Grammar and Mechanics

Key Concepts

• Subject-Verb Agreement
• Comma Usage
• Sentence Structure

Subject-Verb Agreement

Subject-verb agreement refers to the requirement that a subject and verb must agree in number. This means that a singular subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb. Proper subject-verb agreement ensures that sentences are grammatically correct and clear.

Example:

• Correct: "The cat sleeps on the mat."
• Incorrect: "The cat sleep on the mat."
• Correct: "The cats sleep on the mat."
• Incorrect: "The cats sleeps on the mat."

Analogy: Think of subject-verb agreement as a dance partner. Just as a single person dances with one partner, a singular subject dances with a singular verb. Similarly, a group of people (plural) dances with multiple partners (plural verb).

Comma Usage

Comma usage involves correctly placing commas to separate items in a list, to set off introductory elements, and to separate independent clauses joined by coordinating conjunctions. Proper comma usage enhances clarity and readability in writing.

Example:

• Correct: "I bought apples, oranges, and bananas at the store."
• Incorrect: "I bought apples oranges and bananas at the store."
• Correct: "After the rain, the flowers bloomed beautifully."
• Incorrect: "After the rain the flowers bloomed beautifully."
• Correct: "I wanted to go, but I was too tired."
• Incorrect: "I wanted to go but I was too tired."

Analogy: Commas are like traffic signals in writing. They guide the reader through the sentence, ensuring smooth and safe passage, preventing collisions of ideas.

Sentence Structure

Sentence structure refers to the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in English. Proper sentence structure includes a subject, verb, and sometimes an object, arranged in a way that makes logical sense. Understanding sentence structure helps in constructing clear and coherent sentences.

Example:

• Correct: "The dog chased the ball."
• Incorrect: "Chased the dog the ball."
• Correct: "She reads books every night."
• Incorrect: "Books every night she reads."

Analogy: Sentence structure is like building a house. The subject is the foundation, the verb is the frame, and the object (if any) is the roof. Each part must be in the right place to create a stable and functional sentence.