PSSA GRAMMAR CHEAT SHEET

PHRASES CLAUSES SENTENCES

phrase: group of words that does not clause: group of words that does contain a subject and a verb run-on sentence: two or more independent
contain both a subject and a verb clauses are not joined correctly; fix by using
1.) independent (main) clause: complete thought; can stand alone as
2.) prepositional phrase: group of a comma + conjunction or semicolon ( ; )
a complete sentence. Example: We drove to Seattle.
words that includes a preposition complete sentence: made with clauses
(at, in, under, for) and its object. 2.) dependent (subordinate) clause: cannot stand alone as a complete
sentence; begins with WHICH, THAT, WHAT, WHERE, WHEN, (subject + verb); do NOT start with WHICH
Example: He lives in that apartment.
BECAUSE, UNTIL, UNLESS, BEFORE, AFTER, IF, SINCE, or THAT
1.) infinitive phrase: contains an THOUGH, & ALTHOUGH; act as a fragment
1.) simple: is one main clause that
infinitive (to + verb) and its Example: When we drove to Seattle
expresses a single complete thought.
modifier (provide description) 3.) noun clause: dependent clause; used as a subject, direct object, or Example: Emma went to soccer practice.
Example: This is the gift to buy for predicate noun
Stella SIGNAL WORDS: THAT, WHICH, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHATEVER, 2.) compound: two or more main clauses
HOWEVER, WHY
SUBJECT-VERB AGREEMENT linked by a comma and a conjunction
4.) adjective clause: dependent clause; adds information about a (as and, or, or but)
- singular subject add an –s to verb noun or pronoun; describes a noun or pronoun Example: Emma went to soccer practice
Example: John runs down the hall. (independent clause), and (conjunction)Joy
SIGNAL WORDS: THAT, WHICH, WHO WHOM, WHOSE, WHAT, WHERE
- plural subject do NOT add an –s to watched from the sidelines (independent
5.) adverb clause: dependent clause; describes the verb clause).
the verb
SIGNAL WORDS: AFTER, ALTHOUGH, BECAUSE, BEFORE, SINCE, AS,
Example: John and Joe run down the
hall.
IF, THAN, THOUGH, UNLESS, UNTIL, WHEN, & WHERE 3.) complex: one main clause and one or
more subordinate clauses
MODIFIERS SUBJECT vs. PREDICATE Example: Emma went to soccer practice
(independent clause) after the school day
1.) misplaced modifier: appears in the wrong place in a sentence - subject: WHO or WHAT the sentence ended (dependent clause).
misplaced: Bob gave a beautiful bird to his sister that sang well. is about; NOUNS (person, place, or thing)
(The bird, not the sister, sang well!) 4.) compound-complex: two or more main
Example: The black dog went outside.
corrected: Bob gave a beautiful bird that sang well to his sister. clauses and one or more subordinate
- predicate: tells what the subject does clauses.
2.) dangling modifier: doesn’t modify anything in the sentence. or has; describes what the subject Is Example: Emma went to soccer practice
dangling: Baking homemade bread, the kitchen smelled wonderful. or is like; VERBS (action or linking) (independent), and Joy watched from the
(The kitchen didn’t bake the bread.) sidelines (independent) because she
Example: The black dog licked his water wanted to cheer for Emma (dependent).
corrected: While I was baking homemade bread, the kitchen smelled bowl.
wonderful.
 A C E
T
COMMAS DENOTATION
precise, literal definition of a word
CONNOTATION
emotional suggestion of a word D
series: listing a series of 3 or more events or Example: childish, childlike & childish & childlike = NEGATIVE
items
youthful have the same denotative youthful = POSITIVE A answer cite explain

ARTICLES
RULE: use a comma + and in the final
event/item in series.
RULES to PUNCTUATION
‘
Example: Marge ate a hamburger, a hot dog, a APOSTROPHE
pretzel, and an ice cream cone. Examples: A, AN, & THE
RULE #1: used to show possession
next word starts next word starts RULE #2: represent missing letters in contractions
adjectives: when you have 2 adjectives that with a with a
precedes (before) a noun; write AND VOWEL
CONSONANT PARENTHESES
( )
a an
between the 2 adjectives RULE #1: set off EXTRA information that further
RULE #1: makes sense = comma explains or clarifies an idea
Example: The hot, humid weather should be here
by the end of the month. (comma)
RULE #2: NO sense = NO comma [ ] BRACKETS exclusively in quoted material
RULE #1: information that is NOT essential to
the main point
Example: Emily left three short messages on our
POINT OF VIEW
:
phone at home. (no comma)
COLON
appositives: explains a noun or pronoun in RULE #1: begin a list
a sentence RULE #2: join 2 parts of a sentence
RULE #3: express time
RULE: insert a comma BEFORE and AFTER

;
the phrase that’s not essential to the SEMI-COLON
sentence (extra info.) RULE #1: join 2 independent clauses
Example: Felicia, our team’s leading scorer, will be RULE #2: items in a list or series if any of the items
out for the rest of the year. contain commas
STYLE Example: The conference has people who have come
independent clauses: used to separate 2 from Moscow, Idaho; Springfield, California; Alamo,
independent clauses INFORMAL FORMAL Tennessee; and other places as well.
- “text talk”
RULE: add a COMMA + CONJUNCTION - spoken conversation vs. - less personal
- longer sentences HYPHEN
Example: Mark washed the car, AND he took out - slang - limited contractions and
- use 1st or 3rd person pronouns
RULE #1: 2 or more words that come before a noun
the garbage.
KEY WORDS: COOL,

-
SWEET, LIKE, Y’ALL, AIN’T DASH
introductory words: not a complete
sentence because it doesn’t have a subject + RULE #1: set off material for emphasis (opposite of
verb
TRANSITIONS parentheses)
transitions: are words or phrases that show relationships
KEY WORDS: well, yes, still, furthermore, between ideas.
however, meanwhile. antecedent: word that a pronoun refers back to
KEY WORDS: FIRST, LAST, FINALLY, NEXT, ALSO, ©2018
Example: By the way, do you have any extra gym FOR EXAMPLE, YET, BUT, ON THE OTHER HAND, Gaughan Example My sister is at the top of her class
clothes? THEREFORE, BECAUSE, & IN CONCLUSION