Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Flashcards
All 27 cards in this deck
What is the difference between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions?
Coordinating (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) join equal clauses. Subordinating (because, although, when, if) introduce a dependent clause.
What is subject–verb agreement?
The verb must match its subject in number: The dog barks. / The dogs bark.
What is tense consistency?
Staying in the same tense unless time genuinely changes. Not I walked in and I see…
What is Standard English?
The form of English whose grammar and vocabulary are accepted as correct in formal writing. It isn't an accent.
What is wrong with we was and you was?
Was goes with singular subjects (I, he, she, it). With we, you and they, Standard English uses were: we were, you were, they were.
What should you write instead of should of?
should have (also could have, would have). Should of is should've written as it sounds.
What is a double negative?
Two negatives in one clause: I didn't do nothing. Standard English: I didn't do anything or I did nothing.
What is a comma splice?
Two complete sentences joined with only a comma: The bell rang, everyone ran outside.
What are the three ways to fix a comma splice?
A full stop, a semicolon or a conjunction: The bell rang; everyone ran outside.
Can however join two sentences with just a comma?
No. However isn't a conjunction: write It was late; however, we carried on. (or start a new sentence).
When do you need a capital letter?
At the start of a sentence, for proper nouns (names of people, places, days, months) and for the pronoun I.
What does a colon do?
It introduces something that explains, expands on or lists what came before. The part before it must be a complete sentence.
What does a semicolon do?
It joins two closely related complete sentences: Some people love mornings; others can't face them.
What are the two jobs of an apostrophe?
Omission (don't, it's) and possession (Sam's phone). Never for plain plurals.
How do you show possession for a plural noun ending in s?
Add just an apostrophe after the s: the girls' changing room (several girls), the teachers' car park.
How do you show possession for a plural that doesn't end in s?
Add 's, as you would for a singular noun: children's, women's, people's, mice's. Childrens' is always wrong.
When do you write its and when it's?
it's = it is or it has. its = belonging to it, with no apostrophe (the dog wagged its tail). Test: if it is fits, use it's.
What are the basic rules for punctuating direct speech?
Speech marks go round the words spoken; the speech starts with a capital; its closing punctuation goes inside the speech marks.
How do you punctuate speech when the reporting clause comes after it?
End the speech with a comma inside the speech marks, then start the reporting clause in lower case: "I'm leaving," she said.
What is the rule about new speakers in dialogue?
Start a new line (new paragraph) every time the speaker changes.
How do you spell definitely?
definitely: it contains finite (defin-ite-ly). Not definately.
How do you spell separate?
separate: there's a rat in sep-a-rat-e. Not seperate.
What's the difference between there, their and they're?
there: a place, or there is/are. their: belonging to them. they're: they are. They're leaving their bags over there.
What's the difference between your and you're?
your: belonging to you (your coat). you're: you are. Test: if you can say you are in its place, it's you're.
What's the difference between to, too and two?
to: direction or part of a verb (go to school, to run). too: also, or excessively (too cold). two: the number 2.
When do you use affect and when effect?
affect is usually the verb, effect usually the noun. The noise affected my sleep; it had a bad effect.
When do you use then and when than?
then is about time or order (We ate, then left). than compares (taller than me).