English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
Today is Veterans Day, a day of remembrance. We pause today to honor, acknowledge, and thank all the people in the armed forces of the United States – those presently serving our country, and those who have served in the… Read more214. Highlight on Writing – Veterans Day
Section A: Read each group of words. If the words tell a complete thought with a subject doing something, write SENTENCE. If the words do not tell a complete thought, write FRAGMENT.1. Over the roof of the house. 2. The… Read more210. Practice Simple Sentences
We know that a simple sentence is one complete thought. A period should go at the end of the complete thought. When a writer uses a comma between two complete thoughts, we end up with a run-on sentence. Here are… Read more208. Avoid Run-On Sentences and the Comma Splice
When you begin a sentence with the word unless, you are writing a subordinate clause. You will need to add an independent clause to complete your complex sentence. Until you have decided on a colorUntil we rake the lawnUntil the… Read more222. Complex Sentences Using Until and Unless
Section A: A simple sentence has only one main idea. A compound sentence is two simple sentences joined with a comma and conjunction. Decide if each sentence below is simple or compound.1. Yesterday the track team ran laps around the… Read more215. Practice Using the Conjunction And
We know that compound means having two or more parts. We talked last week about a compound subject or a compound verb in a simple sentence. Compound Subject in a simple sentence: Mom and Dad went out for dinner. In… Read more211. The Compound Sentence
We talked yesterday about a grammar error called a comma splice. It is a mistake to use a comma between two simple sentences. Each simple sentence is a complete thought and must end with a period. Comma splice error (run-on… Read more209. Use Comma and FANBOYS to Avoid a Run-On Sentence
Section A: Read each sentence below. Decide – is it a complex sentence or not?1. I bought a cake mix at the store.2. If you read the directions, it will tell you how to bake the cake. 3. Since you… Read more220. Practice Complex Sentences
There is sometimes confusion about when to use a comma with the conjunction and. Here is a simple rule: use ,and whenever you could have used a period. Let me show you what I mean. John plays baseball, and his… Read more213. Fixing Mistakes with the Comma
Section A: Decide if each sentence below is a complete sentence or not complete. Write COMPLETE or NOT.1. Unless we shop today, we won’t have food for the weekend.2. Whenever I go to the grocery store.3. Whenever it snows, I… Read more225. More Practice with Complex Sentences