Grammar Slammer
Identify the noun clause in this sentence: Whoever rides in a car should wear a seat belt.
What is: "Whoever rides in a car..."
Noun clause: a clause that acts like a noun and can be the subject in a sentence.
Insert commas into this sentence: “I bought apples oranges and grapes.”
What is: I bought apples, oranges, and grapes?
Use a comma to separate three or more items or elements in a series.
This is the most important point the author wants you to understand.
What is the main idea?
This is the message the author wants you to learn from the story.
What is the theme?
This kind of detail supports the main idea or topic.
What is a relevant detail?
The adverb "gracefully" answers this question.
What is how?
Adverb: gives more information about a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. They often tell how, when, where, or to what extent something happens.
Fix the sentence with commas: “After school I went to the library.”
What is: After school, I went to the library?
Use a comma when a sentence begins with an introductory word or phrase.
True or False: The main idea is always found in the first sentence.
What is false?
Fill in the blank: A theme is often a _______ lesson that applies to everyone.
What is life?
This kind of detail may be interesting, but it doesn’t help explain or support the main idea.
What is an irrelevant detail?
Identify the subject AND predicate of this sentence: "The dog barked loudly at the mailman."
What is: "the dog" (subject) and "barked loudly at the mailman" (predicate)?
Subject: who or what the sentence is about
Predicate: tells what the subject is doing or what is happening to the subject
In the sentence, "Let's eat Grandma," this punctuation saves Grandma's life.
What is a comma? "Let's eat, Grandma."
Use a comma when directly addressing a person.
What question does the main idea answer?
What is “What is the passage mostly about?”
Name a possible theme of a story where a character stands up for what’s right, even when it’s hard.
What is courage/integrity, standing up for your beliefs, or doing the right thing?
True or False: All interesting facts in a paragraph are relevant.
What is false?
Fix this sentence: “Running down the hallway, my backpack flew open.”
What is: “Running down the hallway, I noticed my backpack flew open”?
Dangling modifier: happens when the word the modifier is supposed to describe is missing from the sentence.
Ask: What word is the modifier describing? Make sure it’s right next to that word.
Fix the sentence with commas: Raj said "Last year Amy was president so she knows what it takes to win."
What is: Raj said, "Last year, Amy was president, so she knows what it takes to win."
Use a comma before or after a direct quotation.
In a paragraph, this sentence often tells the main idea.
What is the topic sentence?
To find the theme, ask yourself this question: “What did the character ______?”
What is learn?
In a paragraph about how plants grow, is this relevant or irrelevant: “Some plants can survive in space!”
What is irrelevant?
Rewrite the sentence correctly: “She served the children on paper plates sandwiches. ”
What is: “She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates.”?
Misplaced modifier: in the wrong part of the sentence, so it makes the meaning unclear or funny. Ask: What word is the modifier describing? Make sure it’s right next to that word.
Add a comma where needed: “The long winding road led to the cabin.”
What is: The long, winding road led to the cabin?
Use a comma between coordinating adjectives. Coordinating adjectives: Can you switch the adjectives and still make sense? Can you insert "and" between them and still make sense?
Read this: “Bats are the only mammals that can fly. They use echolocation to find insects at night. Some even help pollinate flowers.” What is the main idea?
What is: Bats are unique and helpful animals?
True or False: The theme is usually stated directly in the story.
What is false?
To decide if a detail is relevant, ask: “Does this help explain or support the ______?”
What is main idea?