Academic Writing

Grammar and usage

8 main parts of speech: noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, adjectives, conjunctions, interjections, preposition

Noun – names a person, place, thing, or idea. (dog, freedom)

Pronoun – replaces a noun. (she, they, it)

Verb – shows action or state of being. (run, is)

Adjective – describes a noun. (blue, happy)

• Adverb – modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. (quickly, very)

• Preposition – shows relationship between words. (in, on, under)

• Conjunction – joins words or groups of words. (and, but, although)

• Interjection – shows emotion. (Wow! Oh no!)

Subject–Verb Agreement

• A singular subject takes a singular verb; a plural subject takes a plural verb.

  • The dog barks. (singular)

  • The dogs bark. (plural)

• Be careful with:

  • Collective nouns: The team is winning.

  • Indefinite pronouns: Everyone is here.

  • Subjects joined by “or/nor”: verb agrees with the nearest subject.

    • Neither the students nor the teacher was ready.

When subjects are joined by or or nor, the verb agrees with the subject that is closest to the verb. “Or” and “nor” mean you’re really talking about only one of the options, not both together.
So the number (singular/plural) is determined by whichever subject is right next to the verb. Tip: This is called the proximity rule. Always match the verb to the subject nearest the verb when you have “or” or “nor.”

Writing Complete Sentences

A complete sentence needs:

• Subject + Predicate (and expresses a complete thought).

• Avoid fragments: Because I was late. (incomplete)

• Avoid run-ons: I went to the store I bought bread. (incorrect)

• Correct run-on: I went to the store, and I bought bread.

Types of Clauses

• Independent clause: can stand alone. She reads every night.

• Dependent (subordinate) clause: cannot stand alone. Because she loves stories.

• Adjective clause: describes a noun. The book that I borrowed is exciting.

• Adverb clause: acts like an adverb. I’ll call you when I arrive.

• Noun clause: acts like a noun. I believe that she is honest.

Verb Tense

Shows time of action:

• Present: I write.

• Past: I wrote.

• Future: I will write.

• Present perfect: I have written.

• Past perfect: I had written.

• Future perfect: I will have written.

Be consistent with tense in a paragraph unless there is a clear reason to shift.