Effective writers break the writing task down into steps to tackle one at a time. They allow a certain amount of room for messiness and mistakes in the early stages of writing but attempt to create a polished finished product in the end. KEEP IN MIND . . . If your writing process varies from …
Sometimes when you read a text, you come across an unfamiliar word. Instead of skipping the word and reading on, it is important to figure out what that word means so you can better understand the text. There are different strategies you can use to determine the meaning of unfamiliar words. This lesson will cover …
A root word is the most basic part of a word. You can create new words by: adding a prefix, a group of letters placed before the root word; or a suffix, a group of letters placed at the end of a root word. In this lesson you will learn about root words, prefixes, suffixes, …
In English, there is formal language that is used most often in writing, and informal language that is most often used in speaking, but there are situations where one is more appropriate than the other. This lesson will cover differentiating contexts for (1) formal language and (2) informal language. Formal Language Formal language is often …
There are four types of clauses that are used to create sentences. Sentences with several clauses, and different types of clauses, are considered complex. This lesson will cover (1) independent clauses, (2) dependent clauses and subordinate clauses, and (3) coordinate clauses. Independent Clause An independent clause is a simple sentence. It has a subject, a …
Sentences are a combination of words that communicate a complete thought. Sentences can be written in many ways to signal different relationships among ideas. This lesson will cover (1) simple sentences (2) compound sentences (3) complex sentences (4) parallel structure. Simple Sentences A simple sentence is a group of words that make up a complete …
Every sentence must include a subject and a verb. The subject tells who or what, and the verb describes an action or condition. Subject and verb agree in number and person. Grammatically, the part of the sentence with the verb is called the predicate. Roles of Subject and Verb A complete sentence includes a subject …
A verb is a word that describes a physical or mental action or a state of being. This lesson will cover the role of verbs in sentences, verb forms and tenses, and helping verbs. Part I Part II The Role of Verbs in Sentences A verb describes an action or a state of being. A complete sentence must have at …
A conjunction is a connector word; it connects words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence. A preposition is a relationship word; it shows the relationship between two nearby words. Keep in Mind… A clause is a phrase that has a subject and a verb. Some clauses are independent. An independent clause can stand alone. Some clauses are dependent. A dependent clause …
An adjective is a word that describes a noun or a pronoun. An adverb is a word that describes a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. Adjectives Adverbs Adjectives An adjective describes, modifies, or tells us more about a noun or a pronoun. Colors, numbers, and descriptive words such as healthy, good, and sharp are adjectives. KEEP IN MIND… Adjectives typically come before the noun in …
