eighth grade english benchmark 3 grammar, usage, a and mechanics

EIGHTH GRADE ENGLISHBENCHMARK 3

GRAMMAR, USAGE, A AND MECHANICS

PASS GUM 3.1.a. Identify the principal parts of verbs

to form verb tenses.

PRESENT PASTEnds in -ed

PAST PARTICIPLEEnds in -ed

Uses a helping verb: has / have / had

talk talked have talked

write wrote (No –ed; it is irregular.)

have written (No –ed; it is irregular.)

Oh! The Eiffel Tower! I’ve went… no, wait… I’ve gone all the way from Edmond, Oklahoma, to Paris, France, and now I’ve saw…

no… hey…shouldn’t I say I’ve seen?... And now I’ve seen everything I’ve ever wanted to see! Wow, I need to work on my

principal parts of verbs.



1. Ashley (had ran, had run) from the plane to catch her limo to the Eiffel Tower.

2. Ashley met Pierre in a sidewalk café, but Pierre had already (ate, eaten).

3. Pierre said, “I’ve (went, gone) to Rome two times, but I’ve never traveled to Edmond.”

4. Ashley said to herself, “I’ve (fell, fallen) in love with Paris!”

Write down what you think the correct verb forms are. Answers are on the next slide.

Ooo la la! It is

beautiful here!

1. Ashley (had ran, had run) from the plane to catch her limo to the Eiffel Tower.2. Ashley met Pierre for lunch in a sidewalk café, but Pierre had already (ate, eaten).3. Pierre said, “I’ve (went, gone) to Rome two times, but I’ve never traveled to Edmond.”4. Ashley said to herself, “I’ve (fell, fallen) in love with Paris!”



run ran had run

eat ate had eaten

go went have gone

fall fell have fallen

Today I…

Yesterday I…

Many times I… (have, had)

This is a good way to think of present, past, and past participle:



Did you find all of Ashley’s and Mila’s mistakes? Check the next slide to be sure.

…so anyway, Mila, Pierre has just completely fell for me!

Really? Has he gave you any gifts?

Well, he has flew me home to meet his parents, and we’ve

went to visit his grandmother.

Has he took you anywhere

else?Well, once after he had tore his shirt, he took

me to the tailor. Hmmm…has he wrote you

any love letters?

Yuh…well, I mean he has gave me some sweet cards

anyway.



1. Pierre has just completely fell for me! 2. Has he gave you any gifts?3. … he has flew me home…4. …we’ve went to visit… 5. Has he took you anywhere else?6. …after he had tore his shirt… 7. Has he wrote you any… 8. …he has gave me…

fall fell has fallen

give gave has given

fly flew has flown

go went have gone

take took has taken

tear tore had torn

write wrote has written

give gave has given

Use the Principal Parts of Verbs Chart to check the girls’ verb tense choices.

Principal Parts of Verbs Past Present Past Participle



Wow, my verb tense use is a bit messy! That could have been pretty embarrassing! My English teacher

Ms. Peppermint told us, though, that it’s not that messy verb users aren’t smart – we just use the

verb tenses that we grew up hearing. If our friends, relatives, day-care staff, TV personalities, and

others around us used verb tenses incorrectly, that’s how we learned to use them! That’s what

sounds right to us! She said we just have to figure out which ones we

use incorrectly, make a list of them, and then memorize the right forms. I’ve already began…uh, I

mean begun to make my list!Ashley, which ones are on your list? We don’t want

to make grammar mistakes all our lives!

I look beautiful with this blush.

PASS GUM 3.1.i.Use conjunctions correctly.

Coordinating Conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so

Correlative Conjunctions: either… or neither… nor both… and

not only… but also whether… or

Common Transitional Expressions: as a result, at any rate, by the way, for example, for instance, in addition, in fact, in other words, on the

contrary, on the other hand

Conjunctions join one part of the sentence to another part.

Boxing is good exercise, and it is lots of fun!

Common Conjunctive Adverbs: additionally, also, anyway, besides, consequently,

furthermore, however, instead, likewise, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, otherwise, still, then, therefore

Coordinating Conjunctions:

and but or nor for yet so

Use these conjunctions to join two independent clauses.

Put a comma before

the conjunction.

sub. verb dir. obj. conj. sub. verb dir. obj.

Monique likes running , and she likes boxing.

subject subjectverb verb


Monique boxed for two hours and blistered her knuckles badly.

What is the best change, if any, to make to hours and in the above sentence?

A. hours, andB. hours; andC. hours. AndD. No change.

See next slide for answer.

Watch out! Sometimes you have a compound VERB – not a compound sentence!


subject verb ---prep. phrase--- conj. verbMonique boxed for two hours and blistered

adj. dir. obj. adv.her knuckles badly.

Monique (subject) has two verbs (boxed, blistered). The sentence has a compound verb.

This is not a compound sentence. It does not need a comma to separate the two independent clauses because there are not two independent clauses. There are just two verbs.


sub. verb dir. obj. conj. verb. dir. obj. Monique loves reading but dislikes shopping.

What is the best change, if any, to make to reading but in the above sentence?

A. reading, butB. reading; butC. reading. ButD. No change.


sub. verb dir. obj. conj. verb. dir. obj. Monique loves reading but dislikes shopping.

D. No change. This sentence has one subject and two verbs. It has a compound verb, but it is not a compound sentence. No comma is needed.

sub. verb dir. obj. conj. sub. verb. dir. obj.Monique loves reading, but she dislikes shopping.

This is a compound sentence; it has two sets of subjects and verbs, separated by a comma and conjunction.

Correlative Conjunctions:

either… or neither… nor both… and

not only… but also whether… or

Be careful to check subject-verb agreement with these conjunctions.

Either the boys or Hannah (want, wants) to go.(With either…or… look at the subject that is next to the verb – is it singular? Then the verb should be singular.

Either Kate or her sisters always (leave, leaves) the door open.

Both Kate and her sisters (want, wants) to go.(With both…and… the verb is always plural. It’s like adding two plus two.)

Common Conjunctive Adverbs: additionally, also, anyway, besides, consequently,

furthermore, however, instead, likewise, meanwhile, moreover, nevertheless, otherwise, still, then, therefore

These interrupt in order to connect two thoughts. They can be used two ways: 1. to separate two independent clauses (semicolon /conjunctive adverb /comma.)

Example: subject verb sub. verbMonique likes boxing ; however, she also likes running.

2. in the middle of one independent clause (comma /conjunctive adverb /comma.)

Example: subject verbMonique , however, likes both running and boxing.

Common Transitional Expressions: as a result, at any rate, by the way, for example, for instance,

in addition, in fact, in other words, on the contrary, on the other hand

These, just like the conjunctive adverbs, interrupt to connect ideas; they “transition” from one idea to another. They can make transitions in two ways: 1. They can connect two independent clauses. subject verb sub. verb Ex: Monique likes boxing ; on the other hand, she likes running. (semicolon/transitional expression/comma)

2. They can interrupt one independent clause, connecting the first part of the clause to the second part. subject verbEx: Monique , by the way, is a championship boxer and a first-place marathon runner. (comma/trans./comma)


Now – can you use conjunctions correctly?Try this sample test question:

Either Sara’s downloads or her keyboard were not working properly.

What is the best change, if any, to make to keyboard were not in the above sentence?

A. keyboard weren’tB. keyboard was notC. keyboard are notD. No change.


Try another one:

Sara works hard; in other words, she is a good employee.

What is the best change, if any, to make to hard ; in other words, in the above sentence?

A. hard, in other words,B. hard, in other wordsC. hard in other words,D. No change.

PASS GUM 3.1.j.Distinguish and correctly spell commonly

confused words.

I can’t believe that I, Dawn McTaffy, am all ready here on this beautiful dessert island. Tomorrow their taking us to it’s capitol city.

Which is the best change, if any, to make to the underlined words in the sentence above?

A. all ready / desert / their / its / capitalB. already / dessert / they’re / it’s / capitolC. already / desert / they’re / its / capitalD. No change.

These are some of the commonly confused words. One of the most

abused pairs is its/it’s. No worries:

It’s always means IT IS. It’s a contraction!

The other one (its) always means the possessive pronoun…like…the puppy

licked its paw.

Commonly Confused Words:

to, two, too; our, are; accept, except; affect, effect;

past, passed; red, read; there, their, they’re; dessert, desert; lead, led;

its, it’s; loose, lose; peace, piece; break, brake; choose, chose; capital, capitol; all right;

all ready, already; altar, alter; all together, altogether

Here are a few more…What effect will the new

luggage restrictions have on you? Will they affect you very

much? They’re saying that their effect will be felt both in America and clear over there on the islands. To enforce the airlines’ two-bag restrictions

will be just too difficult! Packing is already hard for us. Oh well, I’m all ready to pay whatever I must in order to

travel!

It’s time for you to look in your grammar book, make a list of the “commonly confused

words” that you still get mixed up in your mind, and study them every now and then

until you familiarize yourself with them!

You know, you need to realize at some point that you are in charge of what you learn. If you see something in this lesson – or in any lesson -- that you don’t know, take responsibility for it. Make a list of what you don’t know and learn it. It will be on your ACT and SAT. Don’t always

wait for your teacher to identify what you need to know. Instead, if you see something you don’t know, learn it!

I’ve got to remember to get

my teacher to email me that

grammar PowerPoint at

home! I need to study several of the

slides. It’ll help my little brother, too! My parents

will be impressed with my work ethic!

GUM 3.1.k.Use the correct forms of

plural and possessive forms of nouns.

OK – Noun – person, place, thing, idea –

right?

OK – Plural form is how we spell it when there is more than one – like rose/roses

or man/men – right?

OK – Possessive form means when the noun shows ownership – like

Jeff’s rose or my friends’ cars – right?

Rules for Making Nouns PLURAL:

Most nouns: Add s Ex: bike(s), shop(s), the Graham family/the Graham(s), the Devoe family/the Devoe(s), the Frame family/the Frame(s), the Kettler family/the Kettler(s), the Willhite family/the Willhite(s)

Nouns ending in s, x, z, ch, sh: Add es Ex: church(es), box(es), dress(es), waltz(es), brush(es), the Katz family/the Katzes, the Jones family/the Jones(es), the Evans family/ the Evans(es), the Barghols family/ the Barghols(es), the Butts family/ the Butts(es), the Burch family/the Burch(es), the Mills family/ the Mills(es), the Hughes family/ the Hughes(es), the McWatters family/ the McWatters(es)

Singular: one bag

Plural: two bags

Rules for Making Nouns PLURAL, continued

Nouns ending in vowel-y: Add sEx: key(s) essay(s) journey(s), the Toney family/ the Toney(s), the Lashley family/ the Lashley(s)

Nouns ending in consonant-y: Drop the y and add ies* Ex: baby/babies, sky/skies, comedy/comedies, trophy/trophies, cavity/cavities*Proper nouns ending in consonant-y: You cannot change their spelling, so just add s. Ex: The Gundy family/the Gundys (not the Gundies!), There are two Circuit Citys (not Circuit Cities!), the McElvany family/the McElvanys (not the McElvanies!), Principal Geri Woody/ the Woodys (not the Woodies!)


Nouns ending in vowel-o: Add sEx: radio(s), video(s), studio(s), Antonio(s), igloo(s), patio(s)Nouns ending in consonant-o: Add es*Ex: hero(es), tomato(es), potato(es), veto(es), torpedo(es)*Exceptions: Music words - piano(s), solo(s)*Other common exceptions: taco(s), photo(s)…For proper nouns ending in consonant-o, you can’t change their spelling, so just add s.Ex: the LoPresto family/the LoPrestos, the AlvaradosFor some nouns ending in consonant-o, add either s or es.Ex: tornado/tornado(s) tornado(es), motto/motto(s) motto(es), banjo/banjo(s) banjo(es)


Some nouns ending in f or fe: Drop the f or fe and add ves.Ex: knife/knives, leaf/leaves, shelf/shelves But…roof/roofs, safe/safes

Some nouns have irregular plurals.Ex: child/children, tooth/teeth, goose/geese, woman/women, mouse/mice

Some nouns stay the same from singular to plural forms.Ex: one deer/two deer, one sheep/two sheep, one species/two species

No, people, you are not

going to memorize all these rules!

You are going to

remember one key

word in each category!


Most compound nouns:Ex: notebook/notebook(s), disc jockey/ disc jockey(s), blueprint/blueprint(s), two-year old/two-year-old(s), Other compound nouns: Form the plural of the actual nounEx: brother(s)-in-law

Nouns from other languages use the plural form in the original language:Ex: alumnus/alumni, phenomenon/ phenomenaSome nouns from other languages have two plural forms – an original one and an English one. The English one is preferred.Ex: index/indexes or indices, appendix/appendixes or appendices, cactus/cactuses or cacti, cherub/cherubs or cherubim


Use ‘s to form the plural of numbers, letters, symbols, etc.

Ex. #1 There are two a’s in the word separate. (Without the apostrophe, the word a’s would look like as. Very confusing!) Ex. #2 Your i’s look like e’s. (Without the apostrophe, the word i’s would look like is.)Ex. #3 There are two 8’s in the address. The Civil War was in the 1860’s. I have several CD’s. (These are understandable with or without apostrophes.)

FYI: Many grammar books allow either s or ‘s with example #3 (CDs or CD’s, 1860s or 1860’s). Grammar rules insist, though, on using ‘s with examples #1 and #2, when the absence of the apostrophe would cause confusion.

Rules for Making Nouns POSSESSIVE

Singular nouns: Add ‘sEx: the player’s uniform, student’s car, the Jones family’s house, Sam’s cap, Francis’s baseball

Plural nouns ending in s: Add ‘Ex: the players’ uniforms, the students’ cars, the Joneses’ house

Plural nouns not ending in s: Add ‘sEx: the children’s uniforms, the women’s team, the men’s team

Isn’t there some little trick for checking my possessive forms after I write them?

Hey, I know a great trick! You can check your possessive forms by mentally circling

everything to the left of the apostrophe. Then ask, “Is that what I’m talking about?”

Try these:

1. Bubba put all of his (sister’s, sisters’) toys in the toy box. His three sisters thanked him.

Hmm… sister’s… or… sisters’ …Am I talking about sister or sisters?

Right! It’s “three” so it’s sisters’.

2. I don’t have all of this (recipe’s, recipes’) ingredients.

Hmm… recipe’s… or… recipes’ …Am I talking about recipe or recipes?

Right! It’s “this,” so it’s recipe’s.

GUM 3.1.k.Use the correct forms of

plural and possessive forms of nouns.My Plural Example Words:

bikeschurcheskeysbabiesGundysradiosheroespianostornado(s,es)kniveschildrendeernotebooksbrothers-in-lawcactusesa’s

My Possessive Example Words:

the player’s uniform

the players’ uniforms

the children’s uniforms

If I can memorize how to form these key words, I can remember each

plural and possessive rule!

PASS GUM 3.2.b.8Use a comma after an

introductory participial phrase.

What is a participial phrase?

Participial phrase1. Phrase – a group of words without a subject

and a verb2. Participial – beginning with a word that

ends in –ing or –ed3. A participial phrase always functions as an

adjective in the sentence.

PASS GUM 3.2.b.8 Use a comma after an


Dancing with her friends, Krista enjoyed the school party.

Tired of dancing, Krista still continued to dance until it was time to go home.

PASS GUM 3.2.b.8Use a comma after an


Doing crunches Angelina prepared for the rowing competition.

What is the best change, if any, to make to crunches Angelina in the above sentence?

A. crunches; Angelina B. crunches, Angelina C. crunches. Angelina D. No change.

PASS GUM 3.2.b.8.Use a comma after an


Broken by the puppy; Lea’s alarm clock failed to wake her early enough.

Which is the best change, if any, to make to puppy; Lea’s in the above sentence?

A. puppy. Lea’sB. puppy: Lea’sC. puppy, Lea’sD. No change.

Hey, I thought the first word in

the participial phrase had to end in

–ing or –ed! Broken ends

in –en.

Yes, participial phrases do begin with words ending in –ing and –ed.

Some –ed words, however, are irregular. Examples:

Verb Present Participle (-ing

form)

Past Participle (-ed form)

keep keeping keeped kept

go going goed gone

break breaking broked broken

build building builded built

bring bringing bringed brought

Kept safely on a high shelf, Lea’s new clock was safe from the puppy.

Participial phrase is an adjective modifying the subject, clock.

Write two original sentences beginning with introductory participial phrases. Start one with an “-ing” participial phrase and one with an “–ed” participial phrase.1.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PASS GUM 3.2.b.8.Use a comma after an


PASS GUM 3.2.b.5.

Use commas to set off nonessential participial phrases.

Thank goodness! I get the whole introductory thing, but what if a participial phrase isn’t at

the beginning of the sentence?

But why do you care, Cole?

Allie, I care because of my

music! Everyone knows that in

writing, punctuation

controls meaning!

Oh, Cole,

you are so

smart!

PASS GUM 3.2.b.5.


Review: Participial Phrase – Group of words beginning with a word that ends in –ing or –ed

Introductory Participial Phrase – Always put a comma after it.

Essential vs. Nonessential – This just means necessary vs. not necessary. Is the phrase necessary – is it “essential” to the main point (the independent clause) of the sentence, or is it just interesting, extra, added information?

Now, the comma rule:If the phrase is “nonessential,” set it off with commas.

If the phrase is “essential,” do not set it off with commas.

PASS GUM 3.2.b.5.


Nonessential:

Cole Rambler, blinking back the tears, accepted the People’s Choice Award for Best New Male Recording Artist.

Oh, I get it!The main point is in the independent

clause! It’s all about me – Cole – accepting the award!

The whole “blinking back the tears” thing is nonessential!

Put commas around it to show it’s interesting but nonessential!

It’s almost like you’re putting it in parentheses or something!

PASS GUM 3.2.b.5.


Nonessential:

Allie, worried about Cole’s concert, practiced her yoga for twelve hours yesterday.

I get it!The big point is the independent clause! Allie practiced her yoga for twelve hours

yesterday! Never mind the extra, added information that I

am worried about Cole’s concert – that is nonessential! (blah-blah-Cole’s-concert-so-what?

blah-blah-interesting-but not the main point!) Put it in commas!

This is an Allie/yoga sentence, not a Cole’s concert sentence! Yay, I get it!

PASS GUM 3.2.b.5.


Could I see an “essential” one?

Allie is the girl practicing yoga in the green room.

I totally get it!This participial phrase is essential!

Without it, the independent clause is “Allie is the girl.” That is just plain crazy! What girl? In this sentence you have to have the participial phrase; thus, it is

essential. If it’s essential, you don’t use commas! Yay!

PASS GUM 3.2.b.31.Use quotation marks

to enclose a direct quotation.

…and when I said, “Yes, I will be honored to be

Spring Sports Queen,” I could hear my

parents cheering in the gym…

Place the comma or period inside the ending quotation mark.

PASS GUM 3.3.b.Identify and correct misplaced modifiers.

O GR8. DO U NO MODIFIER? CWOT. IDK, IDC!

OK CU.

Modifiers are any phrases or clauses that “modify” or “describe” any other words in the sentence.

…Prepositional phrases…Participial phrases…Appositive phrases…Adverb clauses…Adjective clauses


How do they get “misplaced”?

You have to write the “modifier” as close as possible to the word it “modifies.” Sometimes you mess up.

BAD: Asking questions, the rules became clearer to Jenny.

(“Asking questions” is a participial phrase that modifies “Jenny.” It is, though, very far away from “Jenny.”)

GOOD: Asking questions, Jenny understood the rules more clearly.

..


Determined to improve his grammar, bad telephone reception did not keep Con from studying.

Hey Jenny. Now what did you teach me earlier about those misplaced modifiers? Jenny?

Jenny? Can you hear me?

Do you think the above participial phrase, “Determined to improve his grammar,” is close enough to the noun it is supposed to modify?


This is bad! The modifier is right next to the words“bad telephone reception.”

Determined to improve his grammar, bad telephone reception did not keep Con from studying.

Ahhh! This is nice!The modifying phraseis right next to “Con.”

Determined to improve his grammar, Con did not let bad telephone reception keep him from studying.

Jenny? Can you hear me

now?


Con thanked Jenny for helping him with his grammar lesson while he was texting some friends.

1. Prepositional phrase – for helping him with his grammar lesson (modifies the verb thanked – answers thanked why?)

We have two modifiers:

2. Adverb clause – while he was texting some friends – (Is this in the right place?)

Was Con “texting some friends” while Jenny was “helping him with his grammar lesson”?

No! Try it this way…

Con thanked Jenny for helping him with his grammar lesson while he was texting some friends.


While he was texting some friends, Con thanked Jenny for helping him with his grammar lesson.


Rewrite these sentences, correcting the misplaced modifiers.

1. Allie saw her dog Boomer, running down the street to catch the school bus.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________2. Con told Allie about the song he heard on the radio that had a huge impact on him.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OK, now…if you don’t need the

modifer, you do need the commas; if you do need the modifier, you don’t

need the commas…so… it’s… don’t/do;

do/don’t.Got it! Weird.

eighth grade english benchmark 3 grammar, usage, a and mechanics

Documents

verb tenses

principal parts of verbs

helping verb

verb tense use

pass gum

correct verb forms

mechanics slide

present past participle