6th Grade
iReady
Ready Georgia
Students can access a helpful guide for personal narratives here: https://youtu.be/iWHc5Yar6Ps
HELPFUL INFO:
Nonrestrictive and Restrictive Phrases
Use commas to set off nonrestrictive information in a sentence. Nonrestrictive information is supplemental; it is not necessary in order for a reader to identify who or what is being discussed. Without the information, the meaning of the sentence would still be clear.
The Golden Gate Bridge, which first opened in 1937, took over four years to build.
The underlined information isn't required to interpret the sentence.
The Golden Gate Bridge took over four years to build.
Without the information, a reader still knows which bridge took four years to build.
Do not use commas to set off restrictive information in a sentence. Restrictive information is necessary in order for a reader to identify exactly who or what is being discussed. Without the information, the meaning of the sentence would become unclear.
The author J.K. Rowling was born in Yate, England.
The underlined information helps a reader identify which author is being discussed.
The author was born in Yate, England.
Without the information, a reader doesn't know which author is being discussed.
7th Grade
iReady
Ready Georgia
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-8-9
HELPFUL INFO:
Sentences
A clause is a group of words that contains both a subject and a predicate.
An independent clause is a complete thought that can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent clause is not a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence.
the oranges on our tree are ripe
The clause can stand alone. It is independent.
after we pick up Kevin from work
The clause cannot stand alone. It is dependent.
A simple sentence is made up of a single independent clause.
Ben and I spent all day relaxing by the pool.
Some simple sentences have introductory phrases, but the introductory phrase is part of the predicate.
In the winter, Ben usually wears his heavy coat.
Ben usually wears his heavy coat in the winter.
A compound sentence is made up of two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction such as and, but, or, or so.
We saw the flash of lightning, and seconds later we heard a rumble of thunder.
A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause in a complex sentence usually begins with a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun. Subordinating conjunctions include after, although, as, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, and while. Relative pronouns include that, which, who, whom, or whose.
If she ever gets the chance, Terri would love to visit the Egyptian pyramids.
During his trip to Italy, Tony visited the Trevi Fountain, which is in Rome.
A compound-complex sentence is made up of two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.
After Samantha left work, she stopped at the bank, and then she went to the gym.
Sometimes a dependent clause in a complex or compound-complex sentence can interrupt an independent clause.
Orcas that are kept in captivity often have bent dorsal fins.
8th Grade
iReady
Ready Georgia
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-8-9
https://collegereadiness.collegeboard.org/psat-nmsqt-psat-10/practice
HELPFUL INFO:
Two types of verbals:
Infinitive- Includes the word to followed by a verb, such as to help. It functions as a noun in a sentence.
Participle- A verb with the ending –ing such as speaking skills. It functions as an adjective in a sentence.
A participle is a verb form that sometimes acts as an adjective. Present participles always end in -ing. Past participles are usually the same as the past-tense form of the verb, but some, such as broken, taken, seen, grown, and done, are irregular.
A participial phrase consists of a participle and all its modifiers.
That stunning bouquet of tulips was a gift from Olivia.
The participle acts as an adjective modifying the noun bouquet.
Filled to capacity, the bus had no room for additional riders.
The participial phrase acts as an adjective modifying the noun bus.