Parts of Speech
I BOUGHT my child a Nintendo video-game system.
VERB
ID the ANTECEDENT for the PRONOUN:
"How to Become a Straight-A Student" is not your average college study guide. IT is different from the others.
"How to Become a Straight-A Student"
No, really, it's worth every penny.
Declarative
ID the PREDICATE:
Walton is a large school.
IS A LARGE SCHOOL
Is the pronoun correct? If not, correct it.
The simple truth is that the brute force techniques used by most students are incredibly inefficient. ITS also mentally draining.
incorrect - it's
I realize I should not admit THIS.
ID the antecedent:
The book reveals the study habits used by straight-A college students. THEY were carefully chosen to represent a wide variety of academic majors.
STRAIGHT-A COLLEGE STUDENTS
Have you ever read those articles from Leading Child Psychologists?
Interrogative
ID the SUBJECT:
The gnomes on my mug are fun.
GNOMES
Is the pronoun correct? If not, correct it.
When you approach a task without proper preparation, ONE BECOMES incredibly tired due to "spinning your wheels."
incorrect - YOU BECOME
The PARENTING police may arrest me.
ADJECTIVE
ID the ANTECEDENT
Some students are revealed to be a grind: they earn high grades by studying an excessive amount.
SOME STUDENTS
They all tell you why Nintendo is a bad thing.
Declarative
ID the SUBJECT COMPLEMENT:
Flat Stanley was flattened by a bulletin board.
FLATTENED
Is the pronoun correct? If not, correct it.
The techniques I came up with were so streamlined that I could learn more material THEN MY classmates in less time.
incorrect - than my
I PROBABLY should have gotten him an educational toy instead.
ADVERB
ID the ANTECEDENT
The researcher was only interested in students who worked smartly and efficiently. THOSE who did not suffer through long, painful study sessions.
STUDENTS who worked smartly and efficiently
Let me discuss some of the benefits.
Imperative
ID the DIRECT OBJECT:
Superman surprises the crowd.
CROWD
Is the pronoun correct? If not, correct it.
I was struck by how many other students I knew socially. These were people WHO I never would have imagined were scoring straight-As.
CORRECT
WELL! Let me tell you something:
INTERJECTION
ID the ANTECEDENT
College-level material is difficult. IT requires a different study method than high school material.
COLLEGE-LEVEL MATERIAL
It makes the child a winner!
Exclamatory
ID the SUBJECT COMPLEMENT:
They are obnoxiously loud.
LOUD
Is the pronoun correct? If not, correct it.
Maybe THEIR were others out there who had similar secrets to academic success.
incorrect - there
You have no idea how hoard my son made my life BEFORE I caved.
PREPOSITION
I wanted to be exceptional. And I wanted to achieve THIS without sacrificing sleep or a social life.
being EXCEPTIONAL
I am not usually a winner at those games.
Declarative
ID the INDIRECT OBJECT:
He gave his momma a kiss on the cheek.
HIS MOMMA
Is the pronoun correct? If not, correct it.
I sent all of my fellow Phi Beta Kappas an email, THAT asked about their study habits.
incorrect - 2 fixes - remove the comma and keep "that" OR keep the comma and change "that" to "which"
He used good rhetorical TECHNIQUE.
NOUN
ID the ANTECEDENT
Halfway through my freshman year, I had developed a toolbox of sufficiently improved study habits. Once THEY were perfected, the results were profound.
a toolbox of study habits
Declarative
ID the DIRECT OBJECT:
Nate gave me credit for taking the picture he posted on SnapChat.
Is the pronoun correct? If not, correct it.
One student with whom I spoke, gave me THEIR best piece of advice.
incorrect - his or her
YET, I still should have remained strong and said no.
CONJUNCTION
ID the antecedent
By my senior year, I had to pretend to go to the library to study in order to not demoralize my roommates. THEY were preparing for another grim all-nighter.
Is that irony?
Interrogative
ID the INDIRECT OBJECT:
I sent parents an email with upcoming dates for tests and quizzes.
PARENTS
Is the pronoun correct? If not, correct it.
Work hard when you work, and YOU will have plenty of time to play hard.
CORRECT