Pennington Publishing Blog

Commas with Ending Nouns of Direct Speech

Commas with Ending Nouns of Direct Speech   

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

Common Core Language Standard 2

Remember that direct means “face to face with nothing in between.” For example, a direct answer would be responding to someone–not about that someone.

Today’s mechanics lesson is on commas with ending nouns of direct speech. Remember that a noun can be named as in a proper noun or unnamed as in a common noun. When we talk to a person in our speech or writing, that person is a noun of direct speech. We place commas after nouns of direct speech used at the beginning of a sentence.

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

Place commas before nouns of direct speech used at the end of sentences. Example: “Why aren’t you helping, Sandy?” I asked.

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

Practice: I really wish you would, Rob. You do need a job son.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: I really wish you would, Rob. You do need a job, son.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a noun of direct speech at the end 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 comma rules, Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers

Indirect Objects       

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

Common Core Language Standard 1

The word direct means “face to face with nothing in between.” A direct object tells whom or what receives the action of the verb. When we add on the prefix in (meaning not) to form indirect, this word means that something is in between. Let’s see how this fits into our understanding of indirect objects.

Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on indirect objects. Remember that an object receives the action of a verb.

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

An indirect object answers To whom? For whom? To what? or For what? is the action of the verb completed. A sentence with an indirect object must also have a direct object. Usually, the indirect object is found between a verb and a direct object. Examples: I gave him a gift, We gave it a home.

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

Practice: Leticia gave her sister the necklace. She always gave she gifts.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: Leticia gave her sister the necklace. She always gave her gifts.

Now let’s apply what we have learned.

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using an indirect object.

*****

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, indirect objects, Language Conventions, writing openers

Commas with Beginning Nouns of Direct Speech       

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

Common Core Language Standard 2

To understand nouns of direct speech, we have to understand that direct means “face to face with nothing in between.” For example, a direct conversation would be talking to someone–not about that person.

Today’s mechanics lesson is on commas with beginning nouns of direct speech. Remember that a noun can be named as in a proper noun or unnamed as in a common noun.

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

When we talk to a person in our speech or writing, that person is a noun of direct speech. Place a comma after nouns of direct speech used at the beginning of a sentence. Example: “Barbara, please listen to me,” I said.

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

Practice: Marsha and Susan, I really wish you would visit. Tim you should come, too.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: Marsha and Susan, I really wish you would visit. Tim, you should come, too.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a noun of direct speech at the beginning 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 comma rules, Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers

Direct Objects

Direct Objects                           

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 direct objects, we have to understand subjects. A subject is the “do-er” of the sentence. A direct object does nothing; it receives an action. Find the predicate in the sentence and ask Whom? or What? and you’ll find the direct object.

Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on direct objects. Remember that an object receives the action of a verb.

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

A direct object tells whom or what receives the action of the verb. For example, I asked him, and he brought appetizers. The direct objects are him (the whom)and appetizers (the what).

The simple direct object consists of the single word object; the complete direct object consists of the complete object within a phrase or clause. Examples: I saw it. It destroyed the whole city.

A linking verb (a verb that expresses no action) does not signal a direct object. Example: He seems nice. The word nice is not a direct object.

Also, an object of a preposition or a possessive pronoun is not a direct object. Examples: He lied to me and said it was his. The words me and his are not direct objects.

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

Practice: I helped they and they sent letters.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: I helped them and they sent letters.

Now let’s apply what we have learned.

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a direct object.

*****

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 direct objects, Grammar Lessons, Language Conventions, writing openers

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