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Pbs Learning Media: How to Link Clauses With Semicolon
Semicolons join two closely related independent clauses in a single sentence. Without these, there would be run-on sentences that no one could slow down! [0:57]
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Pbs Learning Media: Using Punctuation for Breaks and Pauses
Punctuation indicates how one should read any sentence. Commas, for example, indicate when a reader should take a brief pause, either for emphasis or for comprehension. [0:40]
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Pbs Learning Media: How to Use Commas for Introductory Elements
Introductory elements are clauses, phrases, and words that appear before the main part of a sentence. Without commas, the reader may be confused. Use commas to indicate properly the who and the what. [0:40]
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Pbs Learning Media: How to Use Intensive Pronouns
Intensive pronouns add needed emphasis to a sentence. While they function similarly to reflexive pronouns, they differ in that the pronoun can be removed without altering the meaning of the sentence. [0:57]
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Pbs Learning Media: How to Use Prepositional Phrases
Prepositions indicate the location of a thing to another thing across time or space. Prepositional phrases contain a preposition and its object. [0:44]
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Pbs Learning Media: How to Use Prepositions
Prepositions indicate locations, whether physical or in time. Around, in, outside, before, during. Prepositions help us know the when and where! [0:48]
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Pbs Learning Media: How to Use Correlative Conjunctions
Either, nor? Or, neither? Neither! You use correlative conjunctions in connecting two equal grammatical items. If a noun follows "either," then a noun will also follow "or." If a noun follows "neither," then a noun will also follow...
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Pbs Learning Media: How to Punctuate Items in a Series
Another way to confuse readers or audiences is not using commas and conjunctions when listing items in a series. Always use a comma in between items in a series, and use a conjunction before adding the last item in a list. [0:44]
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Pbs Learning Media: How to Use Commas With Conjunctions
Conjunctions can join two separate clauses, but sometimes they need commas. Learn how to do so correctly with this video. [0:48]
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Pbs Learning Media: How to Use Conjunctions
Conjunctions are a part of a speech that connects different parts of a sentence, such as groups of words, clauses, or phrases. [0:41]
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Pbs Learning Media: Reflexive Pronouns and Subjects
Reflexive pronouns reflect the subject of the sentence. A reflexive pronoun is a pronoun that is preceded or followed by the noun, adjective, adverb, or pronoun to which it refers within the same clause. [0:35]
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Pbs Learning Media: Proper Case for Pronouns
Pronoun case is determined by how we use the pronoun in a sentence. There are three ways: subjective, when the pronoun does something; objective, when something is done to our pronoun; and possessive, when our pronoun possesses...
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Pbs Learning Media: Irregular Plural Nouns
While plural nouns often indicate more than one of something with a simple "s" or "es," irregular plural nouns do not. They change the word entirely. Elf becomes elves, tooth becomes teeth! [0:45]
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Pbs Learning Media: Hyphenation Conventions
This video [0:48) discusses how hyphens indicate specific nouns from compound words. Without them, they could refer to completely different things! Know when and how to use them.
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Pbs Learning Media: How to Avoid Inappropriate Shifts
Watch out for inappropriate shifts in pronoun number and person! A shift is when there is a disparity between the perspectives, from first person, second person, and third person. It is important to maintain perspectives when referring...
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Pbs Learning Media: Understanding Indicative Mood
Verbal moods indicate a state of being or reality. There are several types: indicative, the most common where the state of being is pure fact; interrogative, which asks a question; and imperative, which is a command. It is important to...
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Pbs Learning Media: Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Modal auxiliary verbs indicate expressions of belief, attitudes, likelihood, permission, or obligation. They inform the function of the main verb, and color the verb on a scale ranging from possibility to necessity. Video (0:47)
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Pbs Learning Media: Shifts in Verb Tenses
Shifts in verb tense are useful in helping readers understand actions occurring at different times. Verb tenses should stay consistent in every sentence. [0:42]
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Pbs Learning Media: How to Use Perfect Verb Tenses
The three perfect verb tenses show actions that have already been completed. [0:47]
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Pbs Learning Media: Using the Correct Verb Tense
Verb tense is used to show when an action occurs, whether it is in the past, the present, or the future. [0:56]
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Pbs Learning Media: Using the Present Progressive Tense
Present progressives describe an action in progress, or something that started in the past and is still happening. It is formed with the helping "to be" verb in the present tense and the present participle of the verb. [0:42]
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Pbs Learning Media: When to Use the Past Tense for Irregular Verbs
Often when we write the past tense of a regular verb, we add an "-ed" after the last letter. Irregular verbs do not follow this rule! The simple past and simple participle of irregular verbs can end in a variety of ways with no...
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Pbs Learning Media: What Verbals Are
Verbals are verbs disguised as nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. Verbals come in three forms: gerunds, infinitives, and participles. Gerunds are verbs that end in "-ing" and function as nouns. Participles end in "-ing," "-ed," "-d," "-t,"...
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Pbs Learning Media: Ordering Adjectives From General to Specific
Adjectives modify nouns. In using more than one adjective to describe a noun, we need to make sure they are in the correct order-from general to specific. [0:40]