3 Grammar and Language Conventions

Key Concepts

• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Proper Nouns and Common Nouns
• Punctuation: Commas and Periods

Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement means that the subject of a sentence and the verb must match in number. If the subject is singular, the verb should also be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb should be plural.

Example:

• Singular: The cat sleeps.
• Plural: The cats sleep.

Analogies:

Think of the subject and verb as a pair of shoes. Just like you need the right shoe for each foot, the subject and verb need to match to fit together correctly.

Proper Nouns and Common Nouns

Proper nouns are specific names for people, places, or things, and they always start with a capital letter. Common nouns are general names for people, places, or things and do not start with a capital letter unless they are at the beginning of a sentence.

Example:

• Proper Noun: John went to Paris.
• Common Noun: The boy went to the city.

Analogies:

Proper nouns are like VIPs in a room full of common people. They stand out because they are unique and special, just like proper nouns are capitalized to show their importance.

Punctuation: Commas and Periods

Commas and periods are essential punctuation marks that help in organizing sentences and making them easier to read. Commas are used to separate items in a list or to separate clauses within a sentence. Periods are used to end a sentence.

Example:

• Comma: I like apples, oranges, and bananas.
• Period: I like apples. I like oranges. I like bananas.

Analogies:

Commas are like traffic signals that tell the reader to pause briefly. Periods are like stop signs that signal the end of a complete thought, allowing the reader to take a breath before moving on to the next sentence.