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Punctuation of Restrictive Clauses                                              

Common Core Language Standard 2

The tough “fifty-cent” words we use to describe the academic language of grammar, usage, and mechanics restricts our understanding. To restrict means to keep within certain limits or to not allow beyond a certain area. In grammar we mean that the words and meaning are limited within the clause. In other words no other additional words or meaning beyond the basic meaning of that clause are permitted. Because the clause is restrictive, it needs something to restrict. It needs to connect to an independent clause (a noun and a connected verb expressing a complete thought). The restrictive clause is dependent upon that independent clause, so it is a dependent clause.

Today’s mechanics lesson is on how to punctuate restrictive clauses. Let’s read the mechanics lesson and study the examples.

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

The relative pronouns who, whom, whose,and that, but not which introduce restrictive clauses. Do not use commas, dashes, or parentheses between nouns and relative pronouns.

Examples: The girl who lives here is kind. The boy whom I just met and whose food we are eating is extremely generous.

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

Practice: He made me an offer, that I can’t refuse. My friend, whose name is Art, is crazy.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Mechanics Practice Answers: He made me an offer that I can’t refuse. My friend, whose name is Art, is crazy.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write your own sentence using a restrictive 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 books, Grammar Lessons, grammar programs, grammar rules, grammar teaching resources, Language Conventions, Mark Pennington, mechanics, nonrestrictive relative clauses, pennington publishing, proper nouns, punctuation rules, relative clauses, restrictive clauses, teaching resources, Teaching the Language Strand, writing openers

Nonrestrictive Relative Clauses                                                  

Common Core Language Standard 1

If to restrict means to keep within certain limits or to not allow beyond a certain area, then opposite meaning would be to allow outside of certain limits or permit beyond a certain area. In grammar we mean that the words and meaning are not limited within the clause. In other words additional words or meanings beyond the basic meaning of that clause are permitted. 

Today’s grammar and usage lesson is on nonrestrictive relative clauses. Remember to use commas to set off nonrestrictive relative clauses from the noun or pronoun before the clause.

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

Nonrestrictive relative clauses serve as adjectives to modify the preceding noun or pronoun, but they do not limit, restrict, or define the meaning of that noun or pronoun. The clause could be removed without changing the basic meaning of the sentence.

The relative  pronouns who, whom, whose, and which, but not that, begin nonrestrictive relative clauses. The who refers to people and which refers to specific things. Example: The man, whose watch is gold, asked me for help.

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

Practice: The woman which never told the truth claimed to have seen a spaceship, which no one else happened to see.

Let’s check the Practice Answers.

Grammar and Usage Practice Answers: The woman, who never told the truth, claimed to have seen a spaceship, which no one else happened to see.

Now let’s apply what we have learned. 

Writing Application: Write a sentence with 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

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