eighth grade english benchmark 4 grammar, usage, and mechanics

EIGHTH GRADE ENGLISH

BENCHMARK 4GRAMMAR, USAGE,

AND MECHANICS

PASS GUM 3.1.a.1.Use correct verb tense in writing.

PRESENT PASTEnds in -ed

PAST PARTICIPLEUses helping verbs has / have / had;

Ends in -ed

talk talked have talked

ask asked have asked

go went (No –ed; it is irregular.)

have gone (No –ed; it is irregular.)

teach taught (No –ed; it is irregular.)

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

Hey, Chris, have you

already went to the new

history museum?

Lilly! It’s have gone…, not have went…! Do you have

problems with your principal parts of verbs?


1. Lilly and Chris quickly (done, did) their hair so they could study for their semester finals.

2. Chris said, “I’ve already (did, done) my calculus for next Tuesday.”

3. Lilly said, “We should have (came, come) back to the library much earlier than this.”

4. Chris asked, “Has Professor Eck already (saw, seen) your research paper?”

5. Lilly said, “I’ve (gave, given) him all of my homework papers, but I haven’t finished my research paper yet.”

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

Wow! Maybe Lilly and I both have

some verb problems…

1. Lilly and Chris quickly (done, did) their hair so they could study for their semester finals.

2. Chris said, “I’ve already (did, done) my calculus for next Tuesday.”

3. Lilly said, “We should have (came, come) back to the library much earlier than this.”

4. Chris asked, “Has Professor Eck already (saw, seen) your research paper?”

5. Lilly said, “I’ve (gave, given) him all of my homework papers, but I haven’t finished my research paper yet.”


do did have done

come came have come

see saw have seen

give gave have given

Present:

Today I…

Past:

Yesterday I…

Past Participle:

Many times I…

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


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


Calm down!

Have you wrote your reflective

essay yet? Professor

Peebee has gave you another

week to get it finished.

Hey Chris, your old round brush has fell

on the floor. I thought Lisa had gave you a new one. Hurry up;

I’ve went to enroll for next semester three

times, and it’s already took me three

tries to get my enrollment forms. I’ve just about tore up my enrollment

form!

1. …brush has fell… 2. …Lisa had gave you…3. …I’ve went to…4. …it’s already took me…5. …I’ve just about tore… 6. …Have you wrote… 7. Professor Peebee has gave you…

fall fell has fallen

give gave had given

go went have gone

take took has taken

tear tore have torn

write wrote have written

give gave has given

Use the Principal Parts of Verbs Chart to check Lilly’s and Chris’s

verb tense choices.

PRINCIPAL PARTS OF VERBS Past Present Past Participle



Professor Peebee, our English 101 instructor, was so nice today. She was

telling Chris and me that verb tense problems can easily be overcome!

We use the verb tenses that we grow up hearing from our friends, our babysitters

at daycare, our aunts and uncles, and people on TV.

How we hear it is how we say it! It just sounds right that way!

To change, we just have to make a list of the verb forms we learned incorrectly and

then memorize the right forms. Soon, they will begin to sound right to us!

We’re not dumb when we use the wrong verb form – we just heard it the wrong

way when we were young.


PASS GUM 3.1.c. Use nominative, objective, and possessive

pronouns correctly.

subject verb direct----------------objects

1. Momma loves Daddy and (I, me). sub. verb direct--------------------objects prepositional ph.

2. Daddy took Momma and (I, me) on a walk. subject verb dir. obj. prep. phrase ending w/objs. of prep.

3. Jeremy gave a hand to Al and (I, me, myself). subjects------------------------------------- verb dir. object

4. Linny and (I, me, myself) love Jeremy.

Welcome to Al, Linny, and Jeremy’s slide! Can you select the

correct pronouns for us?

A L

J

1. Subject pronouns (Nominative pronouns) Used as subjects, predicate nominatives

2. Object pronouns Used as direct objects, indirect objects, objects of the preposition

3. Possessive pronouns Used to show possession

my mine our ours

your yours your yours

his her hers its their theirs

I we

you you

he she it they

me us

you you

him her it them


pronouns correctly.

J

subject verb direct-------------- objects

Momma loves Daddy and (I, me).

Subject – MommaVerb – loves

Say “loves who or what?” Those are your direct objects –

Daddy and me.We choose me because the direct

object pronoun must come from the object pronouns.

We can’t choose I because the pronoun I is a subject pronoun!


pronouns correctly.

Jeremy

sub. verb direct-----------------------objects prep. phrase

Daddy took Momma and (I, me) on a walk.

I just take out the “Momma and…” and listen for what sounds right.

Listen… Daddy took Momma and I on a walk…

Daddy took Momma and me on a walk… See?


pronouns correctly.

Jeremy

subject verb dir. obj. prep. phrase ending w/objs. of prep.

Jeremy gave a hand to Al and (I, me, myself). subjects------------------------------------- verb dir. object

Linny and (I, me, myself) love Jeremy.

Jeremy gave a hand to Al and (I, me, myself).

Linny and (I, me, myself) love Jeremy.

It’s easy; just mentally mark out the “compound element”:

Al and… Then you can listen for the

correct pronoun answer!

Yes, and mark out Linny and…Then listen for me to

say, “I love Jeremy.”

AL

Linny

Try these two:

Sherry received a spa-day birthday gift from Kellye and (I, me).

Sherry told Kellye and (me, I) about her mud mask and cucumber eye treatment.


pronouns correctly.

Sherry received a spa-day birthday gift from Kellye and (I, me).

Sherry told Kellye and (me, I) about her mud mask and cucumber eye treatment.

Yes!Sherry received a spa-day birthday gift from Kellye and ME. (Just mentally mark out …Kellye and…)

Sherry told Kellye and ME about her mud mask and cucumber eye treatment. (Just mentally mark out …Kellye and…)

PASS GUM 3.1.d. Make pronouns agree with their antecedents.

Each of the dances has (their, its) own history.

Antonio, I know pronouns are

like… I, you, its, hers, them,

myself, he, their, everybody,

ourselves, it… and words like

that.But what are antecedents?

Debby, the antecedent is the word to which the

pronoun refers. You know, like

this… The tango has

its own rhythm. The noun tango

is the antecedent of

the pronoun its.

Each of the dances has (their, its) own history.

You see, a pronoun must “agree” -- that is, it must be matching either

singular or plural -- with the word to which it refers. That’s called

“pronoun-antecedent agreement.”

In the sentence, then, the antecedent of its is the subject -- each. Each is a

singular noun. Each has a singular verb -- has. You must choose its (a singular

pronoun) to match each. You can’t choose their because their is plural.

Each of the girls danced until (their, her) feet were tired.

All of the ballroom dancers practiced (their, his or her) spins.

One of Antonio’s dance partners lost (their, her) dance shoe.


Now you try some:

Hint: Choose a pronoun that matchesthe subject of the sentence. Mentally mark out the prepositional phrases because a subject is never inside a prepositional phrase.

Each of the girls danced until (their, her) feet were tired. All of the ballroom dancers practiced (their, his or her) spins. One of Antonio’s dance partners lost (their, her) dance shoe.

Yeah, and in the next sentence, All is plural and their is plural.

Oh, and One

matches up with her in

the last sentence.

I hope you noticed

that Each is a singular pronoun.

Each matches her. They are both singular!

Now try this one:

Everybody has (their, his or her) favoritekind of dance.

Hint: Is Everybody a singular or plural pronoun?


To decide if it’s singular or plural, try Everybody with a singular verb and then with a plural verb. Everybody is here. Everybody are here.Which one sounds correct?

Everybody is here.

Yes, Everybody is singular. It sounds kind of plural, but it means “every one body at a time.”

Everybody has (their, his or her) favorite kind of dance.

Most educated people try to think of a way to avoid saying his or her very many times.

You could sayEverybody has a favorite kind of dance.

(Yeah – just completely avoid the pronoun -- then there’s no pronoun to worry about matching to your antecedent!)

orDancers have their favorite dances.

(Plural noun, plural pronoun – avoid problems with “everybody,” “anybody,” “somebody,” etc.)

Saying his or her, however, can get kind of awkward, so I try to avoid it.

PASS GUM 3.1.e.Use correct pronoun reference.

Rexi told Kim she

should get this dress, but I guess she didn’t because it’s still here!

What? Rexi told Kim who

should get the dress?

Rexi should or

Kim should?

Your pronoun

reference is awful!


AAARGH!No!

Too many she’s!

Try this.Rexi told Kim that

she wants to get this dress and

hopes Kim

doesn’t get it.

Rexi told Kim that

she hopes

she doesn’t get the dress

because she

thinks she

should get it.


I’ll buy this belt

to go with the pants,

and you can

borrow them to go with

your boots; it will look great!

Them? Can I borrow just the

pants or the pants and the

belt? It? It what?You said belt and pants and

boots, and then you said it.

That isn’t right. You should say, “They will look

great together.” Oh, and thank

you!


After her party Lilly told Jeanie she thought this was the best party she had ever had.

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

A. herselfB. thatC. JeanieD. No change.

JeanieLilly

Lauren

PASS GUM 3.1.m. Differentiate between active and passive

voice.

Active: The subject performs the action. More direct, more forceful, more

concise; stronger

Passive: The subject receives the action.Grammatically correct, but if used too often, can be awkward

and can put too many “be” verbs (am, are, is, was, were, etc.) in our writing

Active: Ivan lifts weights to strengthen his arms.

Passive: Weights are lifted by Ivan to strengthen his arms.


voice.

The dance exercise class for adults is enjoyed by Jeanie.

What is the best way, if any, to revise the sentence from passive voice to active voice?

A. By Jeanie, the dance exercise class for adults is enjoyed.B. For adults, the dance exercise class is enjoyed by Jeanie.C. Jeanie enjoys the dance exercise class for adults.D. No change.

What is the best way, if any, to revise the sentence from passive voice to active voice?

A. Served skillfully by Amy, the ball was returned by Leo.B. Amy served the ball skillfully, and Leo returned it.C. The ball was returned by Leo and had been served skillfully by Amy.D. No change.


voice.

The ball was served skillfully by Amy and was returned by Leo.

PASS GUM 3.2.b.6.Use commas to set off nonessential clauses.

Well, what are those

“nonessential clauses” anyway?

Oh, you know… like when I say, “Ivan, who is my neighbor, has been

working out in the gym.”

Ivan … has been working out in the gym. is the independent, or main clause.

…who is my neighbor… is an adjective clause that describes the subject Ivan. It is nonessential, or unnecessary, to the main point of the sentence.


Malcolm, whom the children adore, made a huge mess in the kitchen on Mother’s Day.

Yeah, this is all about dad’s big, fat kitchen mess. True, we love him, but he got sugar all over the floor, strawberry juice on the ceiling, and a fork down the disposal.

Verdict: the adjective clause whom the children adore is nonessential. Comma it!

The little kitty that has soft brown fur is my favorite.


Here’s an example of an “essential” adjective clause:

What is the best change, if any, to make to kitty that has soft brown fur in the above sentence?

A. kitty, that has soft brown fur,

B. kitty, that has soft brown fur

C. kitty that has soft brown fur,

D. No change.

(Without the clause that has soft brown fur, you don’t know which kitty is your favorite.) Verdict: It’s essential. No commas!

PASS GUM 3.2.b.7.Use a comma after an

introductory adverb clause.

subord. conj. subject verb --prepositional phrase--

After they jumped from the plane,subject subject verb direct object ---prep. phrase---

Mel and Tricia enjoyed free falling for a while.



subord. conj. subject verb --prepositional phrase--

After they jumped from the plane,

There are dependent and independent

clauses. This one is dependent because it

can’t stand alone.

A clause has a subject and verb

(they jumped).



subject subject verb direct object ---prep. phrase---

Mel and Tricia enjoyed free falling for a while.

This is an independent clause because it can

stand alone.

This clause also has a subject and verb

(Mel Tricia enjoyed).



after, although, as, as if, as long as, as soon as, before, as though, if, in order that, because, once, provided that, since, so that, than, though, unless,

until, when, whenever, where, wherever, while

Although sky dive, I am not afraid!Before you jump, check your parachute.

Because I enjoy success, I use good punctuation.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions

All of these are “subordinating conjunctions.”

They are used to introduce adverb

clauses.


introductory adverb clause.Write three sentences, each beginning with an

introductory adverb clause. Use a different subordinating conjunction to start each sentence.

1.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PASS GUM 3.2.b.12.Use a comma to set off appositives /

appositive phrases.

Joe and Andre, experienced skydivers, free fall in formation.

subjects appositive phrase

The appositive phrase experienced skydivers is “nonessential” and, therefore, must be set off by commas.

An appositive phrase is a group of words that renames a noun or pronoun that comes right

before it.

• Phrase – Group of words without a subject and verb

• Renames – Examples: Edgar Allan Poe, an American author / Misty, my best friend / a Yorkshire terrier, the cutest breed of dog / Spanish, my most difficult class


appositive phrases.

, the first President of the United States of America,

George Washington


appositive phrases.


appositive phrases.

Hey!Didn’t your friend Joe jump

out of the plane, too?

Nah! He got sick.

An “essential” appositive doesn’t need commas.

The name Joe is “essential” to the sentence since without it, we wouldn’t know which friend the speaker was asking about.

Another example:

My teacher Mr. O’Fortune is nice.

But… Mr. O’Fortune, my teacher, is nice.(Now we need the commas because the appositive phrase my teacher is “nonessential” again.)

PASS GUM 3.2.b.22.Use a colon before a list of items to mean

note what follows.

Lauren has taught Brownie three important commands: to sit, to stay, and to catch.

Lauren gives everyone the following advice: If you want a pet, get a rescue or shelter animal.

Notice that I use a capital letter after my colon if the information is a complete sentence. If it is just some items in a series, though, I

don’t use capital letters.

CAPITAL LETTER used when material after colon is complete sentence

At dog school Brownie learnedhow to sit, how to stay, and how to catch.

Brownie learned to beg for doggie biscuits, play toys, and outdoor walks.


note what follows.

Do not use a colon after a verb or preposition!

At dog school Brownie learned: how to sit, how to stay, and how to catch.

Brownie learned to beg for: doggie biscuits, play toys, and outdoor walks. Arf! No colons

after verbs or prepositions!


note what follows.

Now you try one:

What is the best change, if any, to make to is: part in the above sentence?

A. is: PartB. is partC. is, partD. No change.

Cali and Jai’s puppy, Little Lady, is: part spaniel, part beagle, and part poodle.

PASS GUM 3.2.b.37.Use quotation marks to enclose titles of short works, such as short stories, poems, essays, articles, songs, episodes of television series,

and chapters and other parts of books.

What is the best change, if any, to make to The Key to the Castle in the above sentence?

A. The Key to the CastleB. The Key to the CastleC. “The Key to the Castle”D. No change.

Leah’s mom was reading her favorite chapter, The Key to the Castle, to her.

PASS GUM 3.2.b.38.Use a hyphen to divide a compound adjective

that precedes a noun.

We want to have a tree-lined yard so that our puppy, Little Lady, will have plenty of shade.

Little Lady is kind of a high-maintenance dog, but we love to do things for her!



Kai, that is your

nice-looking sweater that you wear to

church! Don’t get it dirty!

Cali, those are your

world-famous boots! Don’t get mud on

them!

Do not use a hyphen in a compound adjective that comes after the noun it modifies.



Do not use a colon between an adverb ending in –ly and an adjective when they precede a noun.

Yeah, this sweater is nice looking, isn’t it.

Yeah, my highly fashionable

boots are cool, aren’t they.



compound adj. nounThe well-designed shovel worked perfectly.Compound adjective (hyphenated) comes before noun it modifies noun compound adj.The shovel was well designed and worked perfectly.Noun is followed by compound noun that modifies it (not hyphenated) adverb adjective nounThe partly finished hole was too shallow for the tree.Adverb modifies adjective; adjective modifies noun (no hyphen because there is no compound adjective)

PASS GUM 3.2.b.43. Use ’s to make a singular noun possessive.

Definitions and Examples

1. ’s – apostrophe s2. Singular – one3. Noun – person (friend); place (school); thing (book); idea (frustration, happiness)4. Possessive – show ownership

Ex: Singular noun – friend Singular possessive noun – friend’s

phone

PASS GUM 3.2.b.43. Use ’s to make a singular noun possessive.

Cass’s project / Baz’s recipe / Carrie’s song

Make your own sentences using the possessive form for the following singular nouns: moss / Ms. Krist

1.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PASS GUM 3.2.b.43. To make a plural noun ending in s possessive,

add an apostrophe.

Look at the seniors. Look at the seniors’

smiles!

Look at the students. Look at the students’

books!

Make your own sentences using the possessive form for the following plural nouns: puppies / friends.

1.puppies_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.friends________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PASS GUM 3.2.b.45. Use ‘s to form the

possessive of a plural noun not ending in s.

adj. possessive adj. subject verb dir. obj. ---prep. phrase---

The children’s parents took them to the park.

PASS GUM 3.2.b.45. Use ‘s to form the

possessive of a plural noun not ending in s.

Anita is traveling to the Women’s Health Conference.

3.2.b.46.Use an apostrophe appropriately in forming

the possessive form of a compound noun

I have two brothers-in-law, but neither one of them has a computer, so I had to borrow my mother-in-law’s computer when my computer broke.

PLURAL – Add s to the main word.

POSSESSIVE – Add ‘s to the end of the word.



“Rock-a-bye Baby” is Jamie and Serena’s favorite song to sing to their baby.

Treat Jamie and Serena as one compound noun because the song is the favorite of both of them.

You can see from Jamie’s and Serena’s smiles that they are a very happy family.

(Now we have two separate ‘s-endings because Jamie and Serena have two separate smiles!)



Now you try one:

Mrs. Tildon handed out treats to her sister’s-in-law children on Halloween.

What is the best change, if any, to make to sister’s-in-law children in the above sentence?

A. sister-in-law children’sB. sister-in-law childrenC. sister-in-law’s childrenD. No change.

What? Yes, I’m a famous singer. What? Yes, I graduated

from college. Why? Are you kidding? Well, I just wanted to be an educated person. Yes, good grammar is important.

eighth grade english benchmark 4 grammar, usage, and mechanics

Documents

correct verb tense

verb tense problems

verb problems

correct verb forms

verb tenses

ed past participle

chriss verb tense choices

mechanics slide