Grammar

Adjectives
Anadjectivepointsoutordescribesanoun.
This fruit is delicious.

Adjectives That Compare

Mostadjectiveshavethreedegreesofcomparison:positive, comparative,andsuperlative. Thepositivedegreeofanadjectiveshowsaqualityofanoun.
The meerkat is cute. The giraffe is tall.

Thecomparativedegreeofanadjectiveisusedtocomparetwo itemsortwosetsofitems.Itisoftenusedwiththan.Toform thecomparativedegree,-erisoftenaddedtoanadjective.

The meerkat is cuter than the warthog. The giraffe is taller than the okapi.

Thesuperlativedegreeofanadjectiveisusedtocomparethree ormoreitemsorsetsofitems.Toformthesuperlativedegree, -estisoftenaddedtoanadjective.

The meerkat is the cutest animal in the zoo. The giraffe is the tallest animal in Africa.

Someadjectivesthatcomparehavespecialforms.
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

This painting is good. Her painting is better than mine. Micahs is the best painting of all. The baby isnt feeling well today. She felt worse yesterday. She felt worst of all on Sunday. We had a bad storm yesterday. It was a worse storm than the one last week. The worst storm we had was in December.
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More, most, less, andleastareusedwithadjectivesofthreeor moresyllablesandwithsomeadjectivesoftwosyllables.

Carla is a more careful worker than Luis. Lindsey is less careful than Carla. Marta is the most intelligent student in class. She is also the least gullible student.

Thecomparativeadjectivesfewerandfewestareusedwith pluralconcretenouns.Thecomparativeadjectiveslessand leastareusedwithabstractnouns.

I have fewer pencils than Jody does. Mark has the fewest pens. I have less experience. Bo has the least curiosity.

Adjectives That Tell How Many

Someadjectivestellhowmanyorabouthowmany.
Only six members came to the meeting. A few members were sick.

Someadjectivestellnumericalorder.
I finished reading the sixth chapter.

Articles
Articlespointoutnouns.The, a,andanarearticles.Theisthe definitearticle.Itpointsoutaspecificperson,place,orthing.A andanareindefinitearticles.Theypointoutanyoneofaclassof people,places,orthings.Useabeforeaconsonantsoundandan beforeavowelsound.
The man ate a peach and an apple.
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Whentwoormorenounsjoinedbyandrefertodifferent people,places,orthings,useanarticlebeforeeachnoun. Whentwoormorenounsjoinedbyandrefertothesame person,place,orthing,useanarticlebeforethefirstnounonly.

The coach and the players celebrated their win. The teacher and coach is Mr. Simmons.

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Demonstrative Adjectives
Demonstrativeadjectivespointoutaspecificperson,place,or thing.Thedemonstrativeadjectivesarethis, that, these, and those.
Singular this flower that flower Plural these bushes those bushes

Thisandthesepointoutthingsorpeoplethatarenear.That andthosepointoutthingsorpeoplethatarefartheraway.
This flower is red. (singular and near) Those bushes are tall. (plural and far)

Descriptive Adjectives
Adescriptiveadjectivetellsmoreaboutanoun.Itcantellhow somethinglooks,tastes,sounds,feels,orsmells.Itcantell aboutsize,number,color,shape,orweight. Adescriptiveadjectiveoftencomesbeforethenounit describes.
A tall tree stood near the red barn.

Adescriptiveadjectivecanfollowalinkingverbasasubject complement.Itdescribesthesubjectofthesentence.
The tree near the red barn was tall.

Interrogative Adjectives
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Aninterrogativeadjectiveisusedtoaskaquestion.The interrogativeadjectivesarewhat, which, andwhose. An interrogativeadjectivecomesbeforeanoun.

What movie did you see? Whose car did you take? Which theater did you go to?

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Possessive Adjectives
Apossessiveadjectiveshowswhoorwhatownssomething. Apossessiveadjectiveisusedbeforeanoun.Thepossessive adjectivesaremy, your, his, her, its, our, andtheir.
I have my camera, and Lucy has her cell phone.

Proper Adjectives
Properadjectivesareformedfrompropernouns.Aproper adjectivealwaysbeginswithacapitalletter.
When we went to China, I ate Chinese food.

Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

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Adverbs
Anadverbtellsmoreaboutaverb.Manyadverbsendinly. Anadverboftimetellswhenorhowoftensomethinghappens.
I went to the mall yesterday. I went outside after dinner. My new skateboard goes fast. I sometimes go to the toy store. I played there until it was dark. I ride it gracefully.

Anadverbofplacetellswheresomethinghappens. Anadverbofmannertellshowsomethinghappens.

Adverbs That Compare

Anadverbcancomparetheactionsoftwoormorepeopleor things.Tocomparetheactionsoftwopeopleorthings,-eris oftenaddedtoanadverb.Tocomparetheactionsofthreeor morepeopleorthings,-estisoftenaddedtoanadverb.
Sam went to bed later than Henry. Luke went to bed latest of us all.

Someadverbsthatcompareusemoreandmost.Usemoreand mostwithadverbsendinginlyandwithadverbsofthreeormore syllables.

Sam answered more sleepily than Henry. Luke answered most sleepily of us all.

Negative Words
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Someadverbsformnegativeideas.Usenot,ntfornotinacontraction, ornevertoexpressanegativeidea.Donotusemorethanonenegative wordinasentence.

He will not be ready on time. He cant find his sneakers. He never remembers where he left them.

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Antecedents
Thenountowhichapronounrefersisitsantecedent. Apronounmustagreewithitsantecedentinpersonand number.Thepronounshe, him, andhisrefertomale antecedents.Thepronounsshe, her,andhersrefertofemale antecedents.Thepronounsitanditsrefertoanimalsorthings. SeeNUMBER,PERSON.

Clauses
Aclauseisagroupofwordsthathasasubjectandapredicate.

Adverb Clauses
Anadverbclauseisadependentclauseusedasanadverb.An adverbclausecantellwhen.
As soon as I get home, Ill do my homework. Ill play video games after we eat dinner.

Dependent Clauses
Adependentclausecannotstandaloneasasentence.
While I was at the mall, my cell phone rang.

Independent Clauses
Anindependentclause,ormainclause,canstandaloneasa sentence.
I put on my helmet before I got on my bike.
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Conjunctions
Aconjunctionisawordusedtojointwowordsorgroupsof wordsinasentence.

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Coordinating Conjunctions
Acoordinatingconjunctionjoinstwowordsorgroupsofwords thataresimilar.Thewordsand, but,andorarecoordinating conjunctions.
My dad and I went to the pool. The pool is never too hot or crowded. I can swim but not dive.

Subordinate Conjunctions
Asubordinateconjunctionconnectsadependentclausetoan independentclauseinasentence.
After we drive to the pool, well change clothes. Well swim until it is time to go home for dinner.

Contractions
Acontractionisashortwaytowritesomewords.Anapostrophe ()isusedtoshowwhereoneormorelettershavebeenleftoutof thewords. Manycontractionsareformedwiththewordnot.
do not = dont cannot = cant was not = wasnt will not = wont

Manycontractionsareformedwithpersonalpronouns.
I am = Im you are = youre
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

he is = hes we have = weve

Direct Objects
Thedirectobjectinasentenceisthenounorpronounthat receivestheactionoftheverb.Thedirectobjecttellswhomor whataftertheverb.Twoormoredirectobjectsjoinedbyand ororformacompounddirectobject.
My mom made pasta and salad. I helped her.

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Indirect Objects
Anindirectobjectisthenounorpronounthattellstowhom, forwhom,towhat,orforwhatanactionisdone.Asentence cannothaveanindirectobjectunlessithasadirectobject. Theindirectobjectcomesaftertheverbandbeforethedirect object.
The reporter asked the mayor a question. The mayor gave her a long answer.

Interjections
Aninterjectionisawordthatexpressesastrongorsudden emotion.Aninterjectionisfollowedbyanexclamationpoint.
Wow! That was a great game. You kicked the winning goal. Great!

Nouns
Anounisawordthatnamesaperson,aplace,orathing. SeeNUMBER.

Collective Nouns
Acollectivenounnamesagroupofpeople,places,animals,or thingsthatareconsideredasaunit.
The science club raised a swarm of bees.
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Common Nouns
Acommonnounnamesanyonememberofagroupofpeople, places,orthings.
My cousin saw a dog run down the street.

Nouns in Direct Address

Anounindirectaddressnamesthepersonspokento.Anoun usedindirectaddressissetofffromtherestofthesentenceby acommaorcommas.
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Peter, are you coming with us? Bring your skateboard, Carly, and wear your helmet.

Plural Nouns
Apluralnounnamesmorethanoneperson,place,orthing. Mostpluralsareformedbyadding-sor-estothesingular form.Somenounshaveirregularpluralforms.Somenouns havethesameforminthesingularandplural.
The children have some turtles and some fish.

Possessive Nouns
Thepossessiveformofanounshowspossessionorownership. Asingularpossessivenounshowsthatonepersonowns something.Toformthesingularpossessive,addanapostrophe ()andtheletterstoasingularnoun.
baby Tess woman babys bottle Tesss soccer ball womans purse

Apluralpossessivenounshowsthatmorethanoneperson ownssomething.Toformthepluralpossessiveofmostnouns, addanapostrophe()afterthepluralformofthenoun.

babies the Smiths babies bottles the Smiths house

Toformthepluralpossessiveofanirregularnoun,addan apostropheands(s)afterthepluralform.
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

women mice

womens purses mices cheese

Proper Nouns
Apropernounbeginswithacapitalletterandnamesa particularperson,place,orthing.
Meg saw Shadow run down Pine Street.

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Singular Nouns
Asingularnounnamesoneperson,place,orthing.
The girl has a kite and a skateboard.

Number
Thenumberofanounorpronounindicateswhetheritrefersto oneperson,place,orthing(singular)ormorethanoneperson, place,orthing(plural).

Person
Personalpronounsandpossessiveadjectiveschangeform accordingtopersonwhethertheyrefertotheperson speaking(firstperson),thepersonspokento(secondperson), ortheperson,place,orthingspokenabout(thirdperson).

Phrases
Aphraseisagroupofwordsthatisusedasasinglepartof speech.

Adjective Phrases
Anadjectivephraseisaphraseusedasanadjective.
The woman in the red hat is my aunt.
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Adverb Phrases
Anadverbphraseisaphraseusedasanadverb.
The man sat on the park bench.

Prepositional Phrases
Aprepositionalphraseismadeupofapreposition,theobject ofthepreposition,andanymodifiersoftheobject. SeePREPOSITIONS.

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Verb Phrases
Averbphraseisagroupofwordsthatdoestheworkofasingle verb.Averbphrasecontainsamainverbandoneormore helpingverbssuchas is, are, have, can,anddo.
They are studying. They will be studying until dinnertime.

Insomequestionsandstatements,thepartsofaverbphrase maybeseparated.
Did they finish their projects? Dolores has not finished hers.

Predicates
Thepredicateofasentencetellswhatthesubjectisordoes.

Complete Predicates
Thecompletepredicateofasentenceisthesimplepredicate andanywordsthatgowithit.
Tom rode his new bike.

Compound Predicates
Twopredicatesjoinedbyand, but, ororformacompound predicate.
Karen got a glass and poured some milk.

Simple Predicates
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Thesimplepredicateofasentenceisaverb,awordorwords thatexpressanactionorastateofbeing.
The boys ran noisily down the street. They were happy.

Prepositions
Aprepositionisawordthatshowsarelationshipbetweena nounorpronounandanotherwordinasentence.
We put the doghouse under the tree. The dog with the red collar is Karens.
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Object of the Preposition

Thenounorpronounthatfollowsaprepositionistheobjectof thepreposition.
We put the doghouse under it. Karens. The dog with the red collar is

Prepositional Phrases
Aprepositionalphraseisapreposition,theobjectofthe preposition,andanywordsthatdescribetheobject.A prepositionalphrasecanbeusedasanadjectiveoranadverb.
We put the doghouse under the tall green tree. The dog with the shiny, new red collar is Karens.

Pronouns
Apronounisawordthattakestheplaceofanoun.See ANTECEDENTS,NUMBER,PERSON.

Demonstrative Pronouns
Ademonstrativepronounisusedtopointoutaperson,place, orthing.Thedemonstrativepronounsare this, that, these, and those.
Singular this that
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Plural these those

Thisandthesepointoutthingsorpeoplethatarenear.That andthosepointoutthingsorpeoplethatarefartheraway.
This is my favorite book. (singular and near) Those are my cousins old comic books. (plural and far)

Intensive Pronouns
Anintensivepronounisusedtoemphasizeanounthatcomes beforeit.Theintensivepronounsare myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves,andthemselves.
Corrine herself didnt know she had won. They created the prizes themselves.
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Interrogative Pronouns
Aninterrogativepronounisusedtoaskaquestion.Theinterrogative pronounsarewho, whom, what,andwhose.
Who broke the window? Whose is the ruined book? What happened when it started to rain? Whom did you call about the problem?

Personal Pronouns
Apersonalpronounreferstothepersonspeakingortotheperson orthingthatisspokentoorabout.InthissentenceIistheperson speaking,youisthepersonspokento,andthemarethepeople spokenabout.SeePERSON,NUMBER.
I heard you calling them.

Object Pronouns
Anobjectpronouncanbethedirectorindirectobjectofa sentenceortheobjectofapreposition.Theobjectpronounsare me, you, him, her, it, us, andthem.Twoormoreobjectpronouns canbejoinedbyandorortoformacompoundobject.
Karen will help them. Karen and Chris will come with us. Chris will help her and me. We will tell him the plan later.

Plural Pronouns
Apluralpronounreferstomorethanoneperson,place,orthing.
They are helping us.

Possessive Pronouns
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Apossessivepronounshowsownershiporpossession.Apossessive pronountakestheplaceofanoun.Ittakestheplaceoftheowner andthethingthatisowned.Thepossessivepronounsaremine, yours, his, hers, its, ours,andtheirs.

My cap is here, and your cap is over there. Mine is here, and yours is over there.

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Reflexive Pronouns
Areflexivepronounisusedasthedirectorindirectobjectofa verbortheobjectofapreposition.Thereflexivepronounsare myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves,and themselves.
Paul cut himself when he sliced the tomato. Molly made herself a jelly sandwich. The children made lunch for themselves.

Singular Pronouns
Asingularpronounreferstooneperson,place,orthing.
I gave it to her.

Subject Pronouns
Asubjectpronouncanbeusedasthesubjectorthesubject complementofasentence.Thesubjectpronounsare I, you, he, she, it, we,andthey.Twoormoresubjectpronounscanbe joinedbyandorortoformacompoundsubjectorsubject complement.
She is a great tennis player. She and I play tennis often. The winner of our matches is usually she.

Sentences
Asentenceisagroupofwordsthatexpressesacomplete thought.Everysentencehasasubjectandapredicate.
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Complex Sentences
Acomplexsentencecontainsoneindependentclauseand oneormoredependentclauses.Theclausesarejoinedby subordinateconjunctions.SeeCLAUSES,CONJUNCTIONS.
Before I go to school, I eat a good breakfast. I watch TV while I am eating.

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Compound Sentences
Twosentences,orindependentclauses,joinedbyacommaand thecoordinatingconjunctionand, but,ororformacompound sentence.
Ming is eating, but Lili is sleeping.

Declarative Sentences
Adeclarativesentencemakesastatement.Ittellssomething.A declarativesentenceendswithaperiod(.).
Your jacket is in the closet.

Exclamatory Sentences
Anexclamatorysentenceexpressesstrongorsuddenemotion. Anexclamatorysentenceendswithanexclamationpoint(!).
How cold it is today!

Imperative Sentences
Animperativesentencegivesacommandormakesarequest. Thesubjectofanimperativesentenceisgenerallyyou,whichis oftennotstated.Animperativesentenceendswithaperiod(.).
Please wear your jacket.

Interrogative Sentences
Aninterrogativesentenceasksaquestion.Aninterrogative sentenceendswithaquestionmark(?).
Are you ready? Where is your jacket?

Inverted Order
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Asentenceisininvertedorderwhenthemainverborahelping verbcomesbeforethesubject.
There are shoes everywhere. Piled on the desk is her homework. Does she ever clean up her room?

Natural Order
Asentenceisinnaturalorderwhentheverbfollowsthesubject.
Ophelia leaves her things everywhere.

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Subject Complements
Asubjectcomplementfollowsalinkingverbinasentence.It isanounorpronounthatrenamesthesubjectoranadjective thatdescribesthesubject.Twoormoresubjectcomplements joinedbyand, but,ororformacompoundsubjectcomplement.
That firefighter is a hero. Her actions were brave and skillful. The officer who received the medal was she.

Subjects
Thesubjectofasentenceiswhoorwhatthesentenceisabout. Thesubjectcanbeanounorapronoun.

Complete Subjects
Thecompletesubjectisthesimplesubjectandthewordsthat describeitorgivemoreinformationaboutit.
The little gray kitten is playing.

Compound Subjects
Twoormoresubjectsjoinedbyandororformacompound subject.
Bob, Phil, and Lisa went to the movies. Norman or I will sweep the floor.

Simple Subject
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Thesimplesubjectisthenounorpronounthatasentencetells about.
His little dog likes to chase balls. It runs very fast.

Subject-Verb Agreement
Asubjectandverbmustagree,whethertheverbisamainverb orahelpingverb.Ifacompoundsubjectisjoinedbyor,the verbagreeswiththesubjectclosesttoit.
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I like apple turnovers. Our parents like cherry tarts. I am building a birdhouse. They are building a garage.

My brother likes peach cobbler. The boys or she is going to help.

Acollectivenounisgenerallyconsideredsingulareventhough itmeansmorethanonepersonorthing,anditsverbmustagree withthesingularform.

Our class is entering the contest.

Whenasentencestartswiththere is, there are, there was,orthere were,thesubjectfollowstheverb.Theverbmustagreewiththe subject.

There is a book on the desk. There were some pencils in the drawer.

Tense
Thetenseofaverbshowswhentheactiontakesplace.

Future Tense
Thefuturetensetellsaboutsomethingthatwillhappeninthe future. Onewaytoformthefuturetenseiswithaformofthehelping verbbeplusgoing toplusthepresentformofaverb.
I am going to make toast. They are going to eat it.
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Dad is going to butter it.

Anotherwaytoformthefuturetenseiswiththehelpingverbwill andthepresentformofaverb.
Our class will go to the museum. The guide will explain the exhibits.

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Future Perfect Tense

Thefutureperfecttensetellsaboutanactionthatwillhavebeen completedbysometimeinthefuture.Thefutureperfecttenseis formedwithwillplushaveplusthepastparticipleofaverb.
I will have finished my homework by dinnertime. I will have made a salad by that time too.

Future Progressive Tense

Thefutureprogressivetensetellsaboutsomethingthatwillbe happeninginthefuture.Thefutureprogressivetenseisformed withwillandthepresentparticipleorwithaformofbeplusgoing toandthepresentparticiple.
I will be doing my homework this evening. My cousins are going to be helping me.

Past Perfect Tense

Thepastperfecttensetellsaboutanactionthatwasfinished beforeanotheractioninthepast.Thepastperfecttenseis formedwithhadandthepastparticipleofaverb.
She had come straight home after school. She had finished her homework before dinner.

Past Progressive Tense

Thepastprogressivetensetellswhatwashappeninginthepast. Thepastprogressivetenseisformedwithwasorwereandthe presentparticipleofaverb.
I was feeding the cat.
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

My parents were reading.

Present Perfect Tense

Thepresentperfecttensetellsaboutanactionthathappenedat someindefinitetimeinthepastoraboutanactionthatstarted inthepastandcontinuesintothepresent.Thepresentperfect tenseisformedwithaformofhaveandthepastparticipleofa verb.
He has finished his homework. They have lived in that house for three years.
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Present Progressive Tense

Thepresentprogressivetensetellswhatishappeningnow.The presentprogressivetenseisformedwitham, is, orareandthe presentparticipleofaverb.
We are watching TV. My sister is drinking juice. I am eating popcorn.

Simple Past Tense

Thesimplepasttensetellsaboutsomethingthathappenedin thepast.Thesimplepasttenseofregularverbsisformedby adding-d or-edtothepresentformofaverb.
We cooked breakfast this morning. Mom fried the eggs.

Simple Present Tense

Thesimplepresenttensetellsaboutsomethingthatisalways trueorsomethingthathappensagainandagain.Thepresent partofaverbisusedforthepresenttense.Ifthesubjectisa singularnounorhe, she,orit,-sor-esmustbeaddedtothe verb.
Prairie dogs live where its dry. A prairie dog digs a burrow to live in.

Verbs
Averbshowsactionorastateofbeing.SeeTENSE.

Action Verbs
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Anactionverbtellswhatsomeoneorsomethingdoes.
The boy is running. Seals bark.

Being Verbs
Abeingverbshowswhatsomeoneorsomethingis.Beingverbs donotexpressaction.
The boy is tired. The seal was hungry.

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Helping Verbs
Averbcanhavemorethanoneword.Ahelpingverbisaverb addedbeforethemainverbthathelpsmakethemeaningclear.
We will go to the movie. We might buy some popcorn.

Irregular Verbs
Thepastandthepastparticipleofirregularverbarenot formedbyadding-dor-ed.
Present sing send write Past sang sent wrote Past Participle sung sent written

Linking Verbs
Alinkingverbjoinsthesubjectofasentencetoasubject complement.Beingverbscanbelinkingverbs.
My aunt is a professional writer. She has become famous. The winner of the writing award was she.

Principal Parts
Averbhasfourprincipalparts:present,presentparticiple, past,andpastparticiple.Thepresentparticipleisformedby adding-ingtothepresent.Thepastandthepastparticipleof regularverbsareformedbyadding-dor-edtothepresent.
Present walk wave Present Participle walking waving Past walked waved Past Participle walked waved

Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Thepastandthepastparticipleofirregularverbsarenot formedbyadding-dor-edtothepresent.
Present do fly put Present Participle doing flying putting Past did flew put Past Participle done flown put

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Thepresentparticipleisoftenusedwithformsoftheverbbe.
We are walking to school. We have walked this way before. I was doing my homework. He has done his homework.

Thepastparticipleisoftenusedwithformsoftheverbhave.

Regular Verbs
Thepastandthepastparticipleofregularverbsareformedby adding-dor-edtothepresent.
Present jump glue Past jumped glued Past Participle jumped glued

Verb Phrases
Averbphraseismadeupofoneormorehelpingverbsandamain verb.
I should have shown you my drawings. I am entering them in the art contest. You can see them there.

Inquestionsandsomestatements,thepartsofaverbphrase maybeseparated.
Did Caroline bring the potato salad? Marcus has not arrived yet.

Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

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Mechanics
Capital Letters
Useacapitallettertobeginthefirstwordinasentence.
Tomorrow is my birthday.

Useacapitallettertobeginthefirstwordinadirectquotation.
Patrick Henry said, Give me liberty or give me death.

Useacapitallettertobeginapropernoun.Apropernounnames aparticularperson,place,orthing.
Jesse Owens competed in the Olympics in Berlin. The White House is on Pennsylvania Avenue. The head of the local Red Cross is Cora Smith.

Useacapitallettertobeginaproperadjective.
I love to eat Chinese food.

Useacapitallettertobeginatitlethatprecedesapersonsname.
Mrs. Novak Dr. Ramirez Governor Charles Raddich

Useacapitalletterforinitialsinapersonsname.
M. L. King = Martin Luther King George W. Bush = George Walker Bush

Useacapitalletterforabbreviationswhenacapitalletterwould beusedifthewordwaswritteninfull.
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Sun. = Sunday

Oct. = October

UseacapitallettertobeginthedirectionsNorth, South, East,and Westwhentheyrefertospecificregionsofthecountry.

On our trip to the West, we saw the Painted Desert.

Useacapitallettertobegintheimportantwordsinthetitleofa book,movie,TVshow,play,poem,song,artwork,sacredbook, anarticle,oressay.Thefirstandlastwordsofatitlearealways capitalized.Articles,prepositions,andconjunctionsareusually notcapitalizedunlesstheyarethefirstorlastwordofthetitle.

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The Secret Garden Sing a Song of Cities The Lion King

Useacapitallettertobegineverylineofmostpoemsand songs.
My country, tis of thee, Sweet land of liberty, Of thee I sing.

ThepersonalpronounIisalwaysacapitalletter.

Punctuation
Apostrophes
Useanapostrophetoformpossessivenouns.
Keishas skateboard stalls the childrens lunches the horses

Useanapostrophetoreplacethelettersleftoutina contraction.
didnt cant wasnt

Commas
Useacommatoseparatethewordsinaseries.
Mark, Anton, and Cara made the scenery. They hammered, sawed, and nailed.

Useacommaorcommastoseparateanameindirectaddress.
Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Carl, will you help me? Do you think, Keshawn, that we will finish today?

Useacommabeforethecoordinatingconjunctionwhentwo shortsentencesarecombinedinacompoundsentence.
Dad will heat the soup, and I will make the salad. Dad likes noodle soup, but I like bean soup.

Useacommatoseparatethenamesofacityandstate.
She comes from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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Useacommaorcommastoseparateadirectquotationfromthe restofthesentence.Whenaquestionmarkoranexclamation pointendsaquotationatthebeginningofasentence,the commaisnotneeded.

Hey, called Mario, where are you going? Im going to the movies, Bo said. Hurry up! Juana yelled.

Useacommaafterthewordyesornothatintroducesa sentence.
No, I cant go to the movies tonight.

Useacommaaftertheclosingofaletterandafterthe salutationofapersonalletter.

Exclamation Point
Useanexclamationpointafteranexclamatorysentence.
We won the game!

Useanexclamationpointafteraninterjection.
Wow! The dessert looks delicious.

Whenanexclamationpointispartofadirectquotation,it isplacedinsidethequotationmarks.Whentheexclamation pointisnotpartofthequotation,itisplacedoutsidethe quotationmarks.

Tom yelled, I quit! I was shocked when she said, Ill do it!

Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Periods
Useaperiodafteradeclarativeoranimperativesentence.
The cat is hungry. Please feed it.

Useaperiodaftermostabbreviations.
Sun. Ave. Sept. St. ft. gal. yd. oz. a.m. p.m.

Periodsarenotusedafterabbreviationsformetricmeasures.
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Useaperiodafterapersonaltitle.
Mr. Frank Cummings Dr. Hilda Doolittle Mrs. Joanna Clark

Useaperiodafteraninitial.
John F. Kennedy U.S.A. J. K. Rowling

Question Marks
Useaquestionmarkafteraninterrogativesentence.
Where are you going?

Whenaquestionmarkispartofadirectquotation,itisplaced insidethequotationmarks.Whenthequestionmarkisnot partofthequotation,itisplacedoutsidethequotationmarks.

The teacher asked, Where is Nepal? Did the teacher say, Nepal is in Asia?

Quotation Marks
Usequotationmarkstoshowtheexactwordsapersonsaysin adirectquotation.
Maggie said, I cant find my markers. Where, asked her mother, did you leave them?

Usequotationmarksaroundthetitlesofpoems,stories,or magazinearticles.Titlesofbooks,plays,movies,magazines, andartworksareitalicizedwhentheyaretypedand underlinedwhentheyarehandwritten.Titlesofsacredbooks arenotitalicizedorunderlined.

Voyages in English 2011, Grade 5

Paul Reveres Ride Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Mona Lisa the Koran

W0026

Grammar and Mechanics Handbook

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