What is a compound modifier?

A compound modifier is two or more words that act as a single adjective to modify a noun. Another term for this is “compound adjective.”

For example, in the sentence “The committee hired a well-known author to speak at the conference,” the compound modifier “well-known” describes the noun “author.”

Compound modifiers are often connected with a hyphen (e.g., “my eight-year-old daughter” or “self-cleaning oven”).

When you’re writing with compound modifiers, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid errors.

Sentence and word structure: Other interesting questions

What is a synonym for not only but also?: Since not only … but also is a correlative conjunction, there is no exact synonym. However, instead of using not only … but also, you could rewrite the sentence to use a conjunctive adverb such as “moreover” or “furthermore” instead.

Not only … but also synonym examples
He not only won the election but also won by a landslide.

He won the election; moreover, he won by a landslide.

He won the election; furthermore, he won by a landslide.

The QuillBot Paraphraser can help you rewrite sentences and find alternative ways to express your meaning.
Is it my family is or are?: We typically say and write family is (not family are) in American English, treating it as singular, like other collective nouns.

In British English, it is very common to use are with collective nouns (even in formal contexts) if the writer or speaker is thinking of the group as individuals rather than a single entity, (e.g., The family are all very health conscious). This use is not common in American English, but it is acceptable.

Knowing whether is or are is correct can be tricky. You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to check that the subject-verb agreement in your sentences is correct.
What is a contronym?: A contronym is a word that can also act as it’s own own antonym. Examples of contronyms include:

Cleave: to split in two or cling together

Dust: to cover with or to remove dust

Sanction: to approve or penalize

Fast: firmly fixed in place or moving rapidly

Overlook: to supervise or fail to see

Left: remaining or departed

Screen: to show or conceal

Trim: to add or reduce

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using contonyms correctly.
How do you find the subject of a sentence?: The subject is “what the sentence is about.”

If the sentence is in the active voice, then the subject of the sentence is the “doer” of the action described by the main verb.

For instance, in the sentence “Kate has to write her aunt a thank-you letter,” “Kate” is the subject (she is “doing” the writing).

If the sentence is in the passive voice, the subject is not the doer, it is the “recipient” of the action (or occasionally the thing being “transferred”).

For instance, if the information from the example above is expressed in the passive voice as “Kate’s aunt has to be written a thank-you letter,” the subject is “Kate’s aunt” (the recipient).

In the sentence “A thank-you letter has to be written to Kate’s aunt,” which is also in the passive voice, the subject is “a thank-you letter” (the thing being transferred).

Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? You can use it to check that the verbs in your sentences “agree with” the subjects.
How do you change passive voice to active voice?: To change a sentence from the passive voice into the active voice, identify the “doer” of the action and then make it the subject of the sentence.

For instance, in this passive sentence, “The play was written by Shakespeare,” the verb is “write,” and the “doer” is Shakespeare. So, the sentence with Shakespeare as the subject will begin with “Shakespeare wrote…” If we add the rest of the information, the full sentence in the active voice is “Shakespeare wrote the play.”

You can use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to rephrase sentences that are in the passive voice.
What is the difference between active and passive voice?: In the active voice, the subject of the sentence is the “doer” of the action (e.g., “He cooked the food”), but in the passive voice the subject is the “recipient” of this action (e.g., “The food was cooked by him”).

You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to identify uses of the passive voice in your writing.
Is an object complement a noun?: An object complement can be a noun or noun phrase, but it can also be an adjective or adjective phrase.

Object complements follow a direct object and describe or rename it. For example:

They appointed me president. [noun]

I consider her the perfect teacher. [noun phrase]

The chlorine turned my hair green. [adjective]

The critic found the book trite and predictable. [adjective phrase]

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you ensure you’re using object complements correctly.
What’s the difference between a subject complement and an object complement?: Both object complements and subject complements rename or describe a noun or pronoun.

Subject complements come after a linking verb and describe the subject of a sentence.

Object complements come after and describe a direct object.

Object complementsvs subject complements

Object complement examples Subject complement examples

That makes me sad. I am sad.

Let’s paint our nails blue. Our nails are blue.

The state elected her governor. She is the governor.

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you use subject and object complements correctly.
What are some either or examples?: Either … or is a correlative conjunction that can be used in a variety of ways in sentences. Some examples are:

Either my mom or my dad will give me a ride.

They said we could either sit in the balcony or stand near the stage.

Either pay attention, or leave.

I’ll take either a soda or a water.

The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using either … or correctly.
Is it neither nor or neither or?: The correct form of the correlative conjunction is neither … nor (e.g., “We have neither the capital nor the name recognition to expand into a new market”). “Or” is never used with “neither.”

A QuillBot Grammar Check can help ensure you’re using correlative conjunctions like “neither … nor” correctly.
What are some neither nor examples?: Some examples of sentences using neither … nor (a correlative conjunction) are:

The marketing campaign neither attracted new users nor increased sales.

Neither the actors nor the studios were satisfied with the result of the negotiations.

My date was neither charming nor intelligent.

Neither … nor is also used in some well-known expressions, such as:

That’s neither here nor there. Let’s focus on the main issue.

I’m going to follow my grandma’s advice: “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.”

I can neither confirm nor deny that I saw Talia at the soccer game on her sick day.

The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using “neither … nor” correctly.
Should I use either or or neither nor?: The choice between the correlative conjunctions either … or and neither … nor depends on your intended meaning.

Use either … or when you want to present two options (e.g., “We can either go out to eat or order in”).

Use neither … nor when you want to express that two things are not true or did not happen (e.g., “We neither ate nor slept on the flight”).

When there is already a negative (e.g., “not,” “never “) in your sentence, use “or” to avoid a double negative (e.g., “We did not eat or sleep on the flight”).

The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using correlative conjunctions correctly.
Is it everybody is or everybody are?: It is always everybody is (not everybody are)—e.g., “Everybody is meeting there at 5 p.m.”).

Knowing whether to use is or are with indefinite pronouns can be tricky because some are treated as plural, some as singular (like everybody), and some can be either.

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you to check the subject-verb agreement in your sentences.
How do you write a compound-complex sentence?: You can write a compound-complex sentence in many different ways, but it must have the following components:

At least two independent clauses joined by a comma and coordinating conjunction (or semicolon)

At least one dependent clause

These components can be arranged in essentially any order.

Compound-complex sentence examples
If the presentation goes poorly, I will call the client to apologize, but I don’t think we need to worry.

I will call the client to apologize if the presentation goes poorly, but I don’t think we need to worry.

The presentation went poorly; I called the client, whom I’ve known for years, to apologize.

I don’t think we need to worry, but, if the presentation goes poorly, I will call the client to apologize.

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you use compound-complex sentences correctly.
What is an example of a compound-complex sentence?: An example of a compound-complex sentence is “I want to go to London, but Carrie wants to go to New York because it is closer.”

This example has the necessary components of a compound-complex sentence:

At least two independent clauses (“I want to go to London” and “Carrie wants to go to New York”) joined by a comma and coordinating conjunction (or a semicolon)

At least one dependent clause (“because it is closer”)

QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you vary your sentence structure in your writing.
What is the difference between a simple and compound sentence?: Simple and compound sentences differ in their number of independent clauses (i.e., a group of words with a subject and verb that can stand on its own as a sentence).

Simple sentences have one independent clause. For example: “Jack went shopping.”

Compound sentences have at least two independent clauses joined by a comma and coordinating conjunction or a semicolon. For example: “Jack went shopping, and Lucy cooked dinner.”

Note that simple sentences can have compound subjects (e.g., “Jack and Lucy went shopping”) or compound predicates (e.g., “Jack went shopping and cooked dinner”) or both (e.g., “‘Jack and Lucy went shopping and cooked dinner”).

A compound sentence, in contrast, is formed when two full simple sentences are connected.

Use QuillBot’s Grammar Checker to make sure your sentences are structured correctly.
How do you make a compound sentence?: A compound sentence is made by combining two simple sentences (or independent clauses) with a comma and coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.

Compound sentence examples
We can go to the store now, or Chelsea can go after dinner.

Complete the assignment for homework, but skip the last question.

The team blew an early lead; it was a tough loss.

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help ensure your compound sentences are structured correctly.
What is a compound sentence example?: An example of a compound sentence is “Rakesh likes baseball, but Simone prefers basketball.”

This sentence, like all compound sentences, has two independent clauses (“Rakesh likes baseball” and “Simone prefers basketball”). The two independent clauses are joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (“but”).

Other coordinating conjunctions (e.g., “and,” “so”) can also be used to form a compound sentence. Alternatively, a semicolon can be used (e.g., “Rakesh likes baseball; Simone prefers basketball”).

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help ensure your compound sentences are free of errors.
Which word signals a nonrestrictive clause in a complex sentence?: The relative pronouns “which,” “who,” “whom,” and “whose” can all be used to signal a nonrestrictive clause in a complex sentence.

These pronouns often introduce an adjective clause (or relative clause), which is a type of dependent clause. When that dependent clause is connected to an independent clause, it forms a complex sentence.

Adjective clauses can be either restrictive or nonrestrictive. Nonrestrictive clauses are set off with commas.

Nonrestrictive clauses in complex sentences examples
Camila ordered an americano, which is an espresso and water.

My best friend, who is named Ana, is coming to visit me.

The CEO, whom most people assumed was going to retire, took a job at another company.

Emilio, whose apartment I am renting, has decided to move back to town.

Note that the relative pronoun “that” is only used in restrictive clauses.

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you ensure your writing is free of errors.
What is an example of a complex sentence?: An example of a complex sentence is “Desmond likes to stretch before he runs.” It is made up of one independent clause (“Desmond likes to stretch”) and a dependent clause (“before he runs”).

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help ensure you’re using complex sentences correctly.
What is the difference between a complex sentence and a compound sentence?: Complex sentences are made up of one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Compound sentences are made up of two or more independent clauses connected with a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.

Complex vs compound sentence examples

Complex sentence Compound sentence

If it stops raining, I will go to the park. It stopped raining, so I went to the park.

Kya was sleeping while the teacher was talking. The teacher was talking, and Kya was sleeping.

QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you vary your sentence structure to improve your writing.
What are good transition words for the first body paragraph in an essay?: Good transition words and phrases for the first body paragraph in an essay include:

To begin with

First

Initially

First of all

Considering x

On the subject of x

QuillBot’s free paraphrasing tool can help you find options for transition words.
What are good transition words for essays?: Some good transition words and phrases for essays include “first (of all),” “initially,” “to begin with,” “for example,” “in particular,” “conversely,” “in summary,” “overall,” and “finally.”

QuillBot’s free paraphrasing tool can help you add variety to the transition words you use in your writing.
What are good transition words to show contrast?: Good transition words and phrases to show contrast include:

However

Although

In contrast

Conversely

Whereas

On the other hand

While

The transition you choose will depend on the level of formality of your text and your sentence structure.

QuillBot’s Paraphraser can help you vary your word choice.
Is very an adverb?: Very is an adverb that means “to a great extent.” It’s an adverb of degree, which is a type of qualifier.

In a sentence, “very” usually goes before the adjective that it modifies (e.g., “The very loud thunder shook the whole house”).

When you’re writing with “very” and other qualifiers, QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you choose the right words.
Is for an adverb?: No, for is not an adverb. The word “for” typically functions as a preposition (e.g., “She’s going on vacation for two weeks”), but it can also function as a coordinating conjunction meaning “because” (e.g., “I will go now, for it is late”).

Phrases that begin with “for” often function adverbially (e.g., “… for two weeks”). However, “for” is a preposition in these phrases.

If you use “for” as a conjunction in modern English it can sound very formal or old-fashioned. You can use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to rephrase sentences that contain “for” as a conjunction.
Is for a conjunction?: Yes, for can be used as a conjunction meaning “because” (e.g., “She wore her winter coat, for the wind was bitterly cold”).

However, the word “for” typically functions as a preposition (e.g., “She has lived here for ten years”) rather than a coordinating conjunction in modern English.

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you use the word “for” correctly in your writing.
What part of speech is for?: For is typically a preposition when determining its part of speech (e.g., “Is this coffee for me?”).

However, “for” can also function as a coordinating conjunction meaning “because” (e.g., “I accepted, for it was a fair offer”).

Have you tried QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker? It will help you to pick up errors with the preposition “for” in your writing.
Is for a preposition?: Yes, for is a preposition (e.g., “I bought this card for Ellen”).

The word “for” can also function as a coordinating conjunction meaning “because” (e.g., “I did not doubt him, for I knew him to be an honest man”).

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker will help you to use the preposition “for” correctly in your writing.
What is the definition of a modifier?: The definition of a modifier is “a word, phrase, or clause that modifies another word, phrase, or clause in a sentence.” The word “modify” means “to change.”

Modifiers—such as adjectives, adjective phrases, adjective clauses adverbs, adverbial phrases, adverbial clauses, participle phrases, and prepositional phrases—enhance or limit the meaning of the words they modify.

For example, in the sentence, “Erin bought a blue convertible car,” the adjectives “blue” and “convertible” modify the noun “car.”

Modifiers should usually go as close as possible to the words they modify. When you’re writing with modifiers, try QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to avoid errors.
When do you spell out numbers in APA?: The guidelines to spell out numbers in APA style writing are as follows:

Spell out the ordinal numbers “first” through “ninth” and the cardinal numbers “one” through “nine” unless they express time, measurements, or percentages/percentiles (e.g., “We interviewed 30 fifth-grade students from three schools”).

Use numerals for numbers 10 and greater or 10th and higher (e.g., “The 11th-grade students took a survey”).

Numbers that begin sentences should also be spelled out even if they are greater than 10 (e.g., “Twelve of the participants said they prefer reading nonfiction”).

When possible, avoid beginning sentences with double-digit numbers. Instead, reword the sentence so that you can use numerals (e.g., “The results showed that 15 students prefer graphic novels”).

When you’re working on APA style essays, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you write numbers correctly.
How do you define ordinal number?: An ordinal number is defined as a number that identifies a position in a sequence or system of levels or rankings.

You can write ordinal numbers as words (e.g., “third”) or cardinal numbers combined with “-st,” “-nd,” “-rd,” or “-th” (e.g., “20th”).

For example, someone might live on the 31st floor of a building or win fourth place in a competition.

When you’re writing with ordinal numbers, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid errors.
Do you hyphenate numbers?: Most (but not all) style books say to hyphenate numbers that have two words (e.g., “forty-six days”).

Unless your style requirements say otherwise, use a hyphen (-) when you need to write the words for a double-digit cardinal number (e.g., “thirty-one flavors”) or ordinal number (e.g., “twenty-first birthday”).

Some of the most common guidelines for hyphens and numbers are as follows:

APA uses hyphens for two-word numbers but only uses words for 10 and greater at the beginning of a sentence (e.g., “Last year, 25 teachers retired” or “Twenty-five teachers retired last year”).

Chicago uses words for numbers up to 100 and hyphens in numbers with two words (e.g., “The conference included workshops by twenty-seven professional musicians”).

MLA requires words for all numbers that have one or two words and doesn’t use hyphens for numbers (e.g., “The researchers interviewed thirty two students”).

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you with hyphens, cardinal numbers, and more.
Do you spell out numbers under 10?: In most cases, spell out numbers under 10, which include cardinal numbers (e.g., “four books” and “nine teachers”) and ordinal numbers (e.g., fifth grade). However, there are exceptions and variations, depending on the style guidelines you’re using.

For example, APA, MLA, and Chicago guidelines require numerals for numbers under 10 when they’re part of dates, times, and measurements (e.g., “The veterinarian fed the kittens a high calorie diet until they weighed 2 pounds”).

You can also use numerals for one through nine when they go after nouns and are part of a series (e.g., “Chapter 7 takes place in a cave”).

Always check with your style book, instructor, or workplace guidelines when you’re unsure about how to spell out cardinal numbers or ordinal numbers.

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can also help you use numbers correctly in your writing.
What’s the meaning of possibly?: The meaning of possibly is “somewhat likely.” “Possibly” is a qualifier and an adverb of probability.

Use “possibly” to modify a verb when you want to show that something might happen (e.g., “Depending on financial aid, Martin can possibly start law school this fall”).

You can also use “possibly” to modify an adjective (e.g., “Dave is possibly the nicest person I’ve ever met”).

QuillBot’s free Paraphraser can help you use “possibly” and other qualifiers correctly in your writing.
What are good transition words to start a paragraph?: Good transition words and phrases to start a paragraph depend on the purpose of the paragraph and how it relates to the previous one.

Transition words to start a paragraph

Function of paragraph Transition word examples

Introducing a point to begin with, first of all, first (or second or third)

Building on a previous point furthermore, to illustrate, considering x, on the subject of x, similarly, consequently, returning to x

Contrasting with a previous point however, in contrast, on the other hand

QuillBot’s Paraphrasing Tool can help you integrate transition words into your writing.
How do you use the in a sentence?: Use “the” in a sentence to modify a specific version of a noun. Anytime your reader knows the exact noun you mean, use the definite article “the” or any other determiner besides the indefinite articles “a” or “an” (which are for general versions of nouns).

“The” can modify nouns that are singular, plural, countable, or uncountable. Some examples of “the” in a sentence include the following:

Nick baked the cake for Sarah’s birthday. [Singular, countable noun]

Please fold all of the shirts in this basket. [Plural, countable noun]

The soap in your bathroom smells like lavender. [Uncountable noun]

When you’re writing sentences with “the,” QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid errors.
Is the an article?: The word “the” is an article. “The” is the definite article in English (as opposed to the indefinite articles “a” and “an”).

“The” is one of the determiners that can modify specific rather than general versions of nouns. When readers know exactly which noun you mean, use “the” or any other determiner (e.g., “my” or “this”) besides indefinite articles.

You can use “the” before all of these types of nouns:

Singular (e.g., “The purse over there belongs to me”)

Plural (e.g., “Except for the coins in my wallet, I don’t have any cash”)

Countable (e.g., “I put all the pens in the desk drawer”)

Uncountable (e.g., “I gave all of the gum to my niece”)

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you use “the” and other articles or determiners correctly in your writing.
Is of an article?: The word “of” is not an article but rather, a preposition. As a preposition, “of” begins a prepositional phrase, which also includes a noun. The following examples include prepositional phrases (in bold) that begin with “of.”

The pyramids are made of limestone blocks.

Michael published a book of poems.

In contrast to a preposition, an article is a determiner that modifies a noun. The definite article in English is “the,” and the indefinite articles are “a” and “an.”

The QuillBot Grammar Checker can help you use “of” correctly in your writing.
Is and an article?: The word and is not an article. It’s sometimes confused with the indefinite article “an,” but it’s a different part of speech.

And is a coordinating conjunction, so you can use it between two grammatically equal words, phrases, or clauses. For example, “and” can go between two independent clauses (e.g., “George had a sandwich for lunch, and Martha had soup”).

When you’re using indefinite articles or coordinating conjunctions in your writing, the QuillBot Grammar Checker is here to help.
What part of speech is an?: The word “an” is an indefinite article that modifies a noun. It can go right before the noun, before the first adjective that modifies the noun, or before an adverb that modifies the noun’s first adjective.

Use this indefinite article in these situations:

When you’re referring to a general version of a singular, countable noun (e.g., “an English muffin”)

When the next word starts with a vowel sound (e.g., “an hour” or “an apple”)

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you avoid errors when you’re writing with “an.”
Is that an article?: The word “that” is not an article but rather, a demonstrative pronoun.

The articles in English are the definite article “the” and the indefinite articles “a” and “an.”

Use “that” before a singular, countable noun that is clear from the context or that has already been mentioned (e.g., “I’m binge watching Ted Lasso again because I love that show”).

When you’re writing with indefinite articles, definite articles, or demonstrative pronouns, QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker is here to help.
Is a an article?: The word “a” is an article. More specifically, “a” is one of the two indefinite articles (“a” and “an”).

Indefinite articles modify general versions of singular and countable nouns (e.g., “a bicycle” means “any bicycle” whereas “the bicycle Mia got for her birthday” refers to one specific bicycle”).

Use “a” before the noun it modifies, the first adjective that modifies the noun, or the adverb that modifies the noun’s first adjective.

Use “a” instead of “an” when the next word begins with a consonant sound (e.g., “She wore a gold necklace”).

QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker can help you use the indefinite article “a” correctly in your writing.
Is it neither is or neither are?: Neither is, not neither are, is grammatically correct because “neither” is a singular indefinite pronoun (e.g., “Neither (option) is okay”).

However, in informal English, we sometimes say “neither of X are” (e.g., “I think neither of those options are acceptable,” “I think neither of them are acceptable”) and “neither X nor Y are” (e.g., “Neither David nor Elise are here today”).

Deciding if is or are is grammatically correct with indefinite pronouns can be tricky. You can use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you check your sentences for correct subject-verb agreement.
Is it either is or are?: Either is (not either are) is grammatically correct because “either” is a singular indefinite pronoun (e.g., “Either (option) is fine”).

However, in informal English, we sometimes say “either of X are” (e.g., “I don’t think either of those options are acceptable,” “I don’t think either of them are acceptable”) and “either X or Y are” (e.g., “Either Paula or Sasha are going to do it”).

Deciding if is or are is the correct choice with indefinite pronouns can be difficult. Why not use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help you check the subject-verb agreement in your sentences?
Is it information is or are?: It is always information is (not information are) because it is an uncountable noun (e.g., “The information is on the website”). But you can say “pieces of information are” (e.g., “A few pieces of information are missing”).

Deciding if is or are is the right choice can be tricky. Why not use QuillBot’s free Grammar Checker to help ensure that the subject-verb agreement in your sentences is correct?
How do I use “whose” in a sentence?: “Whose” is an interrogative word that is used to indicate possession. It can be used in questions as an interrogative pronoun (e.g., “Whose is this?”) or interrogative determiner (e.g., “Whose phone has a blue case?”).

It is also used as a relative pronoun in adjective clauses (e.g., “My neighbors, whose dog is always escaping, are building a fence”).

Sometimes, people get confused about the difference between “whose” and “who’s.” The words sound the same but have different meanings. “Who’s” is the contraction of “who is” or “who has” (e.g., “Who’s your favorite singer?”).
What is a squinting modifier?: A squinting modifier, also known as an ambiguous modifier, is a modifier that could possibly modify two different parts of the sentence.

The following sentence has a squinting modifier:
“Paolo works in a restaurant serving shrimp.”
In this sentence, it is unclear if Paolo’s specific job is serving shrimp in a restaurant or if the restaurant is dedicated specifically to shrimp.

This can be clarified as either of the following two sentences:

“Paolo works serving shrimp in a restaurant.” [indicating that Paolo serves shrimp]

“Paolo works in a restaurant that serves shrimp.” [indicating that the restaurant serves shrimp]
What’s the difference between dangling and misplaced modifiers?: A dangling modifier is a modifier that does not have a subject within the sentence. In contrast, a misplaced modifier does have a subject, but the modifier and the subject being modified are separated.

The following sentence has a dangling modifier:
“Eager to leave the room, the presentation ended early.”
In this sentence, there is no subject indicating who was eager to leave the room.

In contrast, this sentence has a misplaced modifier:
“The frazzled woman’s hair was difficult to comb.”
The placement of the modifier “frazzled” makes it unclear if it is the woman who was frazzled or her hair.

A clearer structure would be the following:
“The woman’s frazzled hair was difficult to comb.”
How does subject-verb agreement work with a compound subject?: Subject-verb agreement for compound subjects can seem complex, but there are two basic rules to keep in mind.

For compound subjects connected with “and,” a plural verb is almost always used (e.g., “Carlos and Elise go to the same school”).

For compound subjects connected with “or” or “nor,” the verb agrees with whichever noun is closest to it (e.g., “Either my parents or my sister picks me up from school” or “Either my sister or my parents pick me up from school”).
Can a compound subject be used in a simple sentence?: Yes, a compound subject can be used in a simple sentence – a sentence that has only one subject-verb pair (e.g., “Terrence and I like to hike).

Compound subjects can be used in all sentence types (i.e., simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex).
What is the difference between a sentence and a sentence fragment?: In most cases, a sentence contains at least a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.

A sentence fragment is usually missing a subject, a verb, or both (e.g., “Wondering what to cook for dinner”).

In some cases, a clause might have both a subject and a verb, but also a subordinating conjunction. This makes it a dependent clause on its own, which is a sentence fragment (e.g., “After the second Act”).

A simple question to ask yourself to test if you have a sentence fragment is whether the clause contains a complete thought. If it does, then there is probably no problem.
How can I fix a sentence fragment error?: Sometimes it might take some rewriting to make a sentence fragment better. Rearranging the clauses makes sure that there is no sentence fragment:

I missed the game on Saturday. Because I had broken my foot.

Because I had broken my foot, I missed the game on Saturday.

In some cases, you may need to add a missing subject:

Went shopping.

I went shopping.

In other cases, you might need to add a subject and a verb:

Running through the park in the early morning.

I love running through the park in the early morning.
Can a sentence contain a subject and a verb but still be a sentence fragment?: Yes, a statement might have a subject and a verb but still be a sentence fragment. This is especially the case with dependent clauses. When a dependent clause is not connected to an independent clause, it is a sentence fragment:

When Alex had a birthday party.

When Alex had a birthday party, I was able to help with the arrangements.

To help you decide, you need to ask yourself if the clause expresses a complete thought (e.g., “When Alex had a birthday party, I was able to help with the arrangements”) or if there is information missing (e.g., “When Alex had a birthday party”).
How can I identify a sentence fragment?: At its simplest, a sentence contains a subject and a verb (e.g., “Sarah woke up”). If there is no verb, or no subject, then it’s usually a sentence fragment.

Another way of testing whether you’re dealing with a sentence fragment is to ask yourself if it expresses a complete thought. If it doesn’t, then it is a sentence fragment (e.g., “No luck today”).

Look for clauses that leave you needing more information to fully understand them (e.g., “Yesterday at the hospital”).
Does “not only but also” require a comma?: Like all correlative conjunctions, “not only … but also” does not typically require a comma (e.g., “The weather forecast calls for not only rain but also hail”).

The one exception to this is when it is used to join two independent clauses, which each have a subject and a verb (e.g., “Ava not only speaks Spanish, but she also is learning French”). This sentence could also be rephrased to not require a comma (e.g., “Ava not only speaks Spanish but also is learning French”).

A QuillBot grammar check can help ensure you’re using correlative conjunctions correctly.
What is the difference between coordinating, subordinating, and correlative conjunctions?: Coordinating conjunctions are single words that are used to link grammatically equal elements (e.g., “cheese and crackers”). There are seven coordinating conjunctions in English: “for,” “and,” “nor,” “but,” “or,” “yet,” and “so.”

Subordinating conjunctions are words or phrases that are used at the beginning of a dependent clause (e.g., “until,” “if,” “even though”). They show the relationship between a dependent clause and an independent clause.

Correlative conjunctions are pairs of words that show the relationship between two grammatically equal elements (e.g., “either pizza or pasta”). The most common correlative conjunctions are “either … or,” “neither … nor,” “both … and,” and “not only … but also.”

A QuillBot grammar check can ensure you’re using the different types of conjunctions correctly.
What is an interrogative adverb?: The interrogative adverbs are “when,” “where,” “why,” and “how.” They are used to ask questions about time, location, reason, or manner (e.g., “Where do you want to go for dinner?”).

These words are known as interrogative adverbs because the answers they prompt are adverbs, adverb phrases, or adverb clauses.

Interrogative adverbs are part of a larger group of words referred to as “interrogatives.” These words (typically starting with “wh-”) are used to form questions.
How can I identify a misplaced modifier?: To identify a misplaced modifier, it is important to understand which word(s) in a sentence a modifier is describing. If the modifier is far away from those words, it likely needs to be moved closer.

Example:
“Running away with its tail between his legs, the child laughed after frightening the dog.”

In this sentence, the subject of the modifying clause “Running away with his tail between his legs” clearly refers to the dog, but another subject, “the child” is squeezed between the clause and what it describes.

Better phrasings would be as follows:

“The child laughed after frightening the dog, which ran away with its tail between its legs.”

“Running away with its tail between its legs, the dog had been frightened by the child, who laughed afterward.”
What is the difference between “which” and “what”?: When used as an interrogative to form a question, “what” refers to an (essentially) unlimited set of options, while “which” refers to a narrower or limited set. For example:

What are you wearing to the concert?

Which shirt will you wear: the blue or the green?

What is your favorite song?

Which song should I play for the recital?

The choice of “what” or “which” often depends on the context of the sentence.
What is an indirect question?: Indirect questions are questions that are embedded in a statement (e.g., “I wonder who will win this year;” “She asked Max where he was”).

Indirect questions often begin with an interrogative word (e.g., “where,” “when”), but they can also begin with “if” or “whether” (e.g., “My mom asked whether you want to stay for dinner”).

An indirect question is a special type of noun clause, often referred to as an interrogative clause. It is typically embedded within a declarative sentence, so it is not followed by a question mark. Additionally, the word order is the same as a declarative sentence (i.e., subject followed by verb).
What is an interrogative adjective?: Interrogative adjectives (also called interrogative determiners) are words that modify a noun or pronoun to form a question (e.g., “Which shirt do you like?”). The three interrogative adjectives are “which,” “what,” and “whose.”

Interrogative adjectives belong to a larger class of words, sometimes referred to as “interrogatives.” When “which,” “what,” and “whose” are used to stand in for a noun, rather than modifying it (e.g., “Which do you like?”), they are known as interrogative pronouns.
Can you end a sentence with “for”?: Yes, a sentence can end with “for” (e.g., “I don’t know what this tool is for”). In the past, writers were encouraged not to end a sentence with a preposition (e.g., “for,” “to,” “about”), but this guidance is outdated.

Sentences and clauses frequently end with a preposition when the object of the preposition is a relative pronoun (e.g., “whom,” “what”).
Can you end a sentence with “with”?: Yes, a sentence can end with “with” (e.g., “What can I pair this wine with?”). In the past, writers were encouraged not to end a sentence with a preposition (e.g., “with,” “for,” “to”), but this guidance is outdated.

Sentences and clauses frequently end with a preposition when the object of the preposition is a relative pronoun (e.g., “whom,” “what”).
Can you end a sentence with “to”?: Yes, a sentence can end with “to” (e.g., “Whom are you talking to?”). In the past, writers were encouraged not to end a sentence with a preposition (e.g., “to,” “for,” “about”), but this guidance is outdated.

Sentences and clauses frequently end with a preposition when the object of the preposition is a relative pronoun (e.g., “whom,” “what”).
Can there be a compound object of a preposition?: Yes, an object of a preposition is considered compound if it consists of two or more nouns or pronouns (e.g., “I’m going hiking with Vera and Jonas”).
Can a gerund be the object of a preposition?: Yes, since it functions as a noun, a gerund (e.g., “reading,” “thinking”) can be the object of a preposition in a sentence (e.g., “I’ve thought about leaving”).
What is the difference between a compound predicate and a compound sentence?: In a compound predicate, two (or more) verbs share one subject (e.g., “Tan sings and dances very well”).

A compound sentence has two (or more) separate subjects that act on two (or more) separate verbs (e.g., “Tan sings, and Lina dances”).
Do compound predicates need commas?: A compound predicate with only two verbs does not use a comma (e.g., “I made my bed and took a shower”).

For a compound predicate with more than two verbs, a comma is used to separate the verbs or verb phrases, and the coordinating conjunction (e.g., “and”) is placed before the last verb.

If you use the Oxford comma (or serial comma), you place a comma before the conjunction (e.g., “I cooked, cleaned, and did laundry all day”).

If you do not use the Oxford comma, you do not place a comma before the conjunction (e.g., “I cooked, cleaned and did laundry all day”).
What is the difference between an independent clause and a dependent clause?: An independent clause has a subject and a verb and can stand on its own as a complete sentence (e.g., “Puppies are playful”).

A dependent clause must be joined with an independent clause because it does not express a complete thought (e.g., “Puppies are playful because they have a lot of energy”).

Dependent clauses are marked by the use of subordinating conjunctions (e.g., “because,” “although,” “while”).
What are good transition words for conclusions?: Good transition words and phrases for conclusions include:

To conclude (with)

Finally

At last

As a final point

In conclusion

Lastly

In sum

Overall

The transition you choose will depend on the level of formality of your text and the argument you have made.

Using QuillBot’s Paraphrasing Tool can help you vary your word choice.
Do words have to be spelled the same to be homophones?: They may be spelled the same, but they don’t have to be. Words that have the same sound and same spelling are homonyms and may also be homophones or homographs.
What is the difference between the homophones their, there, and they’re?: Their shows possession. There shows where something is or that it exists. And they’re is a contraction of they are.
What is an example of a prepositional phrase?: An example of a prepositional phrase is “in the washing machine.” A prepositional phrase combines a preposition (e.g., “in,” “on,” “with”) with nouns and modifiers. They can act as adjectives, adverbs, and nouns in a sentence.

Here are some other examples of prepositional phrases:

The party is on Tuesday.

I can write with a quill.

The cup of water fell to the ground.
Is “on” a prepositional phrase?: “On” is a preposition that can be combined with nouns and modifiers to form prepositional phrases. It has a range of meanings, including the following:

Place: “Dinner is on the table.”

Time: “My birthday is on Friday.”
Is “with” a prepositional phrase?: “With” is a preposition that can be combined with nouns and modifiers to form prepositional phrases. It has a few meanings, including the following:

Who an action is performed with: “I went to the cinema with my brother.”

A combination of items: “they served tea with milk.”

What is used to carry out an action: “I wrote the letter with a fountain pen.”

How something is done: “They danced with skill and grace.”
Is “of” a prepositional phrase?: “Of” is a preposition that can be combined with nouns and modifiers to form prepositional phrases. It can express a range of meanings, including the following:

Possession or relationship: “the wheel of my car.”

Origin: “people of ancient Mesopotamia.”

Material, contents, or construction: “a shard of glass.”

About or relating to: “I told him of my travels.”
What are the types of dependent clauses?: There are three types of dependent clauses: adverbial clauses, adjective clauses, and noun clauses. Dependent clauses are categorized into these types based on the role they play in a sentence.
How can dependent clauses be identified?: Dependent clauses typically begin with a word called a dependent marker. This dependent marker can be either a subordinating conjunction (e.g., “because,” “before,” “unless”) or a relative pronoun (e.g., “that,” “which,” “who”).
When should I use a semicolon to link independent clauses?: Semicolons are a useful way of joining together two independent clauses that are closely related (e.g., “Please take your shoes off; I’ve just mopped the floor”).

You can also use conjunctive adverbs to express the relationship between the clauses, which give insight into how your ideas are connected (e.g., “The experiment yielded unexpected results; moreover, it led to a reevaluation of our hypothesis”).

Semicolons add nuance and sophistication to your writing, but they should not be overused as this can make them less effective in helping information stand out.
How are independent clauses linked to other clauses?: Independent clauses can be joined together using a semicolon (e.g., “I love my puppy Coco; she is so much fun”) or a comma and coordinating conjunction, like “and,” “but,” or “so” (e.g., “I wish I could play with Coco all day, but I have to work”).

Independent clauses can also be joined with dependent clauses to form complex and compound-complex sentences.

QuillBot’s Grammar Checker can help you use different sentence structures correctly.
What is the difference between a compound subject and a compound predicate?: A compound subject refers to the group of nouns or pronouns that perform the action of the verb or are described by the verb (e.g., “Elle and Miriam are going to the store,” “She and Miriam are tall”).

A compound predicate occurs when two or more verbs share the same subject (e.g., “Beck walks and runs daily”).

Compound subjects and compound predicates can be used together (e.g., “The fans and the team cheered and shouted to celebrate the win”), or a compound subject can be used with a simple predicate and vice versa.
Which verbs take indirect objects?: Indirect objects are always optional in English. When they do appear, they always appear alongside a direct object, so they are only used with transitive verbs. Transitive verbs that frequently use an indirect object are called ditransitive verbs (e.g., “sell,” “bring,” “take,” “send, “show”).
What is an example of an indirect object in a sentence?: In sentences, indirect objects receive the direct object and answer the question “for whom?” or “to whom.” For example, in the sentence “I gave the teacher my homework,” “the teacher” is the indirect object. It answers the question “To whom did I give my homework?”
What is the difference between a direct object and an indirect object?: Direct objects are nouns that receive the action of a verb and answer the question “what?” or “whom?” (e.g., “I bought some flowers”).

Indirect objects are nouns that receive the direct object and answer the question “to whom?” or “for whom?” (e.g., “I bought Morgan some flowers”).

Both direct objects and indirect objects are used with transitive verbs. Direct objects are required after transitive verbs, and indirect objects are optional
What are word families?: Root words form the basis of word families, or groups of all the words derived from a given root.

Word families include all the inflections and derivations of a given root word. However, because language evolves over time, some words in a word family might have very different meanings, even if they share the same etymological root.
How can I identify a root word?: To break down a word and identify the root, it is helpful to first identify any affixes attached to the word. Prefixes and suffixes often modify root words, so removing these can reveal the root word and help you unlock the word’s meaning.

For example, “predated” has the prefix “pre-” (“before”) and the suffix “-ed,” which is used here to indicate the past tense. Removing the prefix and the suffix gives us the root word “datus,” or the past participle of “dare,” “to give,” in Latin.
What is a non-defining relative clause?: “Non-defining relative clause” is another name for a nonrestrictive clause, which is a type of relative clause (or adjective clause) that gives extra, nonessential information about the noun or pronoun it modifies (e.g., “I am going to visit Lake Superior, which is the world’s largest freshwater lake”).

Nonrestrictive clauses can be removed from a sentence without changing its meaning.
What is a defining relative clause?: “Defining relative clause” is another name for a restrictive clause, which is a type of relative clause (or adjective clause) that gives essential identifying information about the noun or pronoun it modifies (e.g., “The girl who is holding a teddy bear is my daughter”).

Restrictive clauses cannot be removed from a sentence without changing its meaning or making it unclear.
What is the difference between restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses?: Both restrictive clauses and nonrestrictive clauses are types of relative clauses (or adjective clauses), which act as adjectives in sentences to describe nouns or pronouns.

Restrictive clauses give essential identifying information about the nouns they modify. They often answer the question “which one?” If they are removed from a sentence, the meaning of the sentence is changed or becomes unclear (e.g., “Apples that are picked too early are sour”).

Nonrestrictive clauses give extra, nonessential information about the nouns they modify. They can be removed from a sentence without changing its meaning or making it unclear (e.g., “Apples, which are my favorite fruit, are high in fiber”).

Nonrestrictive clauses are set off from the rest of the sentence by commas. Restrictive clauses do not require commas.
Why are nonrestrictive clauses used?: Nonrestrictive clauses are used to give extra, nonessential information about a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase (e.g., “The summer Olympics, which take place every 4 years, will be in Paris”).

Unlike restrictive clauses, which are used to identify people or things, nonrestrictive clauses are typically used to give additional information about particular people or things. So, they are frequently used with specific nouns (e.g., “my mom,” “the new teacher,” “your house”) rather than general nouns (e.g., “kids,” “the man,” “books”).

When a relative clause is used to describe a proper noun (e.g., “David,” “Prospect Park”), a nonrestrictive clause is almost always used.
Which word signals a nonrestrictive clause?: Nonrestrictive clauses, like all relative clauses (or adjective clauses), begin with a relative pronoun, typically “which,” “who,” “whom,” or “whose” (e.g., “I want to vacation in Majorca, which is part of Spain”).

The relative pronoun “that” is only used with restrictive clauses, never with nonrestrictive clauses.

Nonrestrictive clauses are set off from the rest of the sentence by commas.

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Sentence and word structure: Other interesting questions

Object complement examples	Subject complement examples
That makes me sad.	I am sad.
Let’s paint our nails blue.	Our nails are blue.
The state elected her governor.	She is the governor.

Complex sentence	Compound sentence
If it stops raining, I will go to the park.	It stopped raining, so I went to the park.
Kya was sleeping while the teacher was talking.	The teacher was talking, and Kya was sleeping.

Function of paragraph	Transition word examples
Introducing a point	to begin with, first of all, first (or second or third)
Building on a previous point	furthermore, to illustrate, considering x, on the subject of x, similarly, consequently, returning to x
Contrasting with a previous point	however, in contrast, on the other hand