Throughout this website, you will find opportunities to explore the details and building blocks of English grammar and spelling. From the tiny preposition to the unwieldy dependent clause, each component has its moment in the spotlight and its use in … [Read more...]
Clauses: Independent
The independent clause includes a subject and a verb. The independent clause is the main idea of the sentence. It is not dependent on another clause for meaning and context. Avoid using the description that the independent clause can "stand by … [Read more...]
Appositives
A word, phrase or clause that means the same thing as (i.e., synonym) or further explains another noun (pronoun). Non-restrictive appositives are not essential to the meaning of the sentence. Restrictive appositives are essential to the meaning … [Read more...]
Phrases
A phrase is a group of related words that lacks both a subject and a verb. Because it lacks a subject and a predicate it cannot act as a sentence. A phrase typically functions as a single part of speech in a sentence (e.g., noun, adjective, … [Read more...]
Phrases: Infinitive
The infinitive phrase includes the infinitive and the object of the infinitive or any modifiers related to the infinitive. [In the following examples, the infinitive is bold and the infinitive phrase is underlined.] Even in New York, fans did … [Read more...]
Phrases: Gerund
The gerund phrase includes the gerund and the object of the gerund or any modifiers related to the gerund. [In the following examples, the gerund is bold and the gerund phrase is underlined.] Flying above the lake at this time of night seems a … [Read more...]
Phrases: Participial
The participial phrase includes the participle and the object of the participle or any words modified by or related to the participle. [In the following examples, the participle is bold and the participial phrase is underlined.] The car … [Read more...]
Phrases: Prepositional
The prepositional phrase includes the preposition and the object of the preposition as well as any modifiers related to either. A list of common prepositions: above across after* against among around at according … [Read more...]
Conjunctions: Subordinating
Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent (subordinate) clauses and join the dependent clause to the independent or main clause in a sentence. (A dependent clause has a subject and verb, but it depends on the independent clause for context and … [Read more...]
Nouns: Object of the Verbal
Verbals are forms of verbs used as other parts of speech such as nouns, adjectives or adverbs. In some cases a noun will follow the verbal and "receive" it. That noun is called the object of the verbal. As with other objects, it can be … [Read more...]
