English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
We can use italics to emphasize certain words in our writing. Look at this example:At the party last night, I saw Mary with her boyfriend. By italicizing the word boyfriend, the writer calls attention to the word. The boyfriend must… Read more424. Use Italics to Show Emphasis in Your Writing
Proper nouns are different from common nouns in several ways.First of all, proper nouns are always capitalized. Common nouns are never capitalized.Secondly, proper nouns are specific names for some persons, places, and things. Thirdly, proper nouns are never ideas –… Read more254. Proper Nouns
Progressive tense shows ongoing action. With past progressive tense, the ongoing action happens in the past – any time before right now. We use two helping verbs – was and were – to show past progressive tense. We also add… Read more298. Action Verbs with Past Progressive Tense
Section A: Write the words in each sentence that should be in italics.1. We went to the Opera House to see a performance of West Side Story.2. The Chicago Ballet Company is performing The Nutcracker in December.3. Last summer, I… Read more425. Practice With Italics
Section A: Find the common nouns in each sentence. Each sentence has more than one common noun.1. The fireman drove his truck to the station.2. My dog chased a cat up the tree.3. I read a book about three men… Read more255. Practice With Common and Proper Nouns
Use the present tense verb lie to talk about someone doing something themselves. I lie on the couch to watch television.I will lie on the bed and rest.My dog lies on the rug by the window. The verb lie takes… Read more426. Using the Verbs Lie and Lay
Each sentence must have a subject. The subject of a sentence is the person or thing that the sentence is about. The subject of a sentence is usually doing something. The dog chewed on a bone.In this sentence, the subject… Read more469. Sentences with More than One Subject
Linking verbs show existence, not action, and they link the subject to another name for the subject. Here are two past tense linking verbs: was and were Use was with subjects that are singular – one person.I was a good… Read more299. Past Tense Linking Verbs
Section A: Sentence or fragment? Write S for sentence and F for fragment.1. Sitting on the back porch.2. The three dogs of my brother’s friend.3. Mary and Jane walked to the park.4. The large dog broke his leash.5. After watching… Read more470. Practice with Sentence Subjects