English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
We often talk about clauses and phrases in sentences, but you may be wondering about the difference between the two. It’s really a very simple difference: a clause is a groups of words with a verb in it; a phrase… Read more237. The Difference Between Clauses and Phrases
An appositive phrase is a group of words that gives more information about a noun. The appositive comes right after the noun that it is describing. Look at this example:Bob, my next door neighbor, loaned me his mower. The phrase… Read more394. Using the Comma with an Appositive Phrase
A clause is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb. An independent clause tells about one thing happening. We learned last week that one independent clause makes a simple sentence. Two independent clauses joined by a… Read more536. Dependent and Independent Clauses
A subordinate clause is the same thing as a dependent clause. We call it a subordinate clause because it is not as important as the independent clause. We call it a dependent clause because it is dependent on the independent… Read more537. A Subordinate Clause is a Dependent Clause
A semicolon is a piece of punctuation that looks like a period stacked on top of a comma (;). A semicolon is not stop punctuation because it does not come at the end of a sentence. A semicolon is always… Read more646. The Semicolon
A semicolon is used between two complete thoughts.Today is Tuesday; we have softball this evening. Instead of the semicolon between the two complete thoughts, you can also use a comma and a coordinating conjunction (one of the FANBOYS). Today is… Read more647. Semicolon in Place of Comma FANBOYS
We usually use a comma between items in a list. I am friends with Tom, Cathy, and Marie. A comma was needed after each item in this list. When we write a list of items, and those items already have… Read more649. Using a Semicolon with a List
A colon is a piece of punctuation that looks like two dots stacked on top of each other (:). A colon can be used to alert the reader to the fact that a list is coming. The words before the… Read more651. Use the Colon with a List
We use a colon between the hour and the minutes when writing time. 2:13 two-thirteen4:47 four forty-seven6:00 six o’clock When writing time, a colon separates the hour from the minutes. ▶Now you try it. Place a colon where it should… Read more652. Use a Colon When Writing Time
A colon is used in math to show a ratio. A ratio is a comparison of the value of two numbers. Here is an example of a ratio: Our team has a two to one chance of winning. Our team… Read more653. Using the Colon with a Ratio