English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
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
A complex sentence has two parts: a subordinate clause and an independent clause. The subordinate clause begins with a subordinating conjunction and must be joined to an independent clause. The word although is a subordinating conjunction. If you begin a… Read more221. Complex Sentences Using Although and Though
A complex sentence has two parts: a subordinate clause and an independent clause. The subordinate clause always begins with a subordinating conjunction. Let me show you what that means: The word when is a subordinating conjunction. Anytime you begin a… Read more216. Complex Sentences Using When and If
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 has two parts: a subordinate clause and an independent clause. The subordinate clause always begins with a subordinating conjunction.Today we’ll talk about two subordinating conjunctions that can begin a complex sentence: as and while. As I was… Read more217. Complex Sentences Using As and While
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
A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and a subordinate clause. It matters not whether you begin with the subordinate clause or the independent clause. The meaning of the sentence will remain the same. Here is a… Read more234. Reordering Clauses in a Complex Sentence
A complex sentence has two parts: a subordinate clause and an independent clause.The subordinate clause always begins with a subordinating conjunction. Let’s look at what that means. The word since is a subordinating conjunction. When you begin with the word… Read more218. Complex Sentences Using Since and Because
A complex sentence has two parts: a subordinate clause and an independent clause.The subordinate clause always begins with a subordinating conjunction.Here are two subordinating conjunctions that begin subordinate clauses: before and after. Anytime you begin a sentence with the word… Read more219. Complex Sentences Using Before and After
A compound sentence is two simple sentences joined together. A simple sentence looks like this:Bob rode his bike. This sentence is a simple sentence because it is about one person doing one thing. Here is another simple sentence: Mary rode… Read more396. Use a Comma in a Compound Sentence