English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
You understand and can recognize simple, compound, and complex sentences. You know that you should use all three types of sentences to make your writing interesting. Let’s practice changing from one sentence type to another. In the exercise below, you… Read more15. Practice Writing Compound and Complex Sentences
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
It’s time for you to see if you can tell the difference between a simple sentence, a compound sentence, and a complex sentence. Section A– Read each sentence. Write S if it is a simple sentence. Write CD if it… Read more10. Practice Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences
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
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 contract means to shrink up or reduce to a smaller size.In English, a contraction is a word that has been shortened by making two words into one. Look at this sentence: They are not playing volleyball.We can push… Read more81. “Not” is an Adverb – A Look at Contractions
A contraction is a shortened version of two words that were bumped together. When two words get bumped together into one word, letters get knocked out and an apostrophe (‘) takes the place of the missing letters. We talked yesterday… Read more82. More Contractions
Yesterday we talked about contractions made with pronouns and helping verbs will, am, and are. Contractions can also be made with pronouns and the helping verbs have and has (present tense). I have = I’veyou have = you’vewe have =… Read more83. Contractions With Have and Had
Last week, we talked about contractions that can be confused with other words. Here are some more contractions that might be confused with other words. we’ve and weaveWe’ve is a contraction. We’ve is a shortened version of we have.Use we’ve… Read more86. More Confusing Contractions