English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
The names of special aircraft are italicized. The airplane Enola Gay dropped the first atomic bomb on Japan.The spacecraft Challenger exploded soon after liftoff. Name of ocean vessels are also italicized. The U.S.S. battleship Arizona was attacked in Pearl Harbor… Read more664. Use Italics for Aircraft and Ocean Vessels
A direct object is a word in a sentence that directly receives the action in the sentence. A direct object is always a noun. Look at these sentences. Each subject of the sentence does an action that gets transferred to… Read more702. Use a Noun as an Object – Direct Object
An indirect object is always a noun. An indirect object receives action indirectly. Sentences that already have a direct object can sometimes also have an indirect object. Direct object sentence: Mom baked a cake. The direct object is cake. Same… Read more703. Use a Noun as an Object – Indirect Object
An action verb shows action. Some action verbs transfer action to an object. If a verb transfers action to a direct object, that sentence might also have an indirect object. Here are sentences with a direct object. Bob threw the… Read more813. Action Verbs – Transitive with an Indirect Object
The word breath is a noun. Take a deep breath.I can’t catch my breath today.Eat a mint to make your breath smell better. The word breathe is a verb. Breathe deeply to fell calmer.Humans cannot breathe under water.It’s best to… Read more861. Confusing Words – breath and breathe
The word affect is a verb. Use affect to show action.The rain will affect our game today.Don’t let your anger affect the outcome of the project. Repeated loud noises may affect your hearing. The word effect is a noun. Use… Read more862. Confusing Words – affect/effect
The word advise is a verb. It shows action. I would advise you to pay attention in class.The doctor will always advise his patients to eat well.Most teachers advise their students to study for tests. In each sentence, the word… Read more863. Confusing Words – advise/advice
The word passed is a verb. Passed is the past tense form of pass.I will pass the school on my way home.Last night, we passed the school on our way home. The words pass and passed show action. Pass and… Read more864. Confusing Words – passed/past
We use a certain slanted letter form called italics when writing the title of a book. Our teacher made us read The Grapes of Wrath to learn about the Great Depression. My favorite book is To Kill a Mockingbird by… Read more906. Using Italics with Book Titles
Magazines are similar to books in that they are major pieces of written work. Always italicize the name of a magazine. I enjoy the magazine Country Home.My dad always read Time magazine.There are always good jokes in Reader’s Digest magazine.Notice… Read more907. Use Italics for Magazine Titles