Praxis Core Writing | Grammar Tips | Kathleen Jasper
TLDRKathleen Jasper, in her engaging video, guides viewers through the intricacies of grammar, particularly focusing on common pitfalls found in the Praxis Core Grammar exam. She emphasizes the importance of understanding possessive and contraction forms, such as 'it's' versus 'its,' and the correct use of pronouns in relation to their antecedents. Jasper also addresses the challenge of identifying errors in sentences with prepositional phrases and the use of subordinating conjunctions like 'therefore,' which often require a semicolon for proper punctuation. She advises on the correct comparison structures using 'than' and the nuances of collective nouns. Throughout the video, she provides clear explanations and strategies for tackling grammar questions, making it an invaluable resource for those preparing for grammar exams or looking to improve their language skills.
Takeaways
- 📚 Always remember that option A in Praxis Core Grammar questions is typically 'no change', which is a restatement of the underlined sentence part.
- ✍️ Understand the difference between 'it's' (contraction for 'it is') and 'its' (possessive, no apostrophe) to avoid common mistakes.
- 🔍 When you see the word 'there', slow down and check the antecedent to ensure pronoun-antecedent agreement.
- 🚫 Be cautious of 'sneaky prepositional phrases' which can trick you into incorrect subject-verb agreement.
- ❌ Don’t be afraid to select 'no error' (option A) when reviewing grammar test questions; it’s often correct.
- 🔄 Learn to identify and correct run-on sentences by using appropriate punctuation such as semicolons or coordinating conjunctions combined with commas.
- 🔑 Use the mnemonic 'than' to remember to take comparison sentences all the way out to the end for clarity.
- 🤔 Be aware of collective nouns like 'university' which are singular and require singular pronouns like 'it'.
- 📉 Avoid redundant phrases and unnecessary wordiness; opt for concise and clear expression.
- 👵 Kathleen Jasper's grandmother's advice, 'wrong wrong wrong,' emphasizes the importance of accuracy in grammar.
- 📈 For effective grammar learning, use the new Praxis Core second edition book which includes more practice and covers areas based on feedback.
Q & A
What is the main purpose of the video?
-The main purpose of the video is to teach grammar concepts that are often challenging to spot on exams, specifically focusing on the Praxis Core Grammar section.
What is the first grammar concept discussed in the video?
-The first grammar concept discussed is the difference between 'it's' (contraction for 'it is') and 'its' (possessive).
Why is it important to understand pronoun-antecedent agreement?
-Understanding pronoun-antecedent agreement is important because it ensures that the pronoun correctly refers to its antecedent, maintaining grammatical accuracy and clarity in sentences.
What is a 'sneaky prepositional phrase'?
-A 'sneaky prepositional phrase' is a grammatical structure often used in tests to trick examinees into incorrect subject-verb agreement, making them assume the phrase's noun is the subject when it's actually part of a modifying phrase.
How can you identify if a sentence has two independent clauses?
-You can identify two independent clauses by checking if each clause can stand alone as a complete sentence with a subject and predicate.
What is the correct punctuation to use when connecting two independent clauses with a subordinating conjunction like 'therefore'?
-When connecting two independent clauses with a subordinating conjunction like 'therefore', you should use a semicolon before the conjunction.
Why is 'me' incorrect in the sentence 'my brother is shorter than me'?
-'Me' is incorrect because 'than' is used for comparisons, and in comparisons, the pronoun should be in the subjective case, which is 'I', not the objective case 'me'.
What is a collective noun and how does it affect pronoun-antecedent agreement?
-A collective noun is a single entity that represents a group, like 'team' or 'university'. It can affect pronoun-antecedent agreement because even though the group is plural, the collective noun itself is singular, requiring a singular pronoun.
What is the correct answer choice for the sentence 'The university decided to reduce the number of academic programs because they could no longer monitor them'?
-The correct answer choice is B, which changes 'they' to 'it' to match the singular antecedent 'the university'.
Why is it a bad idea to only use a comma to separate two independent clauses in a sentence?
-Using only a comma to separate two independent clauses can result in a run-on sentence or a comma splice, both of which are grammatical errors. A semicolon or a coordinating conjunction with a comma should be used instead.
What advice does Kathleen Jasper give for approaching grammar questions on an exam like the Praxis Core?
-Kathleen Jasper advises to be aware of common traps and tricks test makers use, such as sneaky prepositional phrases and pronoun-antecedent disagreements. She also emphasizes the importance of process of elimination and being open to the possibility that 'no error' could be the correct answer.
Outlines
😀 Understanding Praxis Core Grammar Exam Questions
Kathleen Jasper introduces a grammar lesson focusing on five challenging problems from the second edition of a Praxis Core grammar book. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing certain grammatical traps set by test makers and provides strategies to spot them in exam questions. The first question discussed involves the use of 'it's' and 'its' and the correct use of possessive pronouns in relation to the antecedent 'every student'.
😉 Identifying Errors in Subject-Verb Agreement
The second paragraph delves into subject-verb agreement, particularly with collective nouns and the use of 'there' as a possessive pronoun. Kathleen explains why option B is the correct answer for a question about university students attending orientation, correcting the antecedent to match the plural pronoun 'their.' She also discusses why options C, D, and E are incorrect, highlighting the importance of comma usage after introductory clauses.
🧐 Tackling Sneaky Prepositional Phrases
In the third paragraph, Kathleen addresses the concept of prepositional phrases and how they can trick test-takers into incorrect subject-verb agreement. She uses the example of 'a busload of tourists arrives' to illustrate that the subject is 'a busload,' not 'tourists.' Kathleen also explains why options B, C, D, and E are incorrect, emphasizing the need for subject-verb agreement when a prepositional phrase is present.
📝 Punctuating Independent Clauses Correctly
The fourth paragraph covers the use of punctuation to separate independent clauses, specifically with the use of subordinating conjunctions like 'therefore.' Kathleen clarifies that a comma alone is not sufficient to join two independent clauses and that a semicolon or a coordinating conjunction is required. She provides three ways to correct the punctuation in a given sentence and stresses the importance of identifying independent clauses.
🔍 Spotting Errors in Pronoun-Antecedent Agreement
The final paragraph discusses pronoun-antecedent agreement with collective nouns. Kathleen points out that 'the university' is a singular entity, even though it refers to a group, and thus the pronoun 'it' is appropriate. She also explains why options C, D, and E are incorrect due to issues like redundancy and improper pronoun usage. Kathleen concludes by inviting viewers to check out a new Praxis Core book and encouraging subscriptions to the channel.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Praxis Core Grammar
💡Pronoun Antecedent Agreement
💡Subject Verb Agreement
💡Subordinating Conjunction
💡Run-on Sentence
💡Introductory Clauses
💡Possessive Pronouns
💡Prepositional Phrase
💡Commas
💡Coordinating Conjunctions
💡Collective Nouns
Highlights
Kathleen Jasper introduces a grammar lesson focusing on Praxis Core Grammar, emphasizing the importance of understanding grammar for passing exams.
The first question discussed involves the use of 'it's' and 'its', highlighting the difference between the contraction and possessive forms.
Jasper explains that 'every student' is singular, not plural, and thus should be matched with the correct pronoun 'their' to avoid grammatical errors.
The importance of pronoun-antecedent agreement is stressed, with a detailed explanation on how to identify and correct such errors.
The concept of 'no change' in grammar questions is clarified, advising test-takers to recognize when a suggested correction is unnecessary.
Jasper discusses the use of commas with introductory clauses and the correct placement of commas in sentences.
The lesson covers the correct use of prepositional phrases and how they can affect subject-verb agreement.
The issue of subject-verb agreement is further explored with examples of common mistakes and how to avoid them.
Jasper provides insights on how to handle run-on sentences and the appropriate use of semicolons and coordinating conjunctions.
The use of subordinating conjunctions like 'therefore' and 'however' is explained, including the correct punctuation to use with them.
The lesson touches on the correct comparison structure when using 'than', emphasizing the need to extend the sentence to the end for clarity.
Jasper addresses the common error of using 'me' instead of 'I' in comparative sentences, providing a mnemonic to remember the correct usage.
The concept of collective nouns is introduced, with an example of how 'the university' should be treated as a singular entity.
The lesson concludes with a reminder of the importance of pronoun-antecedent agreement, especially with collective nouns.
Jasper promotes the new Praxis Core Second Edition book, highlighting the additional content based on feedback, including more math, grammar, writing prompts, and reading passages.
A call to action for viewers to subscribe to the channel and share it with friends and colleagues is made, emphasizing the value of the grammar lessons provided.
Transcripts
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