English grammar explained in plain language simple enough to be understood.
A complex sentence has two parts: a subordinate clause and an independent clause. The subordinate clause begins with a subordinating conjunction and must be joined to an independent clause. The word although is a subordinating conjunction. If you begin a… Read more221. Complex Sentences Using Although and Though
Section A: Read each sentence below. Decide – is it a complex sentence or not?1. I bought a cake mix at the store.2. If you read the directions, it will tell you how to bake the cake. 3. Since you… Read more220. Practice Complex Sentences
Section A: A simple sentence has only one main idea. A compound sentence is two simple sentences joined with a comma and conjunction. Decide if each sentence below is simple or compound.1. Yesterday the track team ran laps around the… Read more215. Practice Using the Conjunction And
An exclamatory sentence shows very strong emotion – usually excitement, fear, or anger.Use an exclamation point (!) to end an exclamatory sentence. These exclamatory sentences show excitement:I won the prize for best costume!Today is my birthday!Look at that! It’s a… Read more243. Exclamatory Sentences
Parallel lines are two lines always the same distance apart, like railroad tracks. Parallel structure in writing is a little different. We use parallel structure in a sentence when we list three phrases or three clauses evenly. If we wanted… Read more239. Highlight on Writing: Parallel Structure
We know that a clause is a group of words that includes a subject and a verb. A phrase is a group of words without a verb. A clause has action. A phrase has no action. A prepositional phrase is… Read more238. A Phrase is Different from a Clause
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 adverb modifies a verb by telling more about the action. Be sure to put the adverb as close to the verb as possible. Sam walked to his room dejectedly. In this sentence, the adverb dejectedly is separated from the… Read more177. Mistakes with Using Adverbs