Welcome to Fundamentals of

Grammar

Welcome to Fundamentals of

Grammar

Instructor: Ali Shames-Dawson shamesdawson@g.harvard.edu

Mondays: 2-4pm EST

Instructor: Ali Shames-Dawson shamesdawson@g.harvard.edu

Mondays: 2-4pm EST

Required TextRequired Text

A Few Cool FeaturesA Few Cool Features1. Free and open companion website: hackerhandbooks.com/rules2. Beyond mechanics, text includes really useful topics for writers, such as Chapter 17, which teaches us to avoid jargon, doublespeak, and pretentious language.

3. Glossary of Usage (pp 596-609)

1. Free and open companion website: hackerhandbooks.com/rules2. Beyond mechanics, text includes really useful topics for writers, such as Chapter 17, which teaches us to avoid jargon, doublespeak, and pretentious language.

3. Glossary of Usage (pp 596-609)

Screenshot WebsiteScreenshot Website

I advocate buying and keeping Rules for Writers, as it is an indispensable resource for all (ok, most) things writing and grammar related, BUT other more affordable options do exist. For instance, http://www.textbooks.com offers the book at a discounted rate if you agree to sell it back at the end of the semester (June 30). Other sites will rent it for e-reader usage, though I advise a paper copy for note-taking and tactile learning.

I advocate buying and keeping Rules for Writers, as it is an indispensable resource for all (ok, most) things writing and grammar related, BUT other more affordable options do exist. For instance, http://www.textbooks.com offers the book at a discounted rate if you agree to sell it back at the end of the semester (June 30). Other sites will rent it for e-reader usage, though I advise a paper copy for note-taking and tactile learning.

Exercise: Writing Sample

Exercise: Writing Sample

We will 1. respond to a brief prompt (15 min) 2. practice submitting via dropbox on isites

Describe your early experience learning English grammar. How is that experience related to your decision to take this class now? What about this class excites you? What about this class makes you nervous?

We will 1. respond to a brief prompt (15 min) 2. practice submitting via dropbox on isites

Describe your early experience learning English grammar. How is that experience related to your decision to take this class now? What about this class excites you? What about this class makes you nervous?

Describe your early experience learning English grammar. How is that experience related to your decision to take this class now? What about this class excites you? What about this class makes you nervous?

Please open a WORD DOCUMENT and format it as follows:

FULL NAME (First and last)Where you are in the worldHow you prefer to be addressed (if different from name

registered on class list)

No need to restate the question; simply set about

answering it however you please. Please also feel free to

include any further information you would like me to know.

Describe your early experience learning English grammar. How is that experience related to your decision to take this class now? What about this class excites you? What about this class makes you nervous?

Please open a WORD DOCUMENT and format it as follows:

FULL NAME (First and last)Where you are in the worldHow you prefer to be addressed (if different from name

registered on class list)

No need to restate the question; simply set about

answering it however you please. Please also feel free to

include any further information you would like me to know.

LOG ON TO ISITESLOG ON TO ISITES

https://dceweb.harvard.edu/prod/gowlogn3.taf

https://dceweb.harvard.edu/prod/gowlogn3.taf

Dropbox on Isites (Homescreen)

Dropbox on Isites (Homescreen)

Dropbox on IsitesDropbox on Isites

Intro to Course Materials

Intro to Course Materials

Parts of SpeechParts of Speech

Get Excited.Get Excited.

Chapter 46 in Rules for Writers, beginning p368.

NounsNouns

Person

Place

Thing

Concept/Idea

Person

Place

Thing

Concept/Idea

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Nouns Under Disguise Nouns Under Disguise

1. Verbs with -ing functioning as nouns are called gerunds.

Swimming with sharks is my favorite thrill-seeking activity.

2. Some nouns function as adjectives.

My leather purse has worn thin.

1. Verbs with -ing functioning as nouns are called gerunds.

Swimming with sharks is my favorite thrill-seeking activity.

2. Some nouns function as adjectives.

My leather purse has worn thin.

Pick out the N and N/Adj

Pick out the N and N/Adj

The child’s favorite part of the television movie features an animated elephant tusk doing a rain dance.

The child’s favorite part of the television movie features an animated elephant tusk doing a rain dance.

PronounsPronouns

A pronoun takes the place of a noun. This specific noun has already been mentioned before the pronoun replaces it, and is therefore known as the antecedent.

Kinds of pronouns:Personal, possessive, intensive and reflexive, relative, interrogative, demonstrative, indefinite, and reciprocal.

A pronoun takes the place of a noun. This specific noun has already been mentioned before the pronoun replaces it, and is therefore known as the antecedent.

Kinds of pronouns:Personal, possessive, intensive and reflexive, relative, interrogative, demonstrative, indefinite, and reciprocal.

Something to Note…Something to Note…

Pronouns do not always function as nouns. You will see that they can function as noun equivalents (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they, her, him, them) but they can also function as adjectives, as in the case of possessive pronouns: my dog, her doctor, our class.

Pronouns do not always function as nouns. You will see that they can function as noun equivalents (I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they, her, him, them) but they can also function as adjectives, as in the case of possessive pronouns: my dog, her doctor, our class.

More on Pronoun Function

More on Pronoun Function

Relative pronouns function to introduce a subordinate clause, while intensive pronouns emphasize a noun and reflexive pronouns show the doer of the action is identical to the receiver of the action.

The girl who left early is my nemesis.I myself have nothing against her, but she insists on inserting herself and her condemning opinions squarely in my business without my consent.

Relative pronouns function to introduce a subordinate clause, while intensive pronouns emphasize a noun and reflexive pronouns show the doer of the action is identical to the receiver of the action.

The girl who left early is my nemesis.I myself have nothing against her, but she insists on inserting herself and her condemning opinions squarely in my business without my consent.

Indefinite PronounsIndefinite Pronouns

…refer to nonspecific persons or things

…can be either noun equivalents OR adjectives…

All of the campers are exhausted from the hike. (All = simple subject)

All campers are expected to rise to Reveille in the morning. (All=adjective modifying campers)

…refer to nonspecific persons or things

…can be either noun equivalents OR adjectives…

All of the campers are exhausted from the hike. (All = simple subject)

All campers are expected to rise to Reveille in the morning. (All=adjective modifying campers)

VERBSVERBS

Express action or being.

The teacher instructs us each day.

The teacher is demanding.

Express action or being.

The teacher instructs us each day.

The teacher is demanding.

We distinguish between main verbs and helping verbs.

The horses exercise each day.

The report was not completed on time.

She had been feeling down.

We distinguish between main verbs and helping verbs.

The horses exercise each day.

The report was not completed on time.

She had been feeling down.MV

MV

MV

HV HV

HV

The HelpThe Help

Have, do, and be = change form to indicate tense and number.

I do think (that) you are incorrect.

She does think astrophysics is fascinating.

Modals do not change form.I can jump; You can jump; they can jump; we can jump; etc

Have, do, and be = change form to indicate tense and number.

I do think (that) you are incorrect.

She does think astrophysics is fascinating.

Modals do not change form.I can jump; You can jump; they can jump; we can jump; etc

Common ModalsCommon Modals

Can Could May Might Must Ought to

Can Could May Might Must Ought to

ShallShouldWillWould

Notice: it would be incorrect to change the tense. Chap 28.

AdjectivesAdjectives

Adjectives describe nouns. They either precede the noun--the interesting book--or follow a linking verb, in which case they describe the subject--the book is interesting.

Articles (a, an, the) are adjectives. They specify which person, place, thing or concept.

Adjectives describe nouns. They either precede the noun--the interesting book--or follow a linking verb, in which case they describe the subject--the book is interesting.

Articles (a, an, the) are adjectives. They specify which person, place, thing or concept.

AdverbsAdverbs

Adverbs describe or modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

It answers: When? Where? How? Why? Under what conditions? To what degree?

We usually make decisions at the last minute.

We adamantly disagree.

Adverbs describe or modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

It answers: When? Where? How? Why? Under what conditions? To what degree?

We usually make decisions at the last minute.

We adamantly disagree.

PrepositionsPrepositions

A preposition is a word placed before a noun or pronoun to form a phrase modifying another word in the sentence. Prepositions are often defined as describing a temporal, spatial, or logical relationship of its object to the rest of the sentence.

A preposition is a word placed before a noun or pronoun to form a phrase modifying another word in the sentence. Prepositions are often defined as describing a temporal, spatial, or logical relationship of its object to the rest of the sentence.

The road to hell travels along a path of good intentions.

ROAD/TRAVELS

The road to hell travels along a path of good intentions.

ROAD/TRAVELSSS SP

The ROAD (to hell) TRAVELS (along a path of good intentions)

Prepositional phrases are almost always function asadjectives or adverbs.

adj

adj

adv

ConjunctionsConjunctionsConjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses and indicate the relation between the elements joined.

Of particular note: subordinating conjunctions--> after, although, as, as if, because, before, if, in order that, once, since, so that, than, that, though, unless, until, when, where, whether, and while.

Conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses and indicate the relation between the elements joined.

Of particular note: subordinating conjunctions--> after, although, as, as if, because, before, if, in order that, once, since, so that, than, that, though, unless, until, when, where, whether, and while.

Subordinate Word Groups

Subordinate Word Groups

Phrases and Clauses:Phrases: lack a subject and a verbEx: Because the internet. On the table. Who went outside.

Clauses: have a subject and a verb, but begin with a subordinating conj.

Ex: Although she went to school. From the time she left the house. Because I trust the internet.

Phrases and Clauses:Phrases: lack a subject and a verbEx: Because the internet. On the table. Who went outside.

Clauses: have a subject and a verb, but begin with a subordinating conj.

Ex: Although she went to school. From the time she left the house. Because I trust the internet.

Common BlundersCommon Blunders

Although, I went into the haunted house, I did not see the ghost.

Although I went into the haunted house, I did not see the ghost.

The girl with the sad face under the bridge who herds the goats are from an acting troupe and actually live in the wealthy part of town.

Although, I went into the haunted house, I did not see the ghost.

Although I went into the haunted house, I did not see the ghost.

The girl with the sad face under the bridge who herds the goats are from an acting troupe and actually live in the wealthy part of town.

Test for FragmentsTest for FragmentsIs there a verb? -> no=FragmentYes? Then ask:Is there a subject?->no=FragmentYes? Then ask:Is the word group a subordinate clause (begins with because, when, although, given that, etc)--->yes>Fragment

No? THEN you have a sentence.

Is there a verb? -> no=FragmentYes? Then ask:Is there a subject?->no=FragmentYes? Then ask:Is the word group a subordinate clause (begins with because, when, although, given that, etc)--->yes>Fragment

No? THEN you have a sentence.

Page 181 in RFW

See syllabus for homework.

Contact me with any questions.

See syllabus for homework.

Contact me with any questions.