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Introduction

Welcome to Patient Griselda's Grammar Guide.    All members of the Meredith community are welcome to browse this site for assistance with grammar and usage rules.  Feel free to click on any of the topics listed above. We suggest that you begin with Parts and Elements, because it presents the building blocks of sentences.

You can browse this site at your own pace.   The tutorials will allow you to apply your knowledge and receive feedback. If you find yourself lost, scroll to the top of the page and click on the Griselda's Guide button.  You will then find yourself back at this page, which offers other topics to browse.  When you are finished using the site, exit with the File/Close command at the top of the screen.

Meet Griselda

Griselda is the heroine of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Clerk's Tale, one of the stories told by the pilgrims in The Canterbury Tales.   Griselda is a poor young woman living in an Italian village.  When the people of this village appeal to their ruler, the marquis, to marry, he selects the poor and humble Griselda as his wife.  In her much elevated position, Griselda wins the love and admiration of the people.  Yet, in spite of her sterling character, the marquis tests her loyalty and obedience by removing from her household, one by one, her son and daughter and then by sending her home, covered only by a thin slip, to her father's rustic hut.  After this series of tests prompts a response similar to that of the Bible's patient Job, Griselda finds her happiness restored.  You will want to read the tale to see exactly how this resolution comes about.  For the sake of this tutorial, it is important to remember that Griselda has infininite patience in explaining grammatical rules and presenting those subtle distinctions in usage that will help you to express yourself clearly and articulately.

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