FANBOYS use AAAWWUBBIS'

I am still a little uncertain about linking verb patterns, intransitive verb patterns, and transitive verb patterns. I understand the intransitive sentences include a noun and a verb and do not need any other information, BUT the intransitive and transitive sometimes confuse me. You can say, “The students studied,” OR, “The students studied science.” It is correct either way. Does the extra noun at the end make it transitive? In class when we put together sentences on the magnetic boards, sometimes a sentence would be longer than just a noun and a verb, BUT they weren’t intransitive sentences. WHILE I sometimes understand a sentence and its type right away, there are still times when I get confused.

SINCE I learned elementary grammar and sentence particles over a decade ago, it is a good refresher to review the names of different types of sentences such as ‘imperative sentences,’ AND reviewing all the prepositions again is helpful too. ALTHOUGH the things we are learning and reviewing often seem easy, they are difficult at times because we all learned them so long ago, SO it is good that we have this course to help remind us and prepare us for teaching. Sometimes I think, “I learned this stuff in elementary school, it’s easy,” YET, then there are moments when I have to pause and think about something or ask questions even.

This class is perfect for reviewing before I begin to teach in a couple short years. Even though I am teaching high school I know I will need to explain what an adverb is, or what a run-on sentence is. I did a three week practicum this summer in a high school classroom and the students in the classes often did not know things that I had thought should be mastered by their age. Reading pieces of writing from high school and college students in my courses this year, and the articles and research on the level of writing dropping in schools, it has opened my eyes to what all I will have to teach my students. I am thankful for this grammar class this year and know it will really help me.

WHEN we talked about comma splices in class, I realized that I probably use them occasionally. I notice when it should be a period when I am reading someone else’s paper, but when I am writing my own piece, I tend to use extra commas. I do not always notice when I am writing my own work, FOR (not sure if this is correct?) lack of concentration and time perhaps, that I have more of when it is someone else’s writing and all I have to do is read. I neither have to think about what I need to say, NOR do I have to create something when I am reading someone’s paper, so I have a lot more time to study the punctuation and grammar.