers

Commas with Place Names

Commas with Place Names                 

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

Common Core Language Standard 2

Geographical places are identified by their relationships to each other. Think of your address: It includes a number, name of a street, town or city, county, state, and country. Each of these would need commas to separate them.

Today’s mechanics lesson is on commas with geographical place names.

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

When a geographical reference has two or more places, use a comma after each place (town or city, region, state or province, country) and place a comma after the last place name, unless it is placed at the end of the sentence. Example: I visited Tasco, Mexico, on my last vacation.

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

Practice: I saw her home in Phoenix, Arizona and her vacation condo in Loreto, Mexico.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: I saw her home in Phoenix, Arizona, and her vacation condo in Loreto, Mexico.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using two proper noun place names that you would like to visit someday.

*****

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 comma rules, Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers

Prepositional Phrases

Prepositional Phrases     

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

Common Core Language Standard 1

We had better learn to identify and use prepositional phrases. Almost 30% of writing consists of them. One of the biggest controversies is whether to end sentences with prepositions or not. Most English-language arts teachers would say “No,” but most writers use them where they wish.

Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on prepositional phrases. Remember that a phrase is a group of related words without a noun and connected verb.

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

A preposition shows a relationship between the preposition and its object. The relationship may be that of location, position, or time. The preposition is always part of a phrase and comes before its object. The preposition asks “What?” or “Whom?” and the object provides the answer. Examples: past the cloud, next to him, over there

Following are the most common prepositions: aboard, about, above, according to, across, after, against, along, among, around, as, as to, at, before, behind, below, beneath, beside, between, beyond, but, by, despite, down, during, except, for, from, in, inside, instead of, into, in place of, in spite of, like, near, next, of, off, on, onto, outside, out of, over, past, regardless of, since, than, through, throughout, to, toward, under, underneath, unlike, until, up, upon, with, within, without

Place a comma after introductory prepositional phrases with more than four words. Example: Through the deep and dark forest, I followed the bread crumbs.

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

Practice: Around the house, ran the dog. The dog ran past the gate and jumped over the fence.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: Around the house ran the dog. The dog ran past the gate and jumped over the fence.

Now let’s apply what we have learned.

*****

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, prepositions, writing openers

Commas with Surname Titles

Commas with Surname Titles 

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

Common Core Language Standard 2

We use titles attached to our names for a variety of reasons. These titles indicate gender, family relationships, qualifications, licences, and educational degrees.

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

Place a comma before and after any educational degrees and special qualifications which follow peoples’ last names. Educational degrees and special qualifications are often abbreviated. Examples: M.A. for Master of Arts, M.D. for Medical Doctor

Family titles that follow first names, such as Jr. for Junior or IV for the fourth family member with the same first name, are not set off by commas, but family titles that follow first and last names are set off by commas. Examples: John Jr. and Maurice Small, IV

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

Practice: Hiram Larkin, Sr. met with Hiram Jr., to discuss the hire of Kim Singh, M.A. English.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: Hiram Larkin, Sr. met with Hiram Jr. to discuss the hire of Kim Singh, M.A. English.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentences using a doctor’s title and a family title.

*****

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 comma rules, Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers

Subordinating Conjunctions

Subordinating Conjunctions                       

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

Common Core Language Standard 1

Using this type of conjunction will improve the maturity and complexity of your writing more than any other grammatical form. The subordinating conjunction is used to begin a special kind of dependent clause known as an adverbial clause and helps form complex or compound-complex sentences. This conjunction signals a thought that limits, provides a condition, or adds information to the main clause of the sentence. It depends upon the rest of the sentence.

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

A subordinating conjunction always introduces an adverbial clause. The subordinating conjunction signals the relationship between the adverbial clause and the independent clause. Use a comma to set off an introductory adverbial clause, but not an adverbial clause that ends a sentence. Use this memory trick to remember the subordinating conjunctions:

Bud is wise, but hot! AAA WWW

Subordinate Conjunctions

before, unless, despite (in spite of), in order that, so, while, if, since, even though (if), because, until, that, how, once, than, after, although (though), as (as if, as long as, as though), whether, when (whenever), where (wherever)

Examples: Unless I’m wrong, the show is on tonight. The show is on tonight unless I’m wrong.

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

Practice: If things don’t improve, it’s going to be a long time, before you get off restriction.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: If things don’t improve, it’s going to be a long time before you get off restriction.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a subordinating conjunction to introduce an adverbial clause.

*****

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:

Get the Conjunction Posters FREE Resource:

Grammar/Mechanics, Writing adverb clauses, Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, subordinating conjunctions, writing openers

Commas in Addresses

Commas in Addresses         

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

Common Core Language Standard 2

Everyone likes receiving personal mail. However, the post office is even stricter than your English-language arts teacher about using correct punctuation. If you want your card, letter, or package to arrive at its destination, you have to know how to address each properly. Don’t get a “Return to Sender” on that card, letter, or package you send to your friend or loved one.

Today’s mechanics lesson is on commas in addresses. Remember that on a letter or package the top line(s) identifies the name and/or company. The middle line includes the street number and name. The bottom line(s) contains the city, state or province (two-letter abbreviation), zip code, and country (if different than that of the sender).

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

Don’t use abbreviations when addresses are listed in formats other than on letters and packages. Commas follow the name and/or company, the street name, the city, and the state or province. Commas are never placed before zip codes. Examples: Send the package to Smith Publishing, 123 Main Street, Anytown, South Carolina 29804.

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

Practice: Amanda sent the letter to 425 Post Avenue, Park City, New York, 10001.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: Amanda sent the letter to 425 Post Avenue, Park City, New York 10001.

Now let’s apply what we have learned.

Writing Application: Write your own mailing address.

*****

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 comma rules, Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers

Correlative Conjunctions

Correlative Conjunctions     

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

Common Core Language Standard 1

English has a set of pair conjunctions used to join words, phrases, and clauses called correlative conjunctions.

Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on correlative conjunctions. I call them paired conjunctions. Remember that a conjunction joins words, phrases, and clauses. A phrase is a group of related words without a noun and connected verb. A clause is a part of a sentence that has a noun and a connected verb.

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

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions used in the same sentence.

Examples: both−and; such−that; whether−or; as−as; not−but; neither−nor; no sooner−than; either−or; as many−as; rather−than

Correlative Conjunctions

If used within the same phrase or clause, don’t use a comma to separate the correlative conjunctions. A comma is placed before the second of the paired conjunctions if that conjunction begins a different independent clause. Examples: Either chocolate or vanilla is fine. Both girls like chocolate, and they also like vanilla.

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

Practice: Both men, and women were spies. Either they were successful, nor they were not.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: Both men and women were spies. Either they were successful, or they were not.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a pair of correlative conjunctions.

*****

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:

Get the Conjunction Posters FREE Resource:

Grammar/Mechanics, Literacy Centers, Study Skills, Writing Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers