English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
In the last post, we learned about avoiding the run-on sentence. A run-on sentence happens when we run two complete thoughts together. It is important to keep each thought separate from another. Sometimes we think that we can avoid a… Read more13. Avoid the Comma Splice in Run-on Sentences
Let’s talk about why a sentence gets labeled a fragment. A fragment is a piece of something, so a sentence fragment is a piece of a sentence. A true sentence is a complete thought. With a sentence fragment, the thought… Read more11. The Sentence Fragment
A complex sentence joins an independent clause and a subordinate clause. The subordinate clause begins with a subordinate clause word (subordinating conjunction). Some Subordinating Conjunctions: after, although, because, before, if, since, unless, until, when, where, while, who A subordinate clause… Read more7. Commas in a Complex Sentence
We learned that a compound sentence is two complete thoughts joined together. A complex sentence is also two thoughts joined together, but the two thoughts are not equal. One thought is an independent clause. The other thought is a subordinate… Read more6. The Complex Sentence
A simple sentence is one complete thought. A compound sentence is two simple sentences joined together with a comma, FANBOYS or a semicolon. Section A – Read each sentence. Is the sentence simple or compound? Write S for simple. Write… Read more5. Practice Simple and Compound Sentences
We can make a compound sentence by joining two simple sentences with comma, and. Here are two simple sentences: I play volleyball. Anna plays basketball. Join these two simple sentences with a comma, and. I play volleyball, and Anna plays… Read more4. Compound Sentence – or not? When to Use a Comma
The word fragment means a piece of something that is broken, such as a fragment of glass from a broken mirror. A sentence fragment is a broken piece of sentence or a part of a sentence. It is important to… Read more231. Subordinate Clause Sentence Fragments
In our English language, several words are very similar and are often confused. One often-confused pair of words is they’re and their. It helps to remember that they’re is a contraction. They’re is made up of two words: they and… Read more366. Common Error: They’re vs. Their
The word you’re is a contraction. A contraction is formed by bumping two words together to make one word. A contraction always has an apostrophe (‘) to show where letters have been taken out. The contraction you’re is formed by… Read more367. You’re vs. Your
The words we’re is a contraction. The words we are have been bumped together to make one word. The apostrophe (‘) takes the place of the missing letter a. Use we’re anytime you could also use we are.We are having… Read more368. We’re vs. Were