English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
When we use a word formed from a verb as a describing word, we call it a participle. A participial phrase is a group of words used to describe a noun. We often use a participial phrase at the beginning… Read more393. Use a Comma after an Introductory Participial Phrase
When you describe a noun with multiple adjectives, you need a comma between the adjectives. Look at these sentence examples:The Amazon driver delivered a big, heavy box to our front door. The word box is described with two adjectives: big… Read more387. Use a Comma Between Two Adjectives
We use a comma to separate items in a list. I bought lemons, sugar, cookies, and ice. This sentence says that I bought four items. A comma goes in between each of the items to keep them separate. If we… Read more384. Using the Comma in a List
A complex sentence is made up of two clauses: an independent clause and a subordinate clause. Today we will practice writing complex sentences with the subordinate clause words while, when, whenever, unless and until. Here is a complex sentence beginning… Read more228. Punctuating Complex Sentences
The conjunction and is one of the FANBOYS. We use and to join two simple sentences into a compound sentence. A compound sentence has two complete thoughts. Bob is writing a story, and Mary is drawing a picture. Do you… Read more212. Using the Conjunction And
Today we will talk about using italics for the names of certain means of transportation. 1- We always italicize the name of ships. The Titanic sank on its tragic maiden voyage from Europe to the United States. The USS Arizona… Read more188. Italicize the Names of Certain Vehicles
This week’s topic is italics – a request from one of our regular readers. You can type in italics by clicking on the slanted I at the top of your word processing page. Here are three of the many uses… Read more186. Italics: Book Titles, Newspapers, Magazines
Section A: Insert dashes into these sentences.1. Some people my sister, for example are hard to understand.2. The two guys down the hall Jeff and Bill started a new company.3. I heard a noise it was really loud up in… Read more175. Practice Dash, Parentheses, and Quotation Marks
Section A: In each sentence below, find the two words that need a hyphen. Write the new hyphenated word. One sentence does not get a hyphen.1. My cousin has twenty three chickens in his backyard coop.2. His home sits on… Read more170. Practice With Hyphenated Words
When you are writing the words that someone speaks, you must put quotation marks around the words. Quotation marks always come in pairs, and they look like this: ” “. We put one set of quotation marks before the start… Read more417. Use Quotation Marks Around Spoken Words