Welcome Get ESL Members and Non-members alike. This is day number 10 of the current Grammar Course Session. (Members: Go directly to Today's Lesson )
The foundation of the English language, English grammar allows you in an almost unlimited way to combine words to create new sentences, many of which are constructed for the first time. In fact, any multi-word sentence is likely being used for the first time in the English language. Being able to use the grammar competently helps you to improve your listening, speaking, writing, and reading skills.
This English Grammar course will give you intermediate to advanced practice with sentence completion and error correction items, both of which represent common structures found in conversational, professional, and academic English settings. Consequently, mastering the subject material in this course allows you to use English more fluently when communicating with other English speakers, when using English at a job, and when using English in a university environment.
Aimed at improving grammar proficiency in both written and spoken English through your mastery of well-defined objectives, this course:
The following is a daily schedule of the course along with a brief description for each lesson:
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Day 1
Learn the basic structure of a simple sentence
Learn the basic structure of a prepositional phrase Learn not to confuse the object of the preposition with the subject
Learn how to reduce an adjective clause into a present or past participle phrase Distinguish between present and past participle phrases
Learn how to reduce an adjective clause into an appositive Distinguish an appositive from the subject
Learn the basic structure of a compound sentence Learn when to use a compound sentence in writing
Learn the basic structure of a complex setence with an adjective clause Learn different adjective clause connectors
Learn the basic structure of a complex setence with an adjective clause Learn different noun clause connectors
Learn the basic structure of a complex setence with an adjective clause Learn different adverb clause connectors
Learn to identify the different parts of a sentence with multiple clauses Learn when to use a sentence with multiple clauses
Learn to identify misplaced modifiers in writing Learn how to correct a sentence with a misplaced modifier
Learn the basic structure of a sentence with a subject-verb inversion Learn why subject-verb inversions are used Identify word order problems with subject-verb inversions
Learn the positions in which nouns, adjectives, adverbs, verbs, auxiliary verbs, determiners, and prepositions in a sentence Learn the common endings that attach to nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and verbs in a sentence
Learn to use appropriate words in formal writing Avoid using nonstandard expressions
Learn how to balance a sentence using parallel structure Learn to use parallel structure when using coordinate conjunctions, paired conjunctions, and comparisons
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Day 16 Mastery Exercise 15 Word Order Identify common word order problems
Identify count and noncount nouns Identify determiners used with count and noncount nouns Learn how to spell irregular plural nouns Become aquainted with mass and abstract noncount nouns
Learn not to shift verb tenses in writing Understand when to use the present with the past Understand past perfect and future perfect tenses Differentiate the present perfect from the simple past tense
Learn how to form passive voice Identify errors with passive verbs
Learn to eliminate redundancies in writing Learn how to make setences more concise
Learn when to use "a," "an" Learn when to use "the"
Identify when prepositions have been ommitted Study a list of prepositions/phrases useful for speaking and writing
Learn basic subject-verb agreement rules Identify subject-verb agreement problems in writing
Learn word orders of adjectives and adverbs Learn common endings with adjectives and adverbs Identify errors with adjectives and adverbs in writing
Learn form and function of gerunds Learn form and function of infinitives Learn how verbs of emotions, verbs of completion/incompletion, and verbs of remembering can be affected by the choice or infinitives or gerunds Learn which verbs usually require infinitives Learn which verbs usually require gerunds Learn which verbs take infinitives or gerunds Learn which nouns can take infinitives as complements Learn which adjectives take infinitive complements
Learn to identify and correct commas splices in writing Learn to identify and correct run-on sentences in wriiting Learn to identify and correct fragments in writing
Learn why sentence variety is important in writing Learn sentence variety with respect to simple, compound, and complex sentences Learn sentence variety with respect to subject-verb inversions Learn connections between sentence variety and conciseness in writing
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By taking the 25 question diagnostic pre-test, you will be able to pinpoint your grammar weaknesses. It is recommended that you spend extra time on those areas of the course indicated by the diagnostic test. Furthermore, upon completion of the course, you will take a 25 question post-test which will help you to see if you have mastered the course material. In addition, you will take two 25 question practice tests; these may be taken during the course to assess your achievement or at the end of the course to check your final mastery. Your goal is to have a 90% mastery on the post-test and practice tests.
The pretest, post test, and practice tests are divided into two parts: structure items in which you choose which answer best completes the sentence and error identification items in which you identify which answer needs to be rewritten in order for the setence to be correct.
Upon successful completion of this course, you will understand:
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