|
Welcome to your GrammarBook.com E-Newsletter.
|
"Thank you for reminding us of all those rules we were supposed to learn in grammar school! Keep up the good work and know that I refer to you often."
- Pam B.
"I always look forward to your E-Newsletters; they're the very best!"
- Brandy K.
"All your lessons are easy to understand and outstanding. Congratulations on your work."
- Joseph T.
|
|
|
Commas, Part 6
I hope you enjoyed your holiday season and are having a happy new year. I can’t think of a better way to welcome 2013 than with the sixth in our multi-part series on commas, can you? (Well, you probably can, but it seems like a great idea to me!)
Rule - When starting a sentence with a weak clause, use a comma after it. (If the weak clause has three or fewer words, the comma is optional.) Conversely, do not use a comma when the sentence starts with a strong clause followed by a weak clause.
Examples:
If you are not sure about this, let me know now.
Let me know now if you are not sure about this.
On February 14 many couples give each other candy or flowers.
OR
On February 14, many couples give each other candy or flowers.
Rule - Use commas surrounding words such as therefore and however when they are used as interrupters.
Examples:
I would, therefore, like a response.
I would be happy, however, to volunteer for the Red Cross.
|
|
Pop Quiz
Choose the correct sentence.
1A. Whether my team wins this weekend or not, I will have to go to work on Monday.
1B. Whether my team wins this weekend or not I will have to go to work on Monday.
2A. I will have to go to work on Monday, whether my team wins this weekend or not.
2B. I will have to go to work on Monday whether my team wins this weekend or not.
3A. Beginning tomorrow, I am going to walk a mile every Wednesday.
3B. Beginning tomorrow I am going to walk a mile every Wednesday.
4A. I would be interested however in learning more about commas.
4B. I would be interested, however in learning more about commas.
4C. I would be interested however, in learning more about commas.
4D. I would be interested, however, in learning more about commas.
Regarding “Commas, Part 5”
Following the last newsletter, I received notes from a few readers who had concerns about word selection in the pop quiz sentence, “I agreed, although I regretted the decision later, to loan our car to Miriam.” These readers felt that the word loan should have been lend. This presents a good opportunity to remind everyone that the weekly E-Newsletter, The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation, and www.GrammarBook.com represent American English rules.
From The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language:
Usage Note: The verb loan is well established in American usage and cannot be considered incorrect. The frequent objections to the form by American grammarians may have originated from a provincial deference to British critics, who long ago labeled the usage a typical Americanism. But loan is used only to describe physical transactions, as of money or goods. For figurative transactions, lend is the only possible form: Distance lends enchantment.
Free BONUS Quiz For You!
[[firstname]], because you are a subscriber to the newsletter, you get access to one of the Subscription Members-Only Quizzes. Click here to take a Commas Quiz and get your scores and explanations instantly!
"So convenient...hundreds of quizzes in one click."
[[firstname]], Subscribe to receive hundreds of English usage quizzes not found anywhere else!
- Take the quizzes online or download and copy them.
- Get scored instantly.
- Find explanations for every quiz answer.
- Reproduce the quizzes to your heart's content.
- EASY to use.
- No software to download.
- No setup time.
- A real person to help you if you have any questions!
"Fun to test my skills!" "The explanations really help...thanks!"
Your choice: Subscribe at the $29.95 or $99.95 level ($30 off - regularly $129.95).
"I download the quizzes for my students who don't have computer access."
Subscribe today to receive hundreds of English usage quizzes not found anywhere else!
"Makes learning English FUN!"
 |
Don't need all the quizzes at once?
You can now purchase the same quizzes individually for ONLY 99¢ each. Purchase yours here. |
Get Yours Today!
Get Amazon’s #1 Bestseller in Four Categories!
#1 in Grammar
#1 in Reading
#1 in Lesson Planning
#1 in Vocabulary |
The Blue Book of Grammar
and Punctuation by Jane Straus
An indispensable tool for busy professionals, teachers, students, homeschool families, editors, writers, and proofreaders.
Now available in print AND as an e-Book! Over 2000 copies are purchased every month!
Order Your Copy Today!
- Hundreds of Grammar, Punctuation, Capitalization, and Usage Rules
- Real-World Examples
- Spelling / Vocabulary / Confusing Words
- Quizzes with Answers
|
View the entire contents online
Discounts available for schools, bookstores, and multiple copies. Order Today!
Wordplay 
I tried wrapping Christmas presents, but I didn't have the gift.
The dead batteries were given out free of charge.
To write with a broken pencil is pointless.
Pop Quiz Answers
1A. Whether my team wins this weekend or not, I will have to go to work on Monday.
2B. I will have to go to work on Monday whether my team wins this weekend or not.
3A. Beginning tomorrow, I am going to walk a mile every Wednesday. OR
3B. Beginning tomorrow I am going to walk a mile every Wednesday.
4D. I would be interested, however, in learning more about commas.
Learn all about who and whom, affect and effect, subjects and verbs, adjectives and adverbs, commas, semicolons, quotation marks, and much more by just sitting back and enjoying these easy-to-follow lessons. Tell your colleagues (and boss), children, teachers, and friends. Click here to watch. |
