Adjective- Words used to modify nouns. They tend to answer the question which, what kind of and how many.
For example:
The tall man is leading the older generals. In this case tall gives a specification of which and older is a specification of what kind of.
The tall man had an army of three hundred. Saying he has an army of three hundred is a specification of how many.
Adverb- Words that modify verbs, adjectives and other adverbs. They usually answer the question how, but can also answer when, where and why.
For example:
He moved gracefully. Gracefully is the adverb modifying the verb moved while answering how.
That horse is terribly vicious. Vicious modifies horse while terribly tells us how vicious thereby modifying vicious.
For the most part they come after the nouns they are modifying however they come after if the verb is a form of be, feel, taste, smell, sound, look, appear, and seem.
For example:
The dog is smelling. Smelling comes after is as is is a form of be.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Spelling rules
Today we will be covering some rules of spelling. Let us begin with "i" before "e". If one is spelling a word with both an "i" and an "e" next to each other the "i" will come first except when after the letter "c". Or when it sounds like an "a" such as the word "neighbor". I before E words are relief, chief and believe while e before i words are receive, deceive and eight.
The exceptions to this rule are: seize, either, weird, height, foreign, leisure, conscience, counterfeit, forfeit, neither, science, species and sufficient.
If the root of a word is not a complete word, then add "ible". For example vis"ible". If the root is a complete word then add "able". For example swimm"able". In the case the root had an "e" then drop the "e" and add the "able". For example desire + able = desirable.
Exceptions to this would be words like responsible, flexible and inevitable.
The exceptions to this rule are: seize, either, weird, height, foreign, leisure, conscience, counterfeit, forfeit, neither, science, species and sufficient.
If the root of a word is not a complete word, then add "ible". For example vis"ible". If the root is a complete word then add "able". For example swimm"able". In the case the root had an "e" then drop the "e" and add the "able". For example desire + able = desirable.
Exceptions to this would be words like responsible, flexible and inevitable.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Italics
Today, as promised, we will cover italics. As some of you may know, italics serve essentially the same purpose as underlining your words. Before word processors were around words would be underlined in the original paper and the publisher would italicize them. The current trend is to italicize instead of underlining but you should be consistent in which you choose.
With that said let us get to the rules of when one should italicize or underline. First it is used to show the name or title of a magazine, a singular ship, plane or train, a work of art, a long poem, a film, television shows, plays of three or more acts, news papers, operas and albums.
Examples are:
Thick as a Brick by Jethro Tull is a great album.
New York Times is a reliable news source.
U.S.S Enterprise is the name of an air craft carrier that is known for its numerous battles against the Japanese navy in World War 2.
Foreign words are also italicized:
Momento mori is a Latin phrase which means "remember your mortality".
A word can be italicized for importance.
My life is at stake!
Finally we italicize when referring to a specific word.
Time is often abused in plots.
With that said let us get to the rules of when one should italicize or underline. First it is used to show the name or title of a magazine, a singular ship, plane or train, a work of art, a long poem, a film, television shows, plays of three or more acts, news papers, operas and albums.
Examples are:
Thick as a Brick by Jethro Tull is a great album.
New York Times is a reliable news source.
U.S.S Enterprise is the name of an air craft carrier that is known for its numerous battles against the Japanese navy in World War 2.
Foreign words are also italicized:
Momento mori is a Latin phrase which means "remember your mortality".
A word can be italicized for importance.
My life is at stake!
Finally we italicize when referring to a specific word.
Time is often abused in plots.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Punctuation
Yep it is this time of year where we reach to something else you commonly use. The rest of the rules of punctuation! Let us begin with a parenthesis.
A parenthesis is used to emphasize something very important (as well as making my computer have to spell check me) such as date of birth-date of death (or any time for that matter) and is used to set off material that is nonessential. The difference between a comma and the parenthesis is that a comma gives less emphasis to its contents.
Jim (1900-1975) was an important and influential politician.
But what if a parenthesis is not enough emphasis for what you have to say? In that case we have dashes. Dashes place more emphasis on their contents then parenthesis and they set off appositive phrases that already have a comma. From Purdue OWL the definition of an appositive is "a word that adds explanatory or clarification to the noun preceding it."
The ship sank in the North Atlantic-no one had predicted icebergs. This is an example of the first purpose.
The people present-Tim, Reilly and Tom- marched to the shores. Is an example of the latter purpose. Here the appositive is the clarification of who is present at the march to the shores.
The next rule to be covered is quotation marks. The most obvious use of the rule is to show a direct quote of what someone said. The next most used example is to show irony in a statement. They are also used to show that whatever you are speaking about is the title of a short poem, a song, a short story, an article from a newspaper or magazine, an essay or speech, a chapter from a book, a short film or an episode of either a television show or a radio show.
"That is not right" said John. This is an example of the first rule.
Don't worry, he is doing the "right" thing. Is an example of irony.
"Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan. An example of the title rule.
In the next post, Italics and underlining will be covered.
A parenthesis is used to emphasize something very important (as well as making my computer have to spell check me) such as date of birth-date of death (or any time for that matter) and is used to set off material that is nonessential. The difference between a comma and the parenthesis is that a comma gives less emphasis to its contents.
Jim (1900-1975) was an important and influential politician.
But what if a parenthesis is not enough emphasis for what you have to say? In that case we have dashes. Dashes place more emphasis on their contents then parenthesis and they set off appositive phrases that already have a comma. From Purdue OWL the definition of an appositive is "a word that adds explanatory or clarification to the noun preceding it."
The ship sank in the North Atlantic-no one had predicted icebergs. This is an example of the first purpose.
The people present-Tim, Reilly and Tom- marched to the shores. Is an example of the latter purpose. Here the appositive is the clarification of who is present at the march to the shores.
The next rule to be covered is quotation marks. The most obvious use of the rule is to show a direct quote of what someone said. The next most used example is to show irony in a statement. They are also used to show that whatever you are speaking about is the title of a short poem, a song, a short story, an article from a newspaper or magazine, an essay or speech, a chapter from a book, a short film or an episode of either a television show or a radio show.
"That is not right" said John. This is an example of the first rule.
Don't worry, he is doing the "right" thing. Is an example of irony.
"Like a Rolling Stone" by Bob Dylan. An example of the title rule.
In the next post, Italics and underlining will be covered.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Too, To and Two
When words are pronounced the same way it can be hard to remeber which word means what. This is often the case with the words "Too, to and two".
The easisest one to remember here s the word "two" which is the dpelling of the number "2" and is used for amounts.
Those are two eggs.
The word "to" is a preposition, the first part of the infinitive for the verb.
We went to the zoo.
The word "too" is used to mean "very" and "also".
We went to the bear exhibit too. I was quite thirsty too.
The easisest one to remember here s the word "two" which is the dpelling of the number "2" and is used for amounts.
Those are two eggs.
The word "to" is a preposition, the first part of the infinitive for the verb.
We went to the zoo.
The word "too" is used to mean "very" and "also".
We went to the bear exhibit too. I was quite thirsty too.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Two Neccesary Definitions and Examples
The definitions of "Independent Clause" and "Dependent Clause" will now be clarified for future reference.
Independent clause is the main clause while the dependent clause is a clause that cannot stand alone and needs another clause to complete its meaning. It is also known as a subordinate clause.
This cake is very tasty.
An example of an independent clause.
When there is light, we know the sun.
The first part is an independent clause becuase it needs the second part to tell you what it means.
Independent clause is the main clause while the dependent clause is a clause that cannot stand alone and needs another clause to complete its meaning. It is also known as a subordinate clause.
This cake is very tasty.
An example of an independent clause.
When there is light, we know the sun.
The first part is an independent clause becuase it needs the second part to tell you what it means.
Colons and Semi colons
First we will show what a colon and a semi colon is. A colon looks like ":" and a semi colon looks like ";". So now that we are clear on what's being discussed let us discuss what they are and their differences.
A colon can be used between two independent clauses to emphasize the second clause.
The guitarist knew what to think of his band: they were absolutely terrible.
Here we are emphasizing what a person is thinking, which is the second independent clause in this sentence.
A colon can also be used after an independent clause in relation to an idea following the independent clause such as a quote or list.
The most powerful world leaders: America, China and Russia.
In his address late last night the President said: "Today is a great day for America. Our economy has recovered just in time for re elections."
The greatest invention ever conceived: sliced bread.
A colon is used at the end of business greetings
Dear Supervisor:
Used to separate hours and minutes when telling time
1:57 pm
Finally to separate verse and chapter in the bible
Acts 18:9
And those are the uses of a colon.
The semi colon can be used to join two independent clauses when the second clause restates the first or they are both of equal emphasis.
I am tired; I am very sleepy.
A semi colon can be used to join two independent clauses when they are separated by a conjunctive adverb or a transition.
Conjunctive adverbs are: however, therefore, moreover, furthermore, thus, meanwhile, nonetheless and otherwise.
Transitions are the phrases: even so, in fact, for example, that is, for instance, in addition, in other words and on the other hand.
On one hand he is a good person; on the other hand I need my goat.
Finally to join elements of a series that already includes commas such as listing the capitols of nations.
Washington D.C., America; Moscow, Russia.
And so where the differences stand: A colon is used for lists, quotes or when you wish to emphasis the second independent clause over the first independent clause as well as being used in formal letters, the telling of time and quoting the bible.
A semi colon is used when two independent are of equal emphasis or the second clause is greater in emphasis, used to separate two independent clauses when there is a transition or conjunctive adverb separating them and finally to join elements of a series that already has commas in it.
A colon can be used between two independent clauses to emphasize the second clause.
The guitarist knew what to think of his band: they were absolutely terrible.
Here we are emphasizing what a person is thinking, which is the second independent clause in this sentence.
A colon can also be used after an independent clause in relation to an idea following the independent clause such as a quote or list.
The most powerful world leaders: America, China and Russia.
In his address late last night the President said: "Today is a great day for America. Our economy has recovered just in time for re elections."
The greatest invention ever conceived: sliced bread.
A colon is used at the end of business greetings
Dear Supervisor:
Used to separate hours and minutes when telling time
1:57 pm
Finally to separate verse and chapter in the bible
Acts 18:9
And those are the uses of a colon.
The semi colon can be used to join two independent clauses when the second clause restates the first or they are both of equal emphasis.
I am tired; I am very sleepy.
A semi colon can be used to join two independent clauses when they are separated by a conjunctive adverb or a transition.
Conjunctive adverbs are: however, therefore, moreover, furthermore, thus, meanwhile, nonetheless and otherwise.
Transitions are the phrases: even so, in fact, for example, that is, for instance, in addition, in other words and on the other hand.
On one hand he is a good person; on the other hand I need my goat.
Finally to join elements of a series that already includes commas such as listing the capitols of nations.
Washington D.C., America; Moscow, Russia.
And so where the differences stand: A colon is used for lists, quotes or when you wish to emphasis the second independent clause over the first independent clause as well as being used in formal letters, the telling of time and quoting the bible.
A semi colon is used when two independent are of equal emphasis or the second clause is greater in emphasis, used to separate two independent clauses when there is a transition or conjunctive adverb separating them and finally to join elements of a series that already has commas in it.
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