2. Writing Better Sentences In this chapter you will learn to write better sentences by choosing better words. Better sentences will help your readers understand your ideas quickly and easily. Words that are carefully chosen move your writing in the right direction. Specific words add interest to this plain sentence: I rode the bus to school. On Saturday, I rode the early bus to art school. The added words give details. They state the idea more clearly. As you read this chapter, you will learn to use nouns, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, and prepositional phrases in your sentences
3. Goals for Learning To replace nouns with pronouns To use plural and possessive nouns correctly To improve sentences by adding adjectives and adverbs To use adjectives and adverbs to make comparisons To use prepositional phrases in sentences
4. Key Vocabulary Words Antecedent The noun that a pronoun replaces Masculine Relating to males Feminine Relating to females Gender Masculine or feminine Possessive noun A word that shows ownership or a relationship between two things Personal pronoun A pronoun that refers to a person or a thing
5. Key Vocabulary Words Apostrophe (’) A punctuation mark that you use to show a noun is possessive Adjective A word that describes a noun or pronoun Thesaurus A book that lists words and their synonyms Synonym A word that has the same meaning as another word Adverb A word that answers questions about a verb, an adjective, or another adverb; it tells when, how, how often, where, or to what degree
6. Key Vocabulary Words Positive form The form of an adjective or adverb that you use to describe one person or thing Comparative form The form of an adjective or adverb that you use to compare two people or things; formed by adding –erto the positive form or by adding the word more Superlative form A form of an adjective or adverb that you use to compare three or more people or things; formed by adding –estto the positive form or by adding the word most Prepositional phrase A group of words made up of a preposition and a noun or pronoun; it works like an adjective or an adverb in a sentence Preposition A word that shows a relationship between a noun or pronoun (its object) and other words in a sentence
8. Objectives To use pronouns to replace nouns in sentences To identify the antecedent of a pronoun To recognize the gender of a noun or pronoun To identify singular and plural nouns and pronouns
9. Replacing Nouns with Pronouns When you speak or write, you use nouns to name people, places, things, and ideas. It would be awkward to use the same noun several times in a sentence. Instead, you use a pronoun. A pronoun replaces a noun in a sentence. An antecedent is the noun that the pronoun replaces. EXAMPLE 1 Amber and Amber’s mother go to pottery class. Amber and her mother go to pottery class. The pronoun her replaces Amber’s. The antecedent is Amber’s.
10. Replacing Nouns with Pronouns You cannot use a pronoun until you have identified the noun. If there is no antecedent, the listener or reader will not know who or what you are talking about. EXAMPLE 2 No Antecedent Given Brandon saw it yesterday. (saw what?) Antecedent Given Brandon saw the movie yesterday. He liked it. In the second sentence, you know what Brandon saw. The pronoun it has an antecedent. The antecedent is movie. The pronoun is not always in the same sentence as the antecedent.
11. Replacing Nouns with Pronouns There are two rules to remember: Rule 1 A pronoun must have an antecedent. Rule 2 A pronoun must agree with its antecedent.
12. Practice A Find the antecedent for each pronoun in bold. Write the pronoun and its antecedent on your paper. Derek read about a national park in Kentucky. It is called Mammoth Cave. “I would like to see this cave,” he said. “Tell me about it,” Brandon said. “A river runs through the cave’s lowest level,” Derek told him. “We should plan to visit this cave,” Brandon said.
13. Gender and Number Nouns are words that name people, places, things, or ideas. Some nouns that name people show gender. Gender tells if the noun is masculine or feminine. Masculine nouns refer to males. Feminine nouns refer to females. Some pronouns are also masculine or feminine. EXAMPLE 3 Masculine Brandon, man, boy, uncle, father, he, him, his Feminine Sonia, woman, girl, aunt, mother, she, her, hers No Gender table, mountain, city, pencil, it, they
14. Gender and Number Rule 3 A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in gender. EXAMPLE 4 Derek went to the movies. He saw a comedy. Amber has a dog named Rex. She loves that dog! The bell rang. It signaled that class had begun.
15. Gender and Number Replace plural nouns with they, them, or their. It does not matter whether the noun is a group of men, women, or things. EXAMPLE 5 Ten families came. They brought their own food. The store is open now. It stays open all night.
16. Practice B Change the words in bold to pronouns. Write the new sentence on your paper. Amber and Sonia went to Amber and Sonia’s class. Ms. Ruiz had given Ms. Ruiz’s class an assignment. “Did everyone do the assignment?” asked Ms. Ruiz. “Amber did,” Sonia said. “Derek has Derek’s work, too.” “Aren’t Amber and Derek wonderful,” laughed Luis.
17. Gender and Number Rule 4 A pronoun must agree with its antecedent in number. If the antecedent is singular, the pronoun is singular. If the antecedent is plural, the pronoun is plural. Singular Pronouns: I, you, he, she, it Plural Pronouns: we, you, they
18. Practice C In each sentence, a pronoun does not agree with its antecedent. Write each sentence correctly on your paper. Springfield has a park that their people love. The park is off Main Street. They are behind the pool. Three fields are there. It is for playing soccer. The coaches are nice, and everyone likes it. Each team should bring their own equipment.
19. Subject, Object, or Possessive Noun Nouns have different purposes in sentences. The pronoun that replaces a noun depends on the noun’s purpose. You can use a noun as a subject or an object. You can also use the possessive form of a noun. A possessive noun shows ownership or a relationship between two things. EXAMPLE 6 Subject Sonia enjoys music. She enjoys music. Object Amber e-mailed Sonia. Amber e-mailed her. Possessive The violin is Sonia’s. The violin is hers.
20. Subject, Object, or Possessive Noun The table below lists personal pronouns. A personal pronoun refers to a person or a thing. Use the table to find the correct pronoun to replace a noun. A pronoun that replaces a possessive noun is called a possessive pronoun.
21. Practice D Decide which pronoun completes each sentence. Refer to the table above. Write the new sentence on your paper. Derek and Brandon are friends. ____ enjoy soccer. “What time should ____ leave?” asked Brandon. “What time is good for ____?” Derek replied. “The coach told ____ to be at the field at 6:00.” “____ likes to start practice on time.”
22. Lesson 3-1 Review Replace the noun in bold with the correct pronoun. Write the new sentence on your paper. Until Derek was a junior in high school, Derek did not study enough. Amber told Derek to study harder to get better grades. Amber told him the work was worthwhile. Derek found a quiet place where Derek like to study. With all of these effort, Derek’s grades improved a lot.
23. Lesson 3-1 Review Decide which pronoun completes each sentence. Write the sentence on your paper. Derek and Brandon live in Springfield. ____ like their town. Derek and ____ family have lived there for many years. Sonia Moreno enjoys the violin. She plays ____ in the orchestra. Amber, Derek, and Brandon love soccer. ____ play as much as possible. Sonia’s cousin Luis is fun to be around. ____ is always telling jokes.
25. Objectives To identify possessive nouns and plural nouns To write possessive nouns and pronouns correctly
26. Using Plural and Possessive Nouns People often confuse the possessive and plural forms of a noun because they sound alike. A possessive noun shows ownership or a relationship between two things. Always use an apostrophe (’) when you write a possessive noun. EXAMPLE 1 Plural Noun Possessive Noun The members meet here. A member’s house is nearby. My cousins live in Toronto. My cousin’s house is brick.
27. Practice A Decide if each noun in bold is plural or possessive. Write plural or possessive on your paper. Both teams met at the stadium. Where is the poodle’s leash? Everyone in Eliza’s class liked learning Spanish. These are my running shoes. California’s weather is usually warm.
28. Using Plural and Possessive Nouns Here are the rules for writing possessive nouns: Rule 1 Make a singular noun possessive by adding ‘s. EXAMPLE 2 Brandon’s book is gone. Ms. Ruiz’s class meets in the morning. The principal’s office is a busy place.
29. Using Plural and Possessive Nouns Rule 2 Make a plural noun possessive by adding only an apostrophe. EXAMPLE 3 The students’ papers are not finished. The boys’ locker room needs to be cleaned. Both cities’ problems are the same.
30. Using Plural and Possessive Nouns Rule 3 If a plural noun does not end in –s, add an s after the apostrophe. EXAMPLE 4 People’s opinions about this vary. Our children’s jackets still fit them. The women’s team is practicing.
31. Practice B Decide whether each bold possessive noun is singular or plural. Write singular or plural on your paper. Brandon’s room is painted green. What time is the teachers’ meeting? The students answered the teacher’s questions. Men’s shirts are on sale. The dancers’ feet hurt.
32. Using Plural and Possessive Nouns A possessive pronoun does not have an apostrophe. EXAMPLE 5 The dog’s bone is buried. Its bone is buried. I love Brandon’s house. I love his house. Amber and Sonia’s friend came. Their friend came.
33. Practice C Replace each bold possessive noun with the correct possessive pronoun. Write the new sentence on your paper. Where are Derek’s running shoes? Brandon looked everywhere for Amber’s car keys. The players’ equipment was scattered everywhere. Rex lost Rex’s tennis ball. Luis’s and Sonia’s mothers are sisters.
34. Practice D Write each sentence on your paper. Add the correct possessive pronoun. After school, Derek goes to ____ job at the gas station. It is a good job, and the workers like ____ boss. Ms. Lenz started ____ business five years ago. She has six employees on ____ staff. The station is open late. ____ closing time is 10 PM.
35. Practice E Read each pair of nouns. The first one is singular, and the second one is plural. Write the possessive form of each word on your paper. Example: loaf, loaves Answer: loaf’s, loaves’ child, children man, men family, families shelf, shelves goose, geese
36. Lesson 3-2 Review Each sentence has a mistake in the use of possessive and plural nouns. Write the sentence correctly on your paper. The Tuckers home is on Third Street. Both team’s were ready for the big event. Childrens’ toys were on the floor. My neighbors cat climbed a tree. The fire department brought some ladder’s.
37. Lesson 3-2 Review Replace each possessive noun in bold with the correct possessive pronoun. Write the new sentence. Amber’s dog Rex chased her neighbor’s cat up a tree. The cat’s fur stood on end. Derek heard the cat’s meowing from across the street. Mrs. Chin is Amber and her mother’s neighbor. The fire department will rescue Mrs. Chin’s cat.
39. Objectives To use adjectives and adverbs in sentences To choose specific adjectives and adverbs To know the purpose of a thesaurus
40. Adding Adjectives and Adverbs An adjective describes a noun or pronoun. An adjective tells how many, what kind, or which ones. Look at the adjectives in Example 1. Thing about the question each adjective answers. EXAMPLE 1 How Many? one book, few athletes, three flowers What Kind? heavy book, strong athletes, purple flowers Which Ones? Mia’s book, those athletes, other flowers Mia’s is the possessive form of Mia. A possessive noun act as an adjective.
41. Adding Adjectives and Adverbs Adjectives add details to sentences. Adjectives often appear in front of the words they describe. EXAMPLE 2 The teenager ate a plate of food in gulps. The hungry teenager ate a huge plate of hot food in four gulps.
42. Practice A The nouns in each sentence are in bold. Write the sentence again. Add an adjective for each noun. The family planted a tree in the yard. In class, the girl did a somersault. Sonia likes apples with peanut butter on them. The man ate the sandwich. The dog ate a bowl of food.
43. Adding Adjectives and Adverbs Help your readers form sharp pictures by using specific adjectives. Specific means exact or detailed. Avoid vague adjectives such as good, nice, bad, and pretty. Vague means general. EXAMPLE 3 Vague Specific It was a nice day. It was a sunny, breezy day. The fruit tasted good. The fruit tasted juicy and fresh.
44. Adding Adjectives and Adverbs A thesaurus is a book that lists words and their synonyms. A synonym is a word with the same meaning as another word. A thesaurus can help you find more specific words to replace a vague word. Choose the synonym that has the meaning you want. EXAMPLE 4 Vague More Specific Synonyms for Bad a bad storm dangerous, threatening, severe a bad dog mischievous, stubborn, vicious a bad taste sickening, bitter, sour
45. Practice B Replace each adjective in bold with a more specific one. Use a thesaurus if possible. Write the new sentence on your paper. Use your imagination! My best friend is nice. The sky looks nice. Write a good sentence. The team had a bad game. Those flowers are pretty.
46. Adding Adjectives and Adverbs An adverb tells more about a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adverbs often give details about actions. An adverb can tell when, how, how often, or where. Look at the adverbs in Example 5. Thing about the questions each adverb answers. EXAMPLE 5 When? Today we will shop early and eat later. How? Read slowly and carefully. Write clearly. How Often? Fees are paid weekly. Check in daily. Where? Put your umbrella there. We will go outside.
47. Adding Adjectives and Adverbs Each adverb in Example 5 tells more about a verb. Adverbs also answer questions about an adjective or another adverb. Such adverbs tell about degree. EXAMPLE 6 To What Degree? Amber was extremely worried. Rex ran too quickly. He was almost lost.
48. Practice C Each adverb is in bold. Decide what question each adverb answers. Write one of these choices on your paper: when, how, how often, where, or to what degree. Immediately, the door slammed shit. The bell rings hourly. That group is especially busy. The baby smiled happily. We looked everywhere for the keys.
49. Adding Adjectives and Adverbs You can add variety to sentences by moving adverbs around. Notice the adverb in the sentences in Example 7. EXAMPLE 7 Turtles oftenmove slowly. Often, turtles move slowly. Turtles move slowly, often.
50. Practice D Find the adverb in each sentence. Move the adverb to a different place in the sentence. Write the new sentence on your paper. The Tennis Tournament by Brandon Tucker I entered the tennis tournament and actually thought I might win. My serve has been strong lately. “I will certainly win at least a few games,” I told myself. The match was over quickly. I lost, but my friends immediately congratulated me for trying.
51. Lesson 3-3 Review Complete the sentences by adding specific adjectives. Write the new sentences on your paper. The ____ artist created a ____ sculpture. I am looking for ____ shoes. The morning air feels ____ and ____. Would you like some ____ bread? Some dancers can do ____ jumps.
52. Lesson 3-3 Review Find the adverb in each sentence. Move the adverb to a different place in the sentence. Write the new sentence. Amber gracefully danced across the stage. Brandon sometimes does his homework in his room. Rex, the beagle, bravely guarded the house. The book disappeared mysteriously. Sonia has not been to the movies lately.
54. Objectives To use adjectives and adverbs to make comparisons To use the comparative and superlative forms of adjectives and adverbs To recognize irregular adjectives and adverbs To avoid double comparisons
55. Comparing with Adjectives and Adverbs You can use adjectives and adverbs in your sentences to make comparisons. Each adjective and adverb has three forms: positive, comparative, and superlative. Rule 1 Use the positive form to describe one person or thing. Use the comparative form when you compare two people or things. Use the superlative form to compare more than two people or things. Positive Brandon is tall. Comparative Brandon is taller than Derek. Superlative Brandon is the tallest one in his family
56. Comparing with Adjectives and Adverbs Rule 2 For most one-syllable and two-syllable words, add –eror –estto the positive form. Positive Comparative Superlative young younger youngest wise wiser wisest fast faster fastest happy happier happiest
57. Comparing with Adjectives and Adverbs Rule 3 For words of more than one syllable, use more and most or less and least. Positive Comparative Superlative beautiful more beautiful most beautiful expensive less expensive least expensive
58. Comparing with Adjectives and Adverbs Rule 4 When an adjective ends in –y, change the y to I and add –eror –est. Positive Comparative Superlative easy easier easiest silly sillier silliest pretty prettier prettiest early earlier earliest
59. Practice A Choose the correct form of the adjective in parentheses. Write the sentences on your paper. That dress is the ____ one I have ever seen. (beautiful) That dress is ____ that the on the one. (expensive) “Soccer is ____ than tennis,” said Brandon. (easy) Derek is the ____ runner on his team. (fast) Fruit is ____ than cookies. (healthy)
60. Irregular Adjectives and Adverbs A few adjectives and adverbs have irregular comparative and superlative forms. Positive Comparative Superlative good, well better best bad, badly worse worst many, much more most little less least EXAMPLE 1 Incorrect Today I feel even badder than yesterday. Correct Today I feel even worse than yesterday.
61. Irregular Adjectives and Adverbs The words good and well have different meanings as adjectives. You use good when you mean something is desirable or likeable. You use well when you mean the opposite of sick. Well is also an adverb. However, do not use good as an adverb. It is only used as an adjective. EXAMPLE 2 The Adjective WellI feel well today. The Adjective Good I thought the poem was good. The Adverb Well I played well in today’s game. Incorrect Use of Good I played good in today’s game.
62. Practice B Choose the correct form of the word in parentheses. Write the sentence on your paper. Of these three books by Agatha Christie, I liked this one ____. (good/well) That was the ____ movie ever made! (bad) Luis played very ____ in the chess tournament. (good/well) ____ rain fell this month that last month. (little) ____ rain falls in July than in December. (many/much)
63. Avoiding Double Comparisons Avoid double comparisons. Add either the ending –eror the word more, but not both. Add either the ending –estor the word most, but not both. Do not add an ending if you are using less or least to make a comparison. EXAMPLE 3 Incorrect This car is the most cleanest it’s ever been! Correct This car is the cleanest it’s ever been! Incorrect Which instrument is less noisier? Correct Which instrument is less noisy?
64. Practice C Find the mistake in each sentence. Write the sentence correctly on your paper. Today’s lunch was more gooder than yesterday’s. Summer is the most laziest time of the year. Which of these two brands is more cheaper? The worsest storm of the year hit the coast. Stores hire more people for their most busiest season.
65. Lesson 3-4 Review Find the mistake in each sentence. Write the sentence correctly on your paper. Brandon’s tennis serve is more better than Derek’s. Does Computer Village have the most lowest prices? Which of these two computers is least expensive? Amber is older than Sonia, but Sonia is the tallest. “I just had the horriblest day of my life,” announced Sonia.
66. Lesson 3-4 Review Find the mistake in each sentence. Write the sentence correctly on your paper. Celery tastes deliciouser than broccoli. My puppy is young, but Amber’s puppy is youngest. Who is the wiser of them all? These decorations are the fancier ones we’ve ever had! Amber writes more good than most people do.
68. Objectives To identify prepositional phrases in sentences To recognize the parts of a prepositional phrase To use prepositional phrases in sentences
69. Adding Prepositional Phrases A prepositional phrase is a group of words made up of a preposition and a noun or pronoun. A prepositional phrase works like an adjective or adverb in a sentence. A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition. A preposition is a word that shows a relationship between a noun or a pronoun and other words in a sentence.
71. Adding Prepositional Phrases A prepositional phrase begins with a preposition. It ends with a noun or a pronoun. EXAMPLE 1 over the river from a friend in the middle When you use a preposition with a pronoun, the pronoun must be the object form. EXAMPLE 2 to him from them with her
72. Adding Prepositional Phrases Other words may come between the preposition and the noun or pronoun. EXAMPLE 3 He woke up during the cold, dark, and rainy night. A sentence may include more than one prepositional phrase. EXAMPLE 4 A letter from my cousin in Montreal appeared in my mailbox.
73. Practice A Write each prepositional phrase on your paper. Some sentences have more than one. The girl in the middle of that photo is my sister. Look for prepositional phrases in this sentence. Derek put his tools under the car in the garage. He works at the gas station two days a week. Sonia left a message for him on his answering machine.
74. Adjective Phrases Prepositional phrases are also called adjective phrases and adverb phrases. An adjective phrase describes a noun or pronoun in a sentence. EXAMPLE 5 Adjective The middle boy is my cousin. Adjective Phrase The boy in the middle is my cousin. The phrase in the middle describes the noun boy.
75. Practice B Each sentence contains an adjective phrase in bold. Find the noun that the adjective phrase describes. Write the noun on your paper. We read a poem by Edgar Allan Poe. The letter from Karen was short. How often is the rodeo in Centerville held? A house near a highway can be noisy. Would you like fruit salad with peaches?
76. Practice C Think of a prepositional phrase to add after each noun in bold. The phrase must describe that noun. Write the new sentence on your paper. Example: That man is my uncle. Answer: The man in the blue suit is my uncle. George Washington was the first president. The capital is Quebec City. The man won the race. The building is 10 stories high. Amber received a birthday card.
77. Adverb Phrases An adverb phrase answers a question about a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. EXAMPLE 6 Adverb He arrived later. (arrived when?) Adverb Phrase He arrived at night. (arrived when?)
78. Practice D The verb of each sentence is in bold. Find the adverb phrase that answers a question about the verb. Write the adverb phrase on your paper. Example: Amber met Rene at the mall. Answer: at the mall We read the poem by ourselves. Columbus reached the island in 1492. The girls drove to Centerville. The dog walked with a limp. He arrived by plane.
79. Adverb Phrases An adverb phrase can also be an adverb of degree. EXAMPLE 7 Adverb We are verysorry. (sorry to what degree?) Adverb Phrase We are sorry beyond measure. (sorry to what degree?)
80. Practice E Think of a prepositional phrase to add after each verb or adjective in bold. The phrase must tell where, how, how often, when, or to what degree. Write the new sentence on your paper. Amber walked. Her dog Rex barked. She arrived late for dinner. Amber called Sonia. Their homework was difficul!
81. Adverb Phrases Think about where you place prepositional phrases in your sentences. In general, place an adjective phrase close to the word it describes. Vary your sentences by putting adverb phrases in different positions. EXAMPLE 8 Amber Choy went to her locker between classes. Between classes, Amber Choy went to her locker.
82. Adverb Phrases Place a prepositional phrase where it will not confuse the reader. EXAMPLE 9 Confusing We learned how to use a mirror to reflect light in our science class. Clear In our science class, we learned how to use a mirror to reflect light.
83. Practice F Find the prepositional phrase in each sentence. If the sentence is clear, write clear on your paper. If the sentence could be confusing, move the prepositional phrase and rewrite the sentence. The smells are wonderful in Grandmother’s kitchen. The friends talked about the party in the hallway. The audience left the theater after the first act. The apartment has a big hall closet with two bedrooms. A woman spoke to our class from Sweden.
84. Lesson 3-5 Review Find the prepositional phrases in the sentences. Some sentences have more than one. Write each phrase. Amber bought a thesaurus at a store in Springfield. A thesaurus has lists of words in alphabetical order. Words with similar meanings are synonyms. A thesaurus gives synonyms for each word. It may list words with opposite meanings, too.
85. Lesson 3-5 Review Each prepositional phrase is in bold. Decide whether it is an adjective phrase or adverb phrase. Write adjective phrase or adverb phrase on your paper. Amber scored a goal during the soccer game. The other players on the team cheered. The team was happy about winning. The coach took them to a pizza place. They celebrated their victory with joy.
