English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
The words whenever and wherever are subordinating conjunctions. If you begin a sentence with whenever or wherever, you are writing a subordinate clause. You must add a comma and an independent clause to make a complete sentence. Incomplete clauses with… Read more223. Complex Sentences Using Whenever and Wherever
A complex sentence combines a subordinate clause with an independent clause.The words after and before are subordinate clause words. We can use those words to begin a subordinate clause. Here is a complex sentence that begins with the subordinate clause… Read more226. Rearranging Complex Sentences
Today we will work again with complex sentences. The words since, because, and if are all subordinate clause words. Anytime we use a subordinate clause word, we are writing a complex sentence. When we begin with a subordinate clause word,… Read more227. More Rearranging of Complex Sentences
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
We’ve been practicing writing complex sentences, and we’ve talked about beginning complex sentences two different ways: with a subordinate clause or with an independent clause. It’s helpful to learn how to write sentences in different ways so that our writing… Read more229. Highlight on Writing: Using Varied Sentence Structure
Section A: This week we practiced working with complex sentences. Let’s see if you can recognize a complex sentence – a sentence with a subordinate clause word in it. For each sentence below, write Complex or NO. 1. I will… Read more230. Practice With Sentences
The word fragment means a piece of something that is broken, such as a fragment of glass from a broken mirror. A sentence fragment is a broken piece of sentence or a part of a sentence. It is important to… Read more231. Subordinate Clause Sentence Fragments
We talked awhile back about using coordinating conjunctions to join two simple sentences. When you use a comma and one of the FANBOYS to join two simple sentences, you make a compound sentence. The word but is a coordinating conjunction;… Read more232. Comma with But; No Comma with Because
A compound sentence is made up of two complete thoughts joined together with a coordinating conjunction. Each complete thought is a simple sentence, so two simple sentences make a compound sentence. Join two simple sentences with a comma and one… Read more233. Switching the Clauses in a Compound Sentence
A complex sentence is made up of an independent clause and a subordinate clause. It matters not whether you begin with the subordinate clause or the independent clause. The meaning of the sentence will remain the same. Here is a… Read more234. Reordering Clauses in a Complex Sentence