A paragraph can be short, or it can be long. This depends on the length of each story and its segments.

Expository Paragraph

An expository paragraph is a connected series of sentences that presents and develops a narrow topic by material that is orderly in plan and specific in detail.

Topic Sentence

A topic sentence is an abstract statement of the unity of the paragraph. It always presents the subject of the paragraph and an attitude toward the subject. Usually though, not always the topic sentence come at the beginning of the paragraph.

Simple (a sapling with no branches).
Complex (a sapling with at least one branch).
Compound (two or more things or saplings with no branches).

Simple (the dogs bark).
Complex (the dogs bark when the birds sing).
Compound (the dogs bark and the birds sing).

Use of Commas  (,)

Use a comma between main clauses joined by “and,” “but,” “for,” “or,” “nor,” and some of the time, “yet,” and “so.”

However, beware of the compound predicate, “The dogs bark and run around in circles.” Use a comma after a dependent clause that preceeds a main clause. Use a comma after a dependent element that preceeds a main clause.

Use a comma or commas to separate members of a series.

a) A, B, and C.
b) A, B. C, D, E, and F.

Use a comma to set off parenthical elements. But, beware of the restrictive element, which is not parenthical.

a) The children, who are playing, hardly hear the dogs.

Note – Use a comma to separate coordinates for adjectives modifying the same noun.

Caution - Be sure adjectives are coordinate tested. They are if you could replace the comma with “end.”

Use of Semicolon  (

Use a semicolon between main clauses NOT joined by “and,” “but,” “for,” “or,” and “nor.”

a) The dogs bark; the birds sing.

Use a semicolon between main clauses joined by “and,” “but,” “for,” “or,” and “nor.” if the clause contains many commas.

Use a colon to introduce a short development of a generation.

Continue reading...

More – friendly(ier)
Most – friendly(est)

The form of modifiers change as they are used in comparison. A comparison has three degrees:

1. Positive (pretty, kind, fearful, beautiful).
2. Comparative (prettier, kinder, more fearful, more beautiful).
3. Superlative (prettiest, kindest, most fearful, most beautiful).

Remember, adverbs always form their comparative and superlative degrees by using more or most.

a) David is less stupid than Jack.
b) David is the less stupid of them all.

Some modifiers have irregular comparison:

Bad, worse, worst.
Good, better, best.
Many, more, most.
Little, lesser, least.

Note – Do Not Omit the words “other” and “also” when comparing one thing with another.

a) He is smaller than anyone else.
b) He is more stupid than any person at work.

Continue reading...

Adjectives of modifiers – adjectives can shine the degree or extend one noun. It has a quality by comparing it with another noun that has the same quality.

a) This girl is prettier than that girl.
b) The country road is rougher than the state road.

Adverbs in a comparison.

a) Although that man thinks quickly, the other man thinks more quickly.

b) Mr. Jones is a man who likes young people (who likes young people – predicate nominative or subject).

c) Mr. Jones is a man whom young people like (whom young people like – predicate nominative or subject).

d) The girl who spoke to me has just won a scholarship (who spoke to me – subject).

e) The girl whom I spoke to has just won a scholarship (whom I spoke to – object of preposition).

Dangling Modifiers

To correct a dangling modifier, rearrange words in the sentence, or add words to the sentence.

a) While walking on the ceiling, I saw a fly.

b) While I was walking, I saw a fly on the ceiling.

c) When shaving mother often call dad.

d) When shaving dad was called by mother.

Note – Always put phrases and clause modifiers as close as possible to the word they modify.

aa) At the age of four dad gave me a black eye – Wrong.

bb) John enjoyed the chunks of meat slipped to him by guests – Wrong.

cc) The dress is hanging on the clothes line That I have sewed for week – Right.

dd) There was a flag on the stage which had only 48 stars – Right.

More Correct Examples

1. My grandmother bought me a pony at five years of age.
2. I could not find the fruit juice on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator.
3. In your post office box there should be a letter written by Sue.
4. I sent a sympathy card to the relatives of the dead man in a hurry.
5. The job was selling boxes of candy to children with prizes in them.
6. We felt very sorry for the little bulldog in a tiny cage at the dog pound.
7. From the forty yard line I saw him make a thrilling touch down.
8. The streets seemed slippery on the way to the grocery store.

Continue reading...

1. Direct object.
2. Object of the preposition.
3. Indirect object.

a) I don’t object – answers the question what? After an active verb (she swam the channel), (he gave it to him).

Indirect object tells to whom, or for whom something is done. Remember, you must have a direct object before you can have an indirect object.

a) She gave ‘to’ him the cake.
b) He bought ‘for’ her the present.

Object of the preposition or prepositional phrase consists of two things; a preposition and its object.

a) He gave the purse to her.
b. The book was written by him.
c. It was given to her for him.

Continue reading...

Principle parts are:

1. Present participant which always end with “ing.”

2. Past tense which express completed action in the past.

3. Past participle use in the perfect tense with a helping verb “had gone.”

4. Infinitive used with “to” (to live, to pass, to conquer)

Regular verb

1. Form their past and present participle aims by adding “d” or “ed” to the infinitive (chose, chosed), (pass, passed).

Remember, that the plural “e” of the infinitive is sometimes dropped when writing the present participle “to use” infinitive “using” present participle.

Note – The past participle or past endings “d” or “ed” firms up past particples or past tenses.

a) Incorrect – “I ask him the question.”
b) Correct – “I asked him the question.”

Irregular verb

These firm up past participles by changing the vowel on the consanant by adding “en.” If in doubt about the past perticiple or past, firms are irregular verbs, then consult the dictionary which lists the past and past participles of the irregular verbs.

Remember, the past participle, when used as a part of the main verb, always use the verb to be as a helper.

The past participles, when used as a part of the main verb, always use “have,” “has,” “had,” or a firm of “to be” as a helper.

Lie and Lay

Lie means to recline and does not take a direct object. Principle part are: lie, lay, lain, lying, (he lies down).

Lay means to place or put and it does take a direct object. Principle parts are: lay, laid, laying, laid, (lay that book on the table).

Rise and Raise

Rise means to go up its accord and it doesn’t need help. Rise in transitive. It does not take a direct object. For example, “the sun rises,” “the smoke rose.” Principle parts are: rise, rose, risen, rising.

Raise means to lift and it does need help. For example, “I raised the blind.” Principle parts are: raise, raised, raising.

Sit and Sat

Sit means to be in a sitting position. Principle part are: sit down, I sat down, sit, sat, sitting.

Sat means to place. Set does take a direct object. For example, “set that down,” “I set the table.” Principle parts are set and setting.

Continue reading...

The early Anglo Saxon settlers had no idea their dialects would turn into huge colloquial conversation jargon by the late 19th century. Technology pushed forward without notice for the English language that we have ignored the golden rule of writing or speaking. The mighty gatekeeper of all communication is slowly fading toward initialisms with imaginative new words (BRB, LOL, LMAO, LU4EVER) which encourage speed.

What happened to the Old English style of writing displayed so eloquently in the U.S. Constitution? How did we permit technology to strip away our principles and make such an intelligent decision for human kind?

Over the next nine days I will be sharing with you my brand new version of “Getting Back To English Basics.” For those who have never explored true English literature, or who don’t wish to remember, the following lessons will be an explicit refresher course:

1. Above Average Grammar

2. The Compound Subject

3. Contrast Nouns and Pronouns

4. The Regular and Irregular Verb

5. Objective Case

6. Who and Whom

7. Comparison of Modifiers

8. Friendly Adverbs

9. Paragraph Construction

Continue reading...