English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
The verb sit is used when talking about a person or animal doing the action on their own.I will sit on the sofa.My students sit in their desks during class.My dog likes to sit on the front porch. In each… Read more1092. Confusing Verbs – sit, set
The verb rise is used when the subject does the action. A person or an animal can rise.The dog will rise from the floor when a visitor appears.The dough needs to rise before we can bake the bread. I like… Read more1093. Confusing Verbs – rise, raise
A compound sentence is made up of two simple sentences – two complete thoughts. Those two thoughts are joined by a comma and a conjunction. There are seven conjunctions in the English language: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so…. Read more1112. Using the Comma – in a Compound Sentence
A compound sentence is made up of two simple sentences joined together by a comma and a conjunction. There are seven conjunctions in the English language: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. The first letter of each of those… Read more1114. Compound Sentences – Using the FANBOYS
A complex sentence combines an independent clause and a subordinate clause. An independent clause is a simple sentence that stands all by itself. A subordinate clause cannot stand alone; it must always be joined to an independent clause. Independent clause:… Read more1116. Using the Comma – in a Complex Sentence
A subordinate clause always begins with a subordinating conjunction – also known as a subordinate clause word. Here are some common subordinating conjunctions: if, when, before, after, because When you begin a sentence with one of these words, you are… Read more1117. Writing a Complex Sentence using Subordinate Clause Words
A complex sentence joins a subordinate clause and an independent clause. A subordinate clause always begins with a subordinating conjunction. When you being a sentence with a subordinating conjunction, you must put a comma after the subordinate clause. Here are… Read more1118. Complex Sentence – more subordinating conjunctions
When a complex sentence begins with a subordinate clause, the clause must be followed by a comma.When the rain stops, we will have recess. For variety, we can also begin a complex sentence with the independent clause, followed by the… Read more1119. Complex Sentence Without a Comma
The semicolon is used just like a period – to show that you have completed a thought. The only difference between a period and and semicolon is that a period comes at the end of a sentence, and a semicolon… Read more1124. Stop Punctuation – the Semicolon
When notating time, we put a colon between the hour and the minutes.School begins at 8:00.I’ll pick you up with the car at 7:45. The football game tonight begins at 6:00. Use a colon when writing time. It’s your turn…. Read more1132. Using the Colon when Writing Time