Product Details

• Format: Color, NTSC
• Language: English
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Cerebellum Corp
• VHS Release Date: July 10, 2001
• Run Time: 30 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00005B7ZU
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #299,680 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

Welcome to STANDARD DEVIANTS TV, where our modern approach to learning is anything but standard. Our fast-paced, fresh shows are so smart, crazy and fun, you’ll actually forget you’re learning! Take your writing to the next level with Grammar Pitfalls! We'll examine the most common grammatical errors, from run-on sentences to ending a sentence with a preposition. Tune in today and jump-start your brain. Be a Deviant – a Standard Deviant!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Explains some grammar problems, but raises others, March 10, 2003

By 

Jeffrey Leeper "kem2070" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Standard Deviants TV - Grammar Pitfalls (Learn English Grammar) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I am teaching a grammar course and looking for another explanation of common grammar problems to recommend to my students. After I found this in a video search, I grabbed a copy to see if this would do. Although this is easy to understand, defines terms, and gives examples, I found that other errors crept in which would likely distract some students from following the explanations.

This particular tape discusses subject-verb agreement, fragments, comma splices, run-on sentences, tense shifts, vague pronoun reference, and faulty parallels. Also, it discusses some errors that are acceptable in some forms of writing. Examples here are split infinitives, contractions, and sentences ending with a preposition.

One of the errors I found is the use of single quotes, which are used in American English within double quotes. Knowing my classes, they would pick up on this discrepancy right away. Another of the errors was in correcting a comma splice. The video mentions using a coordinating conjunction, but in the example, the comma is dropped. This would also attract my students' attention.

The video is a mixture of computer animation, skits, and explanation. I think the explanations are great, but you may want to use all of them since I believe each video builds on the others. If nothing else, students will get some good information and can use the errors for discussion points in class.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh air, March 25, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Standard Deviants TV - Grammar Pitfalls (Learn English Grammar) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I have never seen a presentation on grammar like this. These guys are teachers that enfuse subjects with lots of fun, interesting devices to help you relax and learn the subject.

I would recommend this to any parent with a student struggling in grammar. I've since purchased many others for my kids.