Weekly Grammar Homework:Cornell Notes to Help You

Example questions will be on the left side for you to add to the notes.

1. We will be going over terms, definitions, examples, and tips.

2. Leave space between sections if you want to add more notes later.

3. You will also have your grammar books (small red book) at home to utilize should you get stuck on your grammar work throughout the week.

4. Keep these notes, as I will randomly check for them throughout the year.

Grammar: Monday’s How-ToCan a verb be more than an action word?

1. Gerunds: a gerund is a verbal ending in –ing and functions as a noun.

a. Running keeps me in great shape.b. I couldn’t go more than three days without swimming.

2. Participles: a participle is a verbal that is used as an adjective and usually ends in –ing or –ed.a. The screaming baby finally fell asleep.b. The defeated team sulked off the field.

3. Infinitives: an infinitive is a verbal that can be used as a noun, adjective, or adverb. Infinitives are easier to identify, since they usually take the form of to + verb (to run). But you must determine if it is a noun, adjective, or adverb first!

Grammar: Monday’s How-ToWhat are the three types of infinitives?

1. Infinitive as a noun: • Example 1: He likes to run ~The infinitive (to run) is the direct object of “likes.”• Example 2: To run is his passion ~ The infinitive (to run) is the subject of “is.”

2. Infinitive as an adjective: • Example 1: I am looking for a marathon to run. ~ The infinitive (to run) is modifying the word “marathon.”• Example 2: It’s an important diagnostic test to run. ~ The infinitive (to run) is modifying the word “test.”

3. Infinitive as an adverb:• Example 1: I paid to run in the marathon.~The infinitive (to run) is modifying the verb “paid.”• Example 2: She programmed the air conditioner to run

during the day.~The infinitive (to run) is modifying the verb “programmed.”

Grammar: Monday’s How-ToHow are words connected to feelings?

1. Connotation: the emotional association with a word.

Can be:a) Positive +b) Negative –c) Neutral =

Step 1: Examine the words thoroughly, looking up in the dictionary or thesaurus whenever possible. Step 2: Put the word in a sentence to assess the emotional response.

Example:We bought (cheap or inexpensive) souvenirs on the trip. • Cheap= negative connotation• Inexpensive= positive connotation, or neutral

Grammar: Monday’s How-ToCan you find the meaning of a word without looking it up?

1. Context Clues: words of phrases that help the reader understand a difficult word.

2. There are lots of possibilities for finding context clues:• Synonym- It was an idyllic day; sunny, warm and perfect

for a walk in the park• Antonym- Emma had a lot of anxiety about the exam but

I had no worries about it.• Definition- There is great prosperity in the country but

many citizens are living in poverty.• Explanation- The team was elated when they won the

trophy.• Comparison- Diane was lethargic and didn’t have the

energy to get out of bed.• Contrast- The picture of the landscape is picturesque but

the one of the old house is ugly.

Grammar: Monday’s How-ToCan you find a better word?

1. Synonym- a word having the same, or nearly the same meaning as another word.

• A dictionary for finding these words is a thesaurus.

2. Examples:• Beautiful: Attractive, Pretty, Lovely, Stunning• Fair: Just, Objective, Impartial, Unbiased• Funny: Humorous, Comical, Hilarious, Hysterical• Happy: Content, Joyful, Mirthful, Upbeat

Start these notes on a new sheet of paper

Grammar: Tuesday’s How-ToI can have more than one voice?

1. Active Voice: a verb in the active voice expresses an action done by its subject.

Example: Robert Frost wrote many poignant poems.~The subject (Robert Frost) performs the action.

2. Passive Voice: a verb in the passive voice expresses an action done to its subject.Example: Many poignant poems were written by Robert Frost.~The subject (poems) receives the action.

Grammar: Tuesday’s How-ToWhat are the parts of a word?

1. Root Word/Base: a word that stands on its own, but can have an affix added to it to create a new word.

Example: love is a root word, and can become lovely.

2. Root: a base of a word with a set meaning, but does not stand on its own as a word. Example: auto means self, and can become autobiography.

3. Affix: added to a root or root word to form a new word.

4. Prefix: affix added to the beginning of a root or root word.Example: un-, means not. Unhappy = not happy

5. Suffix: affix added to the ending of a root or root word.Example: -s, or –es, means more than one. Wishes= more than one wish.

Grammar: Tuesday’s How-ToWords have relationships?

1. Analogies: a comparison between two things.2. There are 7 types of analogies!

FunctionExample: microwave: heat :: helmet: protectThe function of a microwave is to heat, the function of a helmet is to protect.

DegreeExample: fascinating: interesting :: critical: importantSomething that is fascinating is very interesting, something that is critical is very important.

LackExample: honest: integrity :: hateful: peaceAn honest person lacks integrity, a hateful person lacks peace.

Grammar: Tuesday’s How-ToCharacteristicExample: sandpaper: coarse :: crime: illegal A characteristic of sandpaper is to be coarse, a characteristic of a crime is that it’s illegal.

Type/Kind/CategoryExample: flute: instrument :: banana: fruitA flute is a type of instrument, a banana is a type of fruit.

Part-to-wholeExample: nose: face :: buckle: beltA nose is part of a face, a buckle is part of a belt.

Definition (synonym or antonym)Example: bargain: deal :: imaginary: pretendA synonym for bargain is deal, a synonym for imaginary is pretend.

Start these notes on a new sheet of paper

Grammar: Wednesday’s How-ToVerbs have 5 moods?

1. Indicative: the indicative verb mood is used to state an apparent fact. It is one of the most common verb moods in English.

Examples: • I am deathly allergic to peanuts.• Last year, I went to Brazil with my family.• Sally has three siblings.

2. Imperative: The imperative verb mood states a command or request. Often, the subject is not included in the sentence, but implied. Examples: • (You) Look both ways before crossing the street!• Come here.• Hang on!

Grammar: Wednesday’s How-To3. Interrogative: The interrogative verb mood indicates a state of questioning. Note that for this verb mood, the subject-verb order is inverted (backwards). Examples: • Will Dad take us to school tomorrow?• Have you completed all of your homework?• Will we walk to the store on Thursday?

4. Conditional: This verb mood indicates a conditional state that will cause something else to happen. Key words that are commonly used: “might,” “would,” and “could.” Examples: • If you budget your money wisely, you might be able to

buy two books.• Mark could pass his class, if he applies himself.• I would be able to meet you if my dad can give me a ride.

Grammar: Wednesday’s How-To5. Subjunctive: subjunctive mood expresses doubt, desire, suggestions, imaginary/hypothetical situations, or conditions contrary to fact. Key verb that are commonly used are: prefer, insist, require, ask, demand, suggest, recommend, wish, request, order. Examples: • I suggest that Earl work with a tutor.• I wish it were still open.• It is important that the show begin immediately.

Grammar: Wednesday’s How-ToWhat marks do I use when proofreading?

Grammar: Wednesday’s How-ToWhat punctuation goes inside of a sentence?

1. Commas: the sentences that require commas will fall under the following situations:

• To separate items in a series (3 or more)• To signal conjunctions in a sentence (she went to the

mall, and the store)• To organize character dialogue• To separate coordinate adjectives (the cruel, callous

man.)• To set off an introductory element (knowing he would be

late, he ran as fast as he could)

2. Dashes: most appropriate for abrupt breaks in thought or speech, or they can be used to indicate an unfinished sentence. Can also be used to indicate the introduction to an explanation.

3. Parentheses: used to enclose material that is added to a sentence, but is not considered to be of major importance.

Can you find a word with the opposite meaning?

1. Antonym: a word opposite in meaning to another word.

Example: antonyms for the word "good“ are:bad, badly, badness, evil, evilness, ill, malevolent, malicious, poorly, wicked 

Grammar: Wednesday’s How-To

Start these notes on a new sheet of paper

Grammar: Thursday’s How-ToI can combine sentences?

*Conjunctions: words that help you join to or three short and choppy sentences to make one complete sentence. Two types:

1. Coordinating2. Subordinating

1. Coordinating Conjunction: joins parts of a sentence that are equally similar.

___________ + ___________

Grammar: Thursday’s How-To2. Subordinating Conjunction: joins two clauses.

*List of top subordinating conjunctions:

after how till ( or 'til)

although if unless

as inasmuch   until

as if in order that when

as long as lest whenever

as much as now that where

as soon as provided (that)   wherever

as though since while

because so that

before than

even if that

even though    though

Grammar: Thursday’s How-ToMood and voice can shift?How?

Shift: is a confusing change in person, verb tense, voice, mood, or number; it is kind of likewearing two different shoes.

Ex. Incorrect She caught the ball and then throws it to the catcher for the out.Ex: CorrectShe caught the ball and then threw it to the catcher for the out.

Verb voice: Voice is either active or passive. Passive voice shows something else is acting on the subject whereas the active voice is more forceful and direct.

Passive: The letter was mailed by James.Active: The letter was mailed

Grammar: Thursday’s How-ToMood: The quality of a verb that conveys the writer’s attitude toward a subject

Ex: If I were rich, I’d have all the time in the world to do what I want to do. (Not If I was rich…)

Thursday requires you to use Thursday notes, and all of your other notes from the

week