English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
All holiday names are proper nouns and must be capitalized.Father’s Day, Mother’s DayChristmas Day, New Year’s Day, HanukkahMemorial Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s DayHalloween, Easter, Valentine’s Day We have no school on Veteran’s Day.My grandparents will visit on Easter.On Halloween, my… Read more453. Names of Holidays are Proper Nouns
A common noun names a general place, but a proper noun names a specific place. Proper nouns are always capitalized. Common noun: parkProper nouns: Golden Gate Park, Central Park, Centennial Park Common noun: baseball fieldProper nouns: Busch Stadium, American Family… Read more449. Proper Nouns Name Specific Places
We use the articles – a, an, the – with common nouns. The article the can be used with all common nouns. Use the article an in front of nouns that begin with a vowel: a, e, i, o, uUse… Read more442. Using the Articles – A, An, The
The word on is a preposition. The words on me form a prepositional phrase. Always use the pronoun me (not I) with the preposition on. My little sister played a joke on me.My prom date pinned the corsage on me.The… Read more439.
These two words sound exactly alike, but their meanings are very different. The word past can be a noun, a preposition, or an adverb. When using the word as a noun, we talk about the past. The past becomes a… Read more434. Passed and Past
The word breath is a noun. Breath rhymes with death. We take a breath when we pull air into our lungs. We puff out a breath when we blow on birthday candles. Use the word breath when talking about a… Read more431. The Difference Between Breath and Breathe
Use a dash to set off a series of items when the sentence might be confusing otherwise.The three boys – Sam, John, and Bill – were eager to get to the beach.My four cousins – ranging in age from 13… Read more414. Using the Dash
Section A: Insert a colon into the proper place in each sentence below. Write NO if the sentence needs no comma.1. The movie starts at 815 tonight.2. I’m going to the show with my three best friends Jan, Laura, and… Read more410. Practice with the Colon
The little comma can sometimes cause big confusion for writers. People often throw a comma into their writing just because they think it must go in there somewhere. However, there are actual rules for when to use a comma. Your… Read more402. Highlight on Writing – 12 Places to Put a Comma
A subordinate clause is a group of words that shows action but cannot stand alone. When you begin a sentence with a subordinating conjunction, you are beginning your sentence with a subordinate clause. Here are five common subordinating conjunctions: after,… Read more399. Use a Comma After a Subordinate Clause