Strunk & White Rules 1-5 Packet ReviewMr. HaskeyCA9November 4, 2010

Strunk & White Rule 1Form the possessive singular of nouns by adding ‘s.Possessive: giving an object ownership over somethingSingular: only one of an objectNoun: person, place, thing, idea

Strunk & White Rule 1Its vs. It’sIts is giving the object “it” ownership over something. It’s is a shortened version of the words “it is.”Basically, if you can replace “it’s” with it is, you should use the apostrophe. If you can’t, you should use “its.”Its’ IS NOT A WORD!

ExamplesMy cousin got in trouble for stealing a childs bicycle.

No changeChilds’ bicycleChild bicycleChild’s bicycle

Questions to ask:Does an object in this sentence own something?

Yes, the child owns the bicycle.Is this object singular?

Yes, it is just one child.

Strunk & White Rule #1The correct answer is D.Like the rule says, add ‘s to a possessive singular noun.

Strunk & White Rule 1The dog dug in the yard for it’s bone.

No changeIts boneIts’ boneIt bone

Does an object own something in this sentence?Yes, the dog owns the bone.

Is the object singular?Yes, it is just one dog.

Strunk & White Rule 1The correct answer is B.This relates to the aforementioned it’s vs. its rule. Its’ will never be correct- it is not a grammatically correct word.You cannot change the its to it is and have the sentence make sense.Only logical answer is B.

Strunk & White Rule 1The teacher found the student’s backpack in her classroom.

No chanceStudent backpackStudents backpackStudents’ backpack

Does an object own something in this sentence?Yes, the student owns the backpack.

Is the object singular?Yes, it is one student.

Strunk & White Rule 1The correct answer is A.No change needed to be made here- the singular noun already had ‘s to show possession.

Strunk & White Rule 1My mother thinks its okay for me to skip my homework tonight.

No changeIts’ okayIt’s okayIt okay

Does an object have ownership in this sentence?Technically yes, the student owns the homework, but possession is already shown through the use of the word “my.” And there is not a singular noun in this sentence which owns something.

Strunk & White Rule 1The correct answer is C.Another its vs. it’s rule. In this case, you can replace it’s with it is, and the sentence still makes sense.

Strunk & White Rule 1The companys employees were unhappy with their small holiday bonuses.

No changeCompaniesCompany’scompanies’

Does an object have ownership?Yes, the company owns the employees.

Is the object singular?Yes, it is one company. It is not plural because then it would be spelled “companies.”

Strunk & White Rule 1The correct answer is C.

Strunk & White Rule 2In a series of three or more terms with a single conjunction, use a comma after each term except the last.Series: items in a row (a list)Terms: the actual things listedSingle: oneConjunction: Connecting word- for, and nor, but, or, yet, soComma: ,

Strunk & White Rule 21. Beautiful homes attractive city squares and a mild climate are characteristics of Savannah, Georgia.Is a series of items present?

Yes, the beginning of the sentence is a list

Are there three or more items in the list?Yes, 1- homes, 2- city squares, and 3- climate

Is a single conjunction present?Yes- and

Strunk & White Rule 2Correct:Beautiful homes, attractive city squares, and a mild climate are characteristics of Savannah, Georgia.Because all of the questions were “yes” on the previous slide, you put a comma after each item in the list except the last one.

Strunk & White Rule 2Shops and restaurants have transformed the old warehouse area.Is a series of items present?

Yes.

Are there three or more items in the list?No- only two.

Strunk & White Rule 2Correct as is because the list only has two items. No comma(s) needed!

Strunk & White Rule 2Tourists enjoy shopping visiting historic homes and sampling Southern cuisine.Is a list present?

Yes

Are there three or more items in the list?Yes- 1-shopping, 2-homes, 3- cuisine

Is a single conjunction present?Yes- and

Strunk & White Rule 2Correct:Tourists enjoy shopping, visiting historic homes, and sampling Southern cuisine.

Strunk & White Rule 2My favorite foods include macaroni and cheese peanut butter and jelly and bread and butter.This one is tricky- it fits the rule except there are a ton of conjunctions. However, the rule still applies because the items are ultimately one thing

Macaroni and cheese go togetherPeanut butter and jelly go togetherBread and butter go together

Because of this, the rule will still apply…

Strunk & White Rule 2My favorite foods are macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, and bread and butter.

Strunk & White Rule 2This morning I woke up got dressed brushed my teeth and ate breakfast.A list?

Yes

Three or more items?Yes

Conjunction?Yes- and

Strunk & White Rule 2This morning I woke up, got dressed, brushed my teeth, and ate breakfast.

Strunk & White Rule 2The street was filled with angry protesters shouting spectators and police.List?

Yep.

Three or more?Yep.

Conjunction?One- and

Strunk & White Rule 2The street was filled with angry protesters, shouting spectators, and police.

Strunk & White Rule 3Enclose parenthetic expressions between commas.Enclose- surroundParenthetic Expressions- a group of related yet non essential words to the meaning of a sentence.Commas- ,Example: My bulletin board, which is my favorite color, displays student work.

Strunk & White Rule 3Anthony who won the race became the first one in our class to receive a trophy.“who won the race” is a parenthetic expression here because the sentence still makes sense without that informationCorrect:

Anthony, who won the race, became the first one in our class to win a trophy.

Strunk & White Rule 3The teacher was annoyed when Hillary who lives right across the street from school was late.“who lives right across the street” is a parenthetic expression hereCorrect:

The teacher was annoyed when Hillary, who lives right across the street from school, was late.

Strunk & White Rule 3Children who get everything they want often appreciate nothing.It might feel like “who get everything they want” is unnecessary, but it is necessary here it adds essential meaning to the sentence.Correct as is.

Strunk & White Rule 3Few people who claim to be able to predict the future can actually do so.Again, “who claim to be able to predict the future” is a necessary part of this sentence.Correct as is.

Strunk & White Rule 3Anita who has no sense of humor couldn’t see what made the joke so funny.“who has no sense of humor” is unnecessary here.Correct:

Anita, who has no sense of humor, couldn’t see what made the joke so funny.

Strunk & White Rule 4Place a comma before a conjunction introducing an independent clause.Comma- ,Conjunction- joining word- for, and, nor, but, or, yet, soIntroducing- coming beforeIndependent Clause- a group of words that could stand on its own as a complete sentence.

Strunk & White Rule 4Arctic icebergs are rough but Antarctic icebergs are rather flat and smooth.Is there a conjunction?

Yes- but

Does an independent clause come after the conjunction?

Yes- that could be a complete sentence

Correct:Arctic icebergs are rough, but Antarctic icebergs are rather flat and smooth.

Strunk & White Rule 4The Swedish pioneers built a town and named it after their leader.Conjunction?

Yes- and

Independent clause after it?No

Correct as is.

Strunk & White Rule 4Did Rita make this cabinet herself or did her teacher help her?Conjunction?

Yes- or

Complete sentence after?Yes- could be a complete sentence

Correct:Did Rita make this cabinet herself, or did her teacher help her?

Strunk & White Rule 4I respect your opinion yet I cannot agree with it.Conjunction?

Yes- yet

Complete sentence after?Yes- could be a complete sentence

Correct:I respect your opinion, yet I cannot agree with it.

Strunk & White Rule 4The train we were on had started to move and we couldn’t find Sophia anywhere.Conjunction?

Yes- and

Complete sentence after?Yes- could be a complete sentence

Correct:The train we were on had started to move, and we couldn’t find Sophia anywhere.

Strunk & White Rule 5Do not join independent clauses with a comma.Independent clauses- group of words that can be a complete sentenceComma- ,

Strunk & White Rule 5Gloria is a talented painter she won a blue ribbon in the district art contest.Correction one:

Gloria is a talented painter; she won a blue ribbon in the district art contest.

Correction two:Gloria is a talented painter. She won a blue ribbon in the district art contest.

Correction three:Gloria is a talented painter, and she won a blue ribbon in the district art contest.

Strunk & White Rule 5John’s worst fear had come true he slumped down in his seat.Correction one:

John’s worst fear had come true; he slumped down in his seat.

Correction two:John’s worst fear had come true. He slumped down in his seat.

Correction three:John’s worst fear had come true, so he slumped down in his seat.

Strunk & White Rule 5Helen passed the ball Jamie rushed down the field.Correction one:

Helen passed the ball; Jamie rushed down the field.

Correction two:Helen passed the ball. Jamie rushed down the field.

Correction three:Helen passed the ball, and Jamie rushed down the field.

Putting Them All Together

Today at the restaurant I noticed the overworked employees the dirty tables and the exorbitant prices.Rule one? Not neededRule two- needed!Three- nope. Four- nope. Five- nope.Correct:Today at the restaurant I noticed the overworked employees, the dirty tables, and the exorbitant prices.

Putting Them All Together

While visiting the citys famous monuments Shelly noticed the amazing architecture of the city.Rule one? Yes!Rule two- no. Three? No. Four? No. Five? No.Correct:

While visiting the city’s famous monuments Shelly noticed the amazing architecture.

Putting Them All Together

The baby had just begun to suck it’s thumb cry for its mom and roll over in its’ crib.Rule one? Yes!Rule two? Yes!Rule three? No. Rule four? No. Five? No.Correct:

The baby had just begun to suck its thumb, cry for its mom, and roll over in its crib.

Putting Them All Together

Katie my best friend lives next door to me.Rule one? No. Two? No. Four? No. Five? No.Three? Yes!Correct:

Katie, my best friend, lives next door to me.

Putting Them All Together

My cat Buster loves to nap on warm appliances when he sleeps on top of the television, his tail swipes the screen like a windshield wiper.One? No. Two? No. Four? No.Three? Yes! Five? Yes!Correct:

My cat, Buster, loves to nap on warm appliances when he sleeps on top of the television, and his tail swipes the screen like a windshield wiper.

Putting Them All Together

At the back of the classroom, Nina sat crossing her arms, rolling her eyes, and glaring at Mr. Beane; her body language indicated that English was not her favorite subject.Correct as is!

Putting Them All Together

Freddie wanted fried chicken for lunch but the cafeteria’s soggy grey lukewarm meat was not what he had in mind.One? Yes- already correctTwo? Yes. Four? Yes. Three? No. Five? No.Correct:

Freddie wanted fried chicken for lunch, but the cafeteria’s soggy, grey, and lukewarm meat was not what he had in mind.

Putting Them All Together

My cell phone the one I got for my birthday is already broken.One? No. Two? No. Four? No. Five? No.Three? Yes!Correct:

My cell phone, the one I got for my birthday, is already broken.

Putting Them All Together

Simon needed to borrow a dollar for a Gatorade but he discovered his wallet was empty I let him borrow mine.This deals with rules four and five and has several possible answers:Simon need to borrow a dollar for a Gatorade, but he discovered his wallet was empty…

That will be correct each time

…his wallet was empty; I let him borrow mine.…his wallet was empty. I let him borrow mine.

Putting Them All Together

Never judge a book by it’s cover it might surprise you. One? Yes! Five? Yes!Two? No. Three? No. Four? No.Correct:

Never judge a book by its cover; it might surprise you.Never judge a book by its cover. It might surprise you.