Grammar Greenhorn

Introduction

A word art illustration in the form of an apple, made of literary terms and phrases. In order to communicate effectively, language must have rules. Conventions, or set ideas, of the English language provide the rules people follow when writing, speaking, reading, and listening. In order to communicate effectively using English, individuals must follow the standard set rules. Inspect the title of this module: Grammar Greenhorn. A greenhorn represents a newcomer to a certain area, so as a Grammar Greenhorn, many rules of the English language may seem unfamiliar. Nonetheless, all parts of speech, punctuation marks, sentence types, and vocabulary words work together to create the standard English language.

The previous two lessons have provided some practical and theoretical ideas about literary merit. In this microlesson, we will look at two literary devices that are almost always present within works of literary merit: ambiguity, and irony.

Essential Questions

What constitutes conventions of standard English grammar?
What indicates proper knowledge and usage of standard English language when writing, speaking, reading, or listening?
What are the differences between nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs?
What are the differences among various sentences?
How do I know when to use a certain type of capitalization and punctuation?

Key Terms

Writing conventions: The rules of the English language that include spelling, punctuation, capitalization, grammar, and paragraphing.
Sentence: A complete sentence begins with a capital letter, includes and end mark (period, question mark, or exclamation point), and contains a subject and verb that expresses a complete thought.
Clause: A sentence part that contains a subject and a verb.
Independent clause: A clause containing a subject and a verb and can stand by itself that is also known as a simple sentence.
Dependent clause: A clause that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought.
Subject: The subject is what (or whom) the sentence is about.
Predicate: The part of a sentence or clause containing a verb and stating something about the subject.
Verb: A verb says something about the subject of the sentence and expresses actions, events, or states of being.
Declarative sentence: A sentence that forms a statement.
Interrogative sentence: A sentence that forms a question by using a question mark.
Imperative sentence: A sentence that makes a command or request.
Exclamatory sentence: A sentence that attempts to convey a strong emotion by using an exclamation point.
Simple sentence: A simple sentence contains a subject and verb, and it expresses a complete thought.
Compound sentence: A compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinator such as for, and, nor, but, or, yet, or so.
Complex sentence: A complex sentence contains an independent clause joined by one or more dependent clauses.
Compound-complex sentence: A compound-complex sentence contains two independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
Noun: Nouns name people, places, and things.
Adjective: Adjectives describe nouns by answering one of these three questions: What kind is it? How many are there? Which one is it?
Adverb: Adverbs slightly change the meanings of verbs and answer one of these four questions: How? When? Where? And Why?
Pronoun: A pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun such as he, she, it, they, someone, who, etc.

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