English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
Adjectives modify nouns. Yesterday we learned that adjectives tell the color or the size of a noun. Adjectives also tell the age of a noun. Here are some adjectives that tell age: old, new, young, ancient, middle-agedThe old man next… Read more504. Adjectives Give Details About Nouns
Last week we talked about contractions – words made from shortening two words into one.It is can be shortened into it’s.It is time for lunch. It’s time for lunch. The pronoun its is a possessive pronoun when it owns something…. Read more336. Contractions and Possessive Pronouns – it’s and its
A contraction is a word formed by pushing two words together. We make the contraction you’re by pushing together you are and taking out the a. The contraction you’re has an apostrophe where the a used to be. Anytime you… Read more337. Contractions and Possessive Pronouns – you’re and your
The contraction we’re is a shortened version of we are. We insert an apostrophe where the letter a has been taken out.We’re taking the train home tonight. We are taking the train home tonight.We’re the first school team to play… Read more338. Confusing Contractions – we’re
The word they’re is a contraction for the words they are. An apostrophe takes the place of the letter a. Bob and Mary announced they’re getting married. Bob and Mary announced they are getting married. My parents told me they… Read more339. Confusing Contractions – they’re
We use sentences to convey our thoughts. Sentences have several different purposes in communication. A declarative sentence makes a statement; it declares something to be true or in existence. We always end a declarative sentence with a period – the… Read more521. Sentence Purpose: The Declarative Sentence
We use an interrogative sentence when we ask a question. To help you remember the term interrogative, think about how police arrest a suspect and interrogate them – they ask questions. Always put a question mark (?) at the end… Read more522. Sentence Purpose: The Interrogative Sentence
An exclamatory sentence is a sentence that shows excitement. The verb exclaim means to say something with strong emotion and excitement, so that is why we call this an exclamatory sentence. Always use an exclamation point (!) at the end… Read more523. Sentence Purpose: The Exclamatory Sentence
The imperative sentence gives an order or a command. An imperative sentence always begins with a verb. The subject is understood to be the word you, the person being spoken to. Take this letter to the mailbox. (You) take this… Read more524. Sentence Purpose: The Imperative Sentence
A simple sentence is the most basic form of a sentence. A simple sentence is made up of one independent clause. The independent clause has one subject and one verb. One person or thing is doing one action. Look at… Read more526. The Simple Sentence