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B. Foundations of Language · Foundations: Grammar, Sentences and Punctuation

Foundations: Grammar, Sentences and Punctuation: Unit Review

A3.1 B3.1 B3.2 B3.3About 40 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can name sentence types and forms, and the three kinds of dependent clauses.
  • I can combine phrases and clauses, keep sentences parallel and place modifiers correctly.
  • I can identify indirect objects, predicate nouns, predicate adjectives, participles and adverbial phrases.
  • I can use semicolons, conjunctive adverbs with commas, colons before quotations, ellipses and dashes.

Words to know

independent clause
A clause that can stand alone as a sentence.
dependent clause
A clause that can't stand alone: adjective, adverb or noun clause.
indirect object
The receiver of the direct object: gave me a toque.
predicate adjective
An adjective after a linking verb that describes the subject.
participle
A verb form used as an adjective: frozen lake, howling wind.
conjunctive adverb
A connecting adverb like however or therefore, set off with commas.

Let's review!

In this unit you named sentence types and forms, sorted adjective, adverb and noun clauses, combined phrases and clauses to show how ideas relate, kept your sentences parallel and your modifiers in place, found indirect objects, predicate nouns and predicate adjectives, used participles and adverbial phrases, and practised semicolons, conjunctive adverbs, colons before quotations, ellipses and dashes.

This review has a few questions from every lesson. Try each one, then press Show answer to check. If a part feels tricky, go back to that lesson for more practice.

;semicolonjoins twoclosely relatedsentences:colonafter a completesentence,before aquotation...ellipsiswords left out,or a pause—em dasha sudden breakor loud extrainfo, however,commasset off aconjunctiveadverb
Your punctuation toolkit from this unit. Each mark has its own job, so choose the one that shows exactly how your ideas connect.
What comes after the verb?an ACTION verba LINKING verbdirect objectwhat? whom?a toqueindirect objectto/for whom?mepredicate nounrenames subjecta paramedicpredicate adjectivedescribes subjectsaltyGrandpa knitted me a toque.My aunt is a paramedic.The soup tasted salty.
Words after the verb have different jobs. After an action verb, look for direct and indirect objects; after a linking verb, look for a predicate noun or a predicate adjective.

Sentence Types and Forms: Choosing the Right Sentence

1

Name the type and form: Before you leave, turn off the lights.

2

Name the form: The snow stopped, but the wind kept blowing.

3

Phrase or clause? after the long winter

4

Fix the fragment: Because the road was closed.

Three Kinds of Dependent Clauses: Adjective, Adverb and Noun

1

Name the kind of clause: I don't know why the bus is late.

2

Name the kind of clause: The cabin where we stayed had a wood stove.

3

Name the kind of clause: We'll go outside as soon as the rain stops.

4

Add a comma if needed: If you see a coyote stay calm and back away.

Building Complex Sentences from Phrases and Clauses

1

Combine with an appositive: Mr. Ross is our music teacher. He plays the bagpipes.

2

Combine with an infinitive phrase: We got up at 5 a.m. We wanted to see the sunrise.

3

Fix: Despite it was windy, we flew our kite.

Clear Sentences: Parallel Structure and Misplaced Modifiers

1

Make it parallel: I like baking, drawing and to garden.

2

Fix the misplaced modifier: We saw a heron paddling down the river.

3

Where should only go to mean that I brought no other snack? I brought an apple.

Direct and Indirect Objects

1

Find the direct and indirect objects: My uncle sent me a postcard from Yellowknife.

2

Is teacher an indirect object? I handed my project to the teacher.

3

Choose: Can you show (I / me) the answer?

Linking Verbs: Predicate Nouns and Predicate Adjectives

1

Predicate noun or predicate adjective? The hallway seemed quiet.

2

Predicate noun or direct object? My aunt is a pilot. / My aunt knows a pilot.

3

Fix: The bread smells freshly.

Participles and Participial Phrases

1

Find the participle: The howling wind rattled the windows.

2

Participle or gerund? Fishing is popular in Muskoka.

3

Fix the dangling participle: Climbing the hill, the view was amazing.

4

Choose: The movie was (exciting / excited).

Adverbial Phrases: When, Where, How and Why

1

Find the adverbial phrases: On Friday, we skated at the outdoor rink for an hour.

2

Adverbial or adjectival? The house on the hill is old.

3

Add an infinitive phrase showing why: We planted milkweed.

Semicolons: Joining Independent Clauses

1

Join with a semicolon: The lake froze early. We skated before Christmas.

2

Correct or incorrect? We cheered; because our team scored.

3

Fix the comma splice with a semicolon: The puppy is tiny, it fits in my hood.

Conjunctive Adverbs: Connecting Ideas with Commas

1

Punctuate: The museum was closed therefore we went to the park.

2

Add commas: My brother meanwhile was still asleep.

3

Choose instead or furthermore: We didn't take the car; ____, we biked.

Colons Before Quotations and Capital Letters in Quoted Words

1

Comma or colon? The coach gave one instruction "Keep your stick on the ice."

2

Comma or colon? The coach shouted "Keep your stick on the ice!"

3

Fix: She said that "We should leave early".

4

Capitalize: we read a story about an anishinaabe family.

Ellipses and Dashes: Omissions, Pauses and Breaks

1

Shorten with an ellipsis: "The arena, which seats 3000 people, will reopen in May."

2

Ellipsis or dash? A speaker is cut off: "Look out for the__"

3

Add a pair of dashes: The best part of the trip the northern lights happened on our last night.

Just for fun

What did the dash say to the hyphen?

"You're short—but you really bring words together!"

How to use this review

  • Do one or two sections a day instead of all at once.
  • Say your reasoning aloud: "This is a noun clause because I can replace it with 'something'."
  • Mark any question you missed. Go back to that lesson and do its More practice questions.
  • Finish with the quiz below. Then look at one piece of your own writing and fix one sentence using something from this unit.
Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

What form is this sentence? When the alarm rang, Ben got up, but his sister kept sleeping.

2.

What kind of clause is bold? I wonder what's for dinner.

3.

Which sentence is correct?

4.

Which sentence uses parallel structure?

5.

What is the indirect object? Mom bought my sister new skates.

6.

What is calm in The lake looked calm?

7.

Which sentence has a dangling participle?

8.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

9.

Which sentence uses a colon correctly to introduce a quotation?

10.

Which mark best shows a speaker being cut off?

For parents and teachers

How to use the review: have your child try each section, say their reasoning aloud, then check. Use mistakes to decide which lesson to revisit:

  • Mixing up simple, compound and complex sentences, or writing fragments → Sentence Types and Forms.
  • Can't tell adjective, adverb and noun clauses apart → Three Kinds of Dependent Clauses.
  • Choppy writing, or despite/because of errors → Building Complex Sentences from Phrases and Clauses.
  • Lists that don't match, or funny misplaced descriptions → Parallel Structure and Misplaced Modifiers.
  • Confusing indirect objects with objects of prepositions, or gave Lucas and I → Direct and Indirect Objects.
  • Confusing predicate nouns with direct objects, or smells nicely → Linking Verbs: Predicate Nouns and Predicate Adjectives.
  • Dangling participles, bored/boring mix-ups, gerund vs. participle → Participles and Participial Phrases.
  • Unsure what a phrase is describing, or missing commas after long openers → Adverbial Phrases.
  • Semicolons before dependent clauses or with and → Semicolons.
  • Comma splices with however or therefore → Conjunctive Adverbs.
  • Colons after said, capitals in blended quotations, periods outside quotation marks → Colons Before Quotations.
  • Hyphens used as dashes, or unfair omissions with ellipses → Ellipses and Dashes.

Most of all, encourage your child to apply one convention from this unit to a real piece of writing each week.