English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
The words after and before are often used as subordinating conjunctions. You can begin a complex sentence with either of these two words:Before we eat dinner, I have to fire up the grill.After the rain stops, we can go to… Read more887. When it’s not a Complex Sentence
A complex sentence contains a simple sentence and a subordinate clause. The subordinate clause must be attached to a simple sentence or it is a sentence fragment. Look at these examples of a subordinate clause written as a sentence. Each… Read more888. A Subordinate Clause without a Complete Clause is a Fragment
The word but is a coordination conjunction – one of the FANBOYS. Always use a comma before but when starting a second complete thought. Today is sunny, but tomorrow it will rain. I like milk, but my dad prefers soda.Two… Read more889. Comma before But – No Comma before Because
In writing, quotation marks (“) are placed on either side of spoken words. Quotation marks are always used as a pair. We place one set of quotation marks at the beginning of someone’s words, and we place a second set… Read more901. Using Quotation Marks with Speech