Common nouns are not capitalized (school, city, web browser)

Proper nouns are capitalized (Scarlett, Ypsilanti, Google) for

clarity purposes
When a verb is doing the action in a sentence, it is called the
predicate. Verbs also define the time of the action: the present,
the past, or the future.
Adverbs are words that modify a verb, an adjective, or another
adverb.
VERB-NOUN AGREEMENT
One of the most common writing errors is the failure to make the
subject and
the predicate (the noun and the verb) in a sentence agree in
number.
The small herd of buffalo in San Franciscos Golden Gate Park is a
popular
tourist attraction. (popular, tourist adj.)
How many minutes (or hours) each day do you spend listening to
your
new iPod? (many, each, new adj.)
Every grammatically correct sentence must have a subject (the
noun
doing the action) and a predicate (the verb describing the action).
THREE KINDS OF SENTENCES
There are three kinds of sentences: simple, compound, and
complex. Look at the
following samples to see how the three types of sentences differ
from each
other.
1. Simple sentence: Fido loves to greet visitors.
Simple sentences contain one independent clause that
expresses a complete thought.

2. Compound sentence: Fido loves to greet visitors, and he often

slobbers all over them.
Compound sentences contain two (or more) independent
clauses and no dependent clauses.
3. Complex sentence: Because Fido is such a happy dog, many
neighbors dont mind his slobbering.
Complex sentences contain one independent clause and one
or more dependent clauses.
Compound-complex sentences are also possible. They combine
the two
categories, and can contain two or more independent clauses as
well as one or
more dependent clause. Here is an example of a compoundcomplex sentence:
Because Fido is such a happy dog, he often slobbers on visitors,
and he
frequently jumps up frantically to kiss them as well.
TIP: Here are a few simple sentence structure rules:
Simple sentences are not necessarily short, but they must
contain
only one independent clause.
In compound sentences, the two (or more) independent clauses
must be related in thought.
In complex sentences, the dependent clause clarifies the
relationship
between ideas. Often, these dependent clauses start with
words like because, when, who, or where.
S
S
S
S

+
+
+
+

V
V
V
V

+
+
+
+

O, and S + V + O
O, or S + V + O
O, so S + V + O
O; S + V + O

S, name of the subject, + V + O.

S1 or S2 + V + O. = S1, S2 + V + O.
For their (x1 and x2)

We ate our pizza faster than the kids at the next table ate theirs.
(we, theirs)
Special Reminder: The Linking Verb Rule
When a pronoun functions as the object of a linking verb (any
form of the verb
to be, for example, is, am, are, was, were, been, can be, will be,
should be), you must
use the subjective form of the pronoun. This may sound formal
and awkward
to you, but it is a strict rule, and if you remember to observe this
rule, your readers
(and listeners) will immediately recognize you as a skilled and
educated
writer. And thats what you want, right? Here are some correct
samples of this
usage:
The best player in the band is he.
The fans who adore him are you and I.
The happy manager of the band was she.
TIP: A good way to check for accuracy with linking verb sentences
is to
turn the sentence upside down and see if it sounds right. For
example,
He is the best player in the band sounds right; and Him is the best
player
in the band does not sound right.
TIP: A common mistake that many writers and speakers make is to double
up and add the words here or there. For example, an inexpert writer
might make mistakes like these:
This here lesson is driving me crazy.
That there assignment is the worst weve ever had.
Be careful not to insert extra words.
Who is always used as a subject (who replaces he or she).

Who writes better than I do?

Your favorite Beatle is who? (Linking verb takes a subject.)
Whom is always used as an object (whom replaces him, her, or them).
With whom are you going to the concert?
You gave whom the answers to this weeks math homework?

TIP: When in doubt about a comma, leave it out. You have a better
chance of conveying meaning without a comma than you do with sticking
one in arbitrarily and thereby splicing the sentence unnecessarily.
Practice 2: Using Commas Correctly
1. A long river, the Mississippi can be said to divide the United States into
two parts, west and east.
2. When you are traveling west from Philadelphia, you arrive in Chicago
long before you arrive in Salt Lake City.
3. Seeing the country by car, said my tour guide, is really the best way
to learn what being an American is all about.
4. Getting to a scheduled airline flight these days can be very difficult due
to the requirement that you take off your shoes and jacket, throw away
your water bottle, and show your ticket before you enter the gate area.
5. On the other hand, there is no mode of travel that is faster, easier, simpler,
and more modern than air flight.
6. Trekking, however, is actually my favorite way to see the countryside.
7. My family favors camping vacations, which include sleeping, eating,
and even showering out in nature.
8. The hazards of camping can include mosquitoes, ants, and sometimes
bears.
9. After being awakened by our first bear, we drove to town the very next
day and bought a big tent.
10. My mother has always told me that the best education is earned in the
following ways: traveling to new places, reading good books, and conscientiously
practicing all the hard grammar rules.
TIP: Commas and periods always go inside closing quotation marks.
Either verb rule
Either a dog or a cat makes a good pet. (singular verb for singular cat)
Either a pet or plants make good hobbies. (plural verb for plural plants)

The student (f) came to class carrying her book.

The women living in this apartment are students.