Pennington Publishing Blog

Commas with Nonrestrictive Relative Clauses

Commas with Nonrestrictive Relative Clauses   

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

Common Core Language Standard 2

Since restrict means to keep within certain limits or to not allow beyond a certain area, then opposite meaning must mean to allow outside of certain limits or permit beyond a certain area. In mechanics we have to show that these words and meanings are not limited within the clause and so we use punctuation. 

Today’s mechanics lesson is on how to use commas with nonrestrictive relative clauses. Remember that a clause has a noun and a connected verb.

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

The relative pronouns who, whom, whose, and which, but not that, begin nonrestrictive relative clauses. Use commas to set off nonrestrictive relative clauses from the noun or pronoun before the clause. Example: The girl, who sits in the corner, is sleepy.

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

Practice: The politician, who promised to fix the economy, who pledged to lower taxes and who swore to protect the environment, was defeated soundly at the polls.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: The politician, who promised to fix the economy, who pledged to lower taxes,and who swore to protect the environment, was defeated soundly at the polls.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a nonrestrictive relative clause in the middle of the 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

Intensive Pronouns

Intensive Pronouns                       

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

Common Core Language Standard 1

To understand intensive pronouns, we ought to take a look at the definition of intensive. Intensive means to give force or emphasis. Sometimes we just want to give force or emphasis to who the subject or whom the object is. That’s the use of intensive pronouns.

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

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

Intensive pronouns are used to emphasize subject or object case nouns or pronouns. These pronouns take the same form as reflexive pronouns and end in “self” or “selves”: myself, ourselves, yourself, yourselves, himself, herself, itself, and themselves.

Unlike reflexive pronouns, removing the intensive pronoun does not change the meaning of the sentence. Intensive pronouns generally follow nouns or pronouns in the sentence and are not separated by commas. Examples: you yourself, he himself

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

Practice: They themselves have always said it is better to read the summary written by the author her ownself.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: They themselves have always said it is better to read the summary written by the author herself.

Now let’s apply what we have learned.

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

This writing opener is part of a comprehensive language conventions lesson from the Grammar, Mechanics, Spelling, and Vocabulary   Grades 4‒8 programs.

*****

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 Hierarchical Adjectives

Commas with Hierarchical Adjectives           

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

Common Core Language Standard 2

Hierarchy has to do with ranking of different levels or degrees. Recognizing hierarchical adjectives helps us know how to punctuate properly.

Today’s mechanics lesson is on using commas with hierarchical adjectives. Remember that an adjective modifies a noun or pronoun and answers Which one? How many? or What kind?

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

Hierarchical adjectives build upon each other with different levels or degrees to modify the same noun. Hierarchical adjectives are not separated by commas. If the adjectives make no sense when placing the word and between them or reversing their order, the adjectives are hierarchical. Examples: Let’s order a hot thick-crust sausage pizza.

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

Practice: The traditional classroom reading tests do not always lead to the best, educational, placements.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: The traditional classroom reading tests do not always lead to the best educational placements.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using hierarchical 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

Reflexive Pronouns

Reflexive Pronouns                                                       

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

Common Core Language Standard 1

Just like intensive pronouns, reflexive pronouns use “self” or “selves” to tag onto pronouns. However, a reflexive pronoun does not add force or emphasis as does an intensive pronoun. Instead, a reflexive pronoun makes the meaning of a sentence more clear and so it is needed to make sense of the sentence. The prefix “re” meaning again is helpful to remember, because a reflexive pronoun must talk about or refer to a subject of a sentence once again. When we talk about or refer to something that comes before it in a sentence, we have to signal this relationship with punctuation.

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

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

Reflexive pronouns end in “self” or “selves” and refer to the subject of a sentence. The reflexive pronoun cannot serve as the subject of the sentence.

These are the reflexive pronouns:

myself, ourselves, yourself, yourselves, himself (not hisself), herself, itself, and themselves.

Reflexive pronouns are necessary to the meaning of the sentence and usually follow verbs or prepositions. Examples: Pete gave himself a break and grabbed a cookie forhimself.

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

Practice: Leta hurt herself on the hike. Yourself helped her. It was good to see that for ourselves.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: Leta hurt herself on the hike. Youhelped her. It was good to see that for ourselves.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a reflexive 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 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