Language and Grammar: Tell an Original Story

Teamwork Tale Work with a group to create a story. First, brainstorm an overall topic for the tale. Then, one person starts the story with a sentence or two. Each time someone stops, the next person continues the story to tell what happens next. Continue around the group several times until the story is finished. Use pronouns correctly.

The farmer had no idea how he would pay the rent.

Then he remembered the box he had hidden away so long ago!

Writing and Grammar: Write an Original Story

Study the Models When you write a story, make sure you talk about events in the order that they happened. Don’t confuse your reader by using the wrong form of words.

Not Ok

One day at the lake, my dog started acting strange. He kept nudging me with his nose and barking. Then him would run to the lake. Him did this over and over. Finally, me looked out in the water and saw a woman waving her arms. Her needed help. Us called 911 on my dad’s cell phone, and an emergency crew came immediately. Them saved her. Actually, my dog was the real hero that day!

This writer confuses the reader by not using the correct words.

Ok

One day at the lake, my dog started acting strange. He kept nudging me with his nose and barking. Then he would run to the lake. He did this over and over. Finally, I looked out in the water and saw a woman waving her arms. She needed help. I called 911 on my dad’s cell phone, and an emergency crew came immediately. They saved her. Actually, my dog was the real hero that day!

The writer uses the correct forms of words. The reader gets a clear idea.

Add Sentences Think of two sentences to add to the OK model above. Be sure to use the correct forms of words.

Illustration of the pen icon WRITE ON YOUR OWN Write about the story you helped to create in your group. Make sure the events are in order and that you use words correctly to avoid confusing your reader.

Remember

Use subject and object pronouns to make your writing more interesting, but make sure the meaning is clear.

  • • Use I, you, he, she, it, we, and they as the subject of a sentence.

  • • Use me, you, him, her, it, us, and them as the object of the verb.

  • • Note that you and it are the same in both forms.