Commonly Confused Words
Finding the Subject
Potpourri (or Random Stuff)
Fragment or No!
Narrative or Description
100
Spell out the correct version: It doesn't matter (witch/which) car you rent.
What is "W-H-I-C-H"? Remember: WITCH is and ITCH that you can't get rid of...
100
Find the Subject. Bob took a bath with bubbles.
What is "Bob"? Simple sentences: look for the verb, then find out Who or What is doing that action!
100
The most important sentence in the paragraph.
What is the thesis, or topic sentence? Here's a thesis: Backpacks should have fewer pockets. It tells people what you are going to talk about: the topic (backpacks) and the controlling idea (should have fewer pockets).
100
Fragment or Sentence? The clown's short yellow hair, made of yarn, covers its ears but is parted above the eyes.
What is Sentence!
100
Narrative or Descriptive paragraph? It all started one morning at my locker as I fumbled to find the French book I hadn’t used in about a month. In the crowded locker bay someone stepped on my toes and, consequently, rammed me into the absolute zenith of high school popularity standing to my right. I accidentally hit Miss Popularity while she attempted to apply lipstick. In the reflection of the three mirrors that hung in her locker, I saw a red smear across her acne-free, rouged cheek.
Narrative It uses some description to make the scene more vivid, but it primarily tells a story.
200
Spell out the correct version: I like everyone (accept/except) Bobby.
What is "A-C-C-E-P-T"? Remember EXcept is like your EX - you WANT to get rid of or exclude it.
200
The subject of this sentence. There is a stapler on the table.
What is "stapler"? Here, There, and Where can NEVER be the subject. They are adverbs. Only Nouns and Pronouns can be subject. SO! Look for the verb, then find out who or what is doing that. In this sentence, the verb is "IS" =D. What is? The Stapler is.
200
Used to connect one paragraph to another.
What are "transitions"?
200
Fragment or sentence? Even though he had the better arguments and was by far the more powerful speaker.
Fragment! This sentence fragment has a subject, he, and two verbs, had and was, but it cannot stand by itself because of the dependent word (subordinating conjunction) even though. We need an independent clause to follow up this dependent clause: . . . the more powerful speaker, he lost the case because he didn't understand the jury.
200
Narrative or Descriptive? The sun was brightly shining on my sunglasses while my mother drove the U-haul truck to a warehouse in Santa Ana, California. As my mother drove down the streets of Santa Ana, I looked out the window and began to realize that the mixture of people was no longer a mixture; there was only white.
Narrative. Can use description to make a point and set a tone, but primarily tells a story in the order it happens (chronological)
300
Spell out the correct version: The spell had a bad (affect/effect) on me.
What is "E-F-F-E-C-T" Remember that Affect is usually an Action and Effect usually comes after the word the. *ThE Effect (you can remember 2 e's in a row)
300
The Subject of this sentence. Do the dishes!
What is "you" In commands, the subject is implied: You. The speaker is requesting that the listener/reader do something. YOU do the dishes!
300
These support the topic sentence.
What are details (a story, some evidence, quotes, descriptions, facts)? Without specifics, you cannot have a paragraph. Each paragraph should have at least one specific detail to "prove" or give examples of the topic.
300
Fragment or Sentence? Go!
What is Sentence! It has the verb (go), it has the subject (implied: You). It expresses a complete thought!
300
Narrative or Descriptive? I notice her off in the distance; I watch her glide ever so gently into my life. She smelled of roses with a face more beautiful than any rose. Her smile reflected her golden heart, which would brighten up the darkest hour of night, and eyes that out shine any star. With hands as soft as silk and full of love, she embraced me as we walked into the sunset.
Descriptive! Uses specific verbs, nouns and adjectives to create sensory images: sight, sound, and smell.
400
Spell out the correct version: (Their/They're/There) is a grape on the floor.
What is "T-H-E-R-E"? Remember: When you see "here" in a word, it is a place (There, Where, Here). When you see "heir" in a word, it means They Own something (like an heir inherits something). They're is a contraction of They Are.
400
The subject of this sentence. Under the oak tree, the frog croaked.
What is "frog"? Prepositional phrases (pg 41-42) can NEVER have the subject or the verb. Your best bet is to cross them out immediately. SO Cross out "under the oak tree" and you're left with "The frog croaked."
400
Prewriting technique where you use a center "bubble" and branch out the details in a visual representation.
What is a cluster (also acceptable: clustering)?
400
Fragment or Sentence? Working far into the night in an effort to salvage her little boat.
Fragment! This is a verbal phrase that wants to modify something, the real subject of the sentence (about to come up), probably the she who was working so hard.
400
Narrative or Descriptive? On one corner of my dresser sits a smiling toy clown on a tiny unicycle--a gift I received last Christmas from a close friend. The clown's short yellow hair, made of yarn, covers its ears but is parted above the eyes. The blue eyes are outlined in black with thin, dark lashes flowing from the brows.
Descriptive. It gives details that are Sensory: visual and tactile (sight and feel). It doesn't seem to have a plot/story line.
500
Spell out the correct version: I don't go (to/too/two) concerts often.
What is "T-O" You only need to remember 2: too (with 2 o's) = extra, additionally, also (an extra o!) tWo is a number (the W one is a number) For all other purposes, use "to"
500
The subject of this sentence: All of the mothers were angry.
What is "All" Again, you MUST cross out the prepositional phrases. In this case, "of the mothers" is the prepositional phrase. That leaves us with "All were angry". The verb is were, thus, ALL is the subject.
500
Prewriting technique where you just write for a predetermined amount of time.
What is Free Writing (freewrite)?
500
Fragment or Sentence In Japan, during the last war and just before the armistice.
Fragment! This sentence accomplishes a great deal in terms of placing the reader in time and place, but there is no subject, no verb.
500
Narrative or Descriptive: I don’t remember exactly how it happened, but at some point my parents asked if I wanted to have a dog. I, of course, said yes. We couldn’t decide what kind of dog to get at first, but at last we found a great breed, the Shetland sheepdog. We called a good breeder. I was so excited about getting a dog!
Narrative a Narrative gives details of personal experience in chronological order, just as they happened.
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