Pennington Publishing Blog

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

Commas in Compound Sentences

Commas in Compound Sentences     

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

Common Core Language Standard 2

Comma rules can be tricky. We do have disagreement about using them in compound sentences. Some old school English-language arts teachers insist that a comma followed by a conjunction is always required to join to independent clauses. Most professional writers ignore this rule. After all, it just seems awkward adding the comma in the short sentence: “I’ll walk, and I’ll run.” Most style manuals today apply this rule differently for short and long sentences.

Today’s mechanics lesson is on commas in compound sentences. Remember that a compound sentence has two or more independent clauses. An independent clause is part of a sentence that has a noun and verb expressing a complete thought. Coordinating conjunctions can be used to join the independent clauses.

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

Place a comma before the coordinating conjunction(s) to join independent clauses if one or both of the independent clauses is long. The memory trick FANBOYS (For-And-Nor-But-Or-Yet-So) may help you remember the common two or three-letter coordinating conjunctions. Example: My parents used to eat plenty of fresh fish, and they also ate rice.

Example: My parents used to eat plenty of fresh fish, and they also ate rice.

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

Practice: I sang my loudest, yet the huge crowd still couldn’t hear me or my music. They were screaming, so they couldn’t listen.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: I sang my loudest, yet the huge crowd still couldn’t hear me or my music. They were screaming so they couldn’t listen.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a compound sentence with two long independent clauses.

*****

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 Clauses

Noun Clauses             

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

Common Core Language Standard 1

Noun clauses are helpful to qualify what comes before or after them in a sentence. To qualify means to reduce from something general to something more specific. A noun clause centers around a person, place, thing, or idea. It includes a noun and a connected verb and is always a dependent clause. In other words, it depends upon the rest of the sentence to be complete.

Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on noun clauses. Remember that a noun is an idea, person, place, or thing. A dependent clause has a noun and verb, but does not express a complete thought.

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

A noun clause is a dependent clause (subordinate clause) that usually begins with if, how, however, that, the “wh” words: what, when, where, which, who, whom, whose, why, or the “wh”-ever words: whatever, whenever, wherever, whichever, whoever, or whomever. Place a comma following an introductory noun clause. Example: Whatever you wish, I will do.

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

Practice: We will go wherever you want to go and stay long you however wish.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: We will go wherever you want to go and stay however long you wish.

Now let’s apply what we have learned.

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a noun 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:

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