English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
We sometimes abbreviate the names of the months. We take out some letters and add a period to make the names of the months shorter. Here are the common abbreviations for the names of the months of the year:January –… Read more248. Abbreviations for the Names of the Months
An abbreviation is a shortened – or abbreviated – word. We abbreviate certain words by removing a few of the letters and putting a period at the end of the shortened word to show that some of the word is… Read more246. Abbreviations
Section A: Label each sentence below. Write D for declarative; IN for interrogative; E for exclamatory; IM for imperative.1. What time is it?2. Lock the door when you leave.3. I found my keys in the snow.4. Where are you going?5…. Read more245. Practice With Sentences
An exclamatory sentence shows very strong emotion – usually excitement, fear, or anger.Use an exclamation point (!) to end an exclamatory sentence. These exclamatory sentences show excitement:I won the prize for best costume!Today is my birthday!Look at that! It’s a… Read more243. Exclamatory Sentences
Parallel lines are two lines always the same distance apart, like railroad tracks. Parallel structure in writing is a little different. We use parallel structure in a sentence when we list three phrases or three clauses evenly. If we wanted… Read more239. Highlight on Writing: Parallel Structure
A compound sentence is made up of two complete thoughts joined together with a coordinating conjunction. Each complete thought is a simple sentence, so two simple sentences make a compound sentence. Join two simple sentences with a comma and one… Read more233. Switching the Clauses in a Compound Sentence
We talked awhile back about using coordinating conjunctions to join two simple sentences. When you use a comma and one of the FANBOYS to join two simple sentences, you make a compound sentence. The word but is a coordinating conjunction;… Read more232. Comma with But; No Comma with Because
A complex sentence is made up of two clauses: an independent clause and a subordinate clause. Today we will practice writing complex sentences with the subordinate clause words while, when, whenever, unless and until. Here is a complex sentence beginning… Read more228. Punctuating Complex Sentences
We have been talking all week about abbreviations. An abbreviation is a shortened word. Usually we make an abbreviation by taking out some letters and putting a period at the end of the shortened word. A contraction is a different… Read more249. Contractions are Abbreviations
An abbreviation is a word that has been shortened by leaving out some of the letters. We sometimes abbreviate the names of the days of the week rather than write the complete name. To write abbreviations of the days of… Read more247. Abbreviations for Days of the Week