Week 6: Life hit; my blog entry is late.

Class Overview

This week we tackled a new structure and sentence pattern; we learned compound sentences and subject/verb transitive/direct object (S-Vt-DO).

S-Vt-DO
We talked about the fact that a transitive verb transfers action to an object.  We started with a subject/verb, then added an object.  For example,

Matthew threw...
and I would ask the question (verb, who or what?).  They would respond,
threw who or what?  threw ball.

So, we bantered back and forth, always asking the question, "Verb, who or what?"  The answer, of course, is...the object that receives the action, the direct object.

When I asked everyone to make up their own S-Vt-DO sentence it was a bit more challenging.  Many stumbled over the prepositional phrase ending instead of a noun acting as a direct object.  For example,

Mary swam in the lake.
If we are trying to find a direct object, the question that we ask is swam, who or what?.  In the lake answers the question where? and is adverbial. So, to make a direct object, we have to answer the right question, who or what?.  A possible answer would be,
Mary swam a mile.
swam, who or what? swam mile.  Mile is a noun, acting as a direct object.

Please remember to ask the question, verb, who or what? when finding the DO.  If it doesn't answer that question, it isn't a direct object.

Compound Sentences
First, I covered the definition of a compound sentence and reviewed the list of coordinating conjunctions.  I made it clear that a compound sentence has to have two independent clauses (sentences) joined by a coordinating conjunction, both elements or it isn't compound.

First, we made compound sentences by adding a coordinating conjunction to join some independent clauses.  I gave them many examples,

I take good care of my cat.     He loves me.
The British attacked.     Washington defended.
Carl became an intern.     He makes great coffee.
I spent all my money.     I am broke.

Next, we moved on to differentiating between coordinating conjunctions that are joining words only and those that are joining independent clauses.  For example,

Bob and Carl ate donuts and talked.  
(first and joins Bob, Carl = words (compound subject); second and joins donuts, talked=words (compound verb)) 

Claire sneezed, and milk came out her nose.
(and joins Claire sneezed, milk came out her nose=independent clauses)

Please note that a compound sentence requires a comma before the coordinating conjunction.  A compound subject or compound verb does not require a comma.  In fact, adding a comma is probably the biggest comma misuse out there.

Here is where it gets tricky.

Thomas hiked the mountain and reached the summit.  

No comma necessary because and is joining an independent clause with the phrase reached the summit.  This is a compound verb, not a compound sentence.  The temptation is to add that comma, but it doesn't belong.

When diagramming a compound sentence, use a dotted line with a "chair" between verbs.

Grammar Rule

Rule 2a: Semicolons (pp. 60)

Use a semicolon between related independent clauses not joined by a coordinating conjunction.

In other words, if you have a compound sentence, you can substitute a semicolon for the coordinating conjunction.  So,

Claire sneezed, and milk came out her nose.
Claire sneezed; milk came out her nose.

The semicolon goes on the "chair" when you diagram.

Grammar (Drill)

Memory work through week six and review charts A-F, and take a look at chart H (conjunctions) to see that there are many types of conjunctions.  Just memorize the grey area at the top (definition) and the coordinating conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so); forget the rest for right now.

Dialectic (Understanding)

Work through many compound sentences.  Create them, and "task" them on the task sheets.  Challenge yourself with S/Vt/DO compound sentences if you want.

Don't ignore the back of the task sheet.  On task 5, one exercise makes you write a sentence by structure.  Have fun making a simple sentence compound, or making a compound, simple.

English grammar is a puzzle! Have fun taking it apart and putting it back together and seeing the wonderful picture of language that God created so that we could relate to one another!

Personal Note

Moms, grace to you as school marches on in spite of life happening.  In order to keep it real and provide a bit of group therapy, I'll let you know that I have five, 5, V, that's FIVE! whopping loads of laundered, but not folded clothes in piles around my living room.  If you come over, please perch atop one of them, grab a cup of hot tea (or Starbucks), and chat with me awhile, or is it a while?  And when we chat, we'll ignore the fact that math and spelling isn't getting done right now, and we'll definitely not see that my children are running around barefoot in 55 degree weather.  Your friendship blesses me.  Please come to Mom's Night Out next Thursday.  I want to know you more.