Unit 1 Active Reader
Grammar Punctuation Usage Lens
Page 1
The United States has been minting the one-cent piece since 1793.
Every sentence needs at least one subject and one verb. The subject of a sentence is who or what is doing the action and the verb is the word or words describing that action.
In this sentence, The United States is the subject because the sentence is about something or someone minting the one-cent piece since 1793. The verb in the sentence, has been, is a helping verb that works with minting to form the precise description of the action, which is has been minting.
Let’s look at the subjects and verbs in the sentences in the rest of this paragraph:
“Back then, a penny or two would buy a meal, a dress, even a place to sleep for a night.”
“a penny or two” (the subject: who or what the sentence is about)
“would buy” (the verb: what the subject is doing)
“In recent years, Congress has tried and failed to retire the coin several times, but the debate continues.”
This sentence has two subjects and multiple verbs.
“Congress” (the first subject)
“has tried” and (has) “failed to retire” (first verbs both relating to the first subject)
“the debate” (the second subject)
“continues” (the second verb)
since 2006
Prepositions are words that provide more information about the subject and other nouns in a sentence. They can also provide more information about verbs and adjectives. They form phrases that help describe things more accurately, such as clarifying where something is located or when something happened.
The prepositional phrase since 2006 is made up of the preposition since and the date, 2006. It provides the exact year when it started costing the United States more than one cent to make a penny.
Today, a penny doesn't even pay for a single stick of gum.
End Punctuation. End Punctuation? End Punctuation!
It's important to pay attention to end punctuation. Proper end punctuation helps readers know how to interpret each particular sentence and also indicates when statements end.
This sentence ends with a period (.), which is the most common end punctuation mark. Imagine how the sentence would read if it ended with a question mark (?). Instead of being a statement of fact, it becomes the voice of someone questioning that very fact.
U.S.
End Punctuation. End Punctuation? End Punctuation!
It's important to pay attention to end punctuation. Proper end punctuation helps readers know how to interpret each particular sentence and also indicates when statements end.
Even though periods (.) are the most common end punctuation mark, they are not always used for end punctuation. They are also used in abbreviations, such as here, and other punctuation marks, such as the ellipses (. . .).
Page 2
The time it takes to dig the coins from pockets and cash registers, count them out, and then drag them to banks or coin machines to exchange for dollar bills is time taken from doing other things.
Every sentence needs at least one subject and one verb. The subject of a sentence is who or what is doing the action and the verb is the word or words describing that action.
This sentence has multiple verbs. Even the subject of the sentence contains a verb: The time it takes. Verbs can take on many forms, but the main one needed for a complete sentence is a verb that shows the subject of the sentence doing or being something.
Once you find the verb that describes the subject doing or being something, you can check if you’re correct by removing all of the phrases between the subject and the verb to see if the sentence still makes sense.
The time it takes . . . is time taken from doing other things.
—
End Punctuation. End Punctuation? End Punctuation!
It's important to pay attention to end punctuation. Proper end punctuation helps readers know how to interpret each particular sentence and also indicates when statements end.
The dash (—) is not considered end punctuation even though in this case it separates two complete sentences. Notice how the second sentence does not begin with a capital letter. This is a clear sign that a new sentence has not officially started.
Many pennies don't even circulate, but instead lie ignored on sidewalks, in dusty corners, or tossed into jars.
Prepositions are words that provide more information about the subject and other nouns in a sentence. They can also provide more information about verbs and adjectives. They form phrases that help describe things more accurately, such as clarifying where something is located or when something happened.
This series of prepositional phrases describes many of the places where pennies lie ignored:
on sidewalks
in dusty corners
into jars
Page 3
On the other side of the debate, there are sentimental reasons to keep the penny.
Every sentence needs at least one subject and one verb. The subject of a sentence is who or what is doing the action and the verb is the word or words describing that action.
In this sentence, the subject comes after the verb.
“ . . there are sentimental reasons to keep the penny.”
This is often the case when the sentence uses there are or there is.
They are woven deep into our culture, from childhood memories of penny collections, piggy banks, and wishing wells to the comforting familiarity of proverbs like "a penny saved is a penny earned."
End Punctuation. End Punctuation? End Punctuation!
It's important to pay attention to end punctuation. Proper end punctuation helps readers know how to interpret each particular sentence and also indicates when statements end.
End punctuation marks typically appear inside of the quotation marks. This lets the reader know that both the sentence and quote are complete.
the Treasury will need to make more of the next smallest coin.
Prepositions are words that provide more information about the subject and other nouns in a sentence. They can also provide more information about verbs and adjectives. They form phrases that help describe things more accurately, such as clarifying where something is located or when something happened.
Some prepositions have little to do with where something is or when it happened; instead, they simply add more information to the sentence.
Of is one of these types of prepositions, as seen in this sentence where it creates a phrase explaining what the Treasury will need to make more of.
Page 4
?
End Punctuation. End Punctuation? End Punctuation!
It's important to pay attention to end punctuation. Proper end punctuation helps readers know how to interpret each particular sentence and also indicates when statements end.
The question mark (?) tells the reader that the sentence poses a question and follows the same rules as the period (.) or the exclamation point (!).
Those who want to keep the penny worry that instead of rounding to the nearest nickel, businesses will round up to the next nickel.
Every sentence needs at least one subject and one verb. The subject of a sentence is who or what is doing the action and the verb is the word or words describing that action.
Some verbs act as helping verbs to clarify what is happening. Helping verbs provide the tense in the sentence as well as clarify the precise action.
In this case, the main verb is worry and a helping verb, will, tells the reader that the action described at the end of the sentence happens in the future.
just as many prices will be dropped as raised.
Prepositions are words that provide more information about the subject and other nouns in a sentence. They form phrases that help describe things more accurately, such as clarifying where something is located or when something happened.
Some prepositions have little to do with where something is or when it happened; instead, they simply add more information to the sentence.
As is one of these types of prepositions, as seen in this sentence where it creates a phrase telling us how many prices will drop and how many will raise.