A simple sentence is a single independent clause with a subject and predicate. Simple sentences convey a complete thought, but they do not contain any dependent clauses (also known as subordinate clauses).
Simple sentence examplesJuliet waited on her balcony.
A restrictive clause, also known as an essential or defining clause, provides essential information that identifies a noun or noun phrase in a sentence. A restrictive clause is not separated by commas and can’t be removed from a sentence without changing the meaning or making the meaning ambiguous or unclear.
Restrictive clauses typically begin with the relative pronouns โthat,โ โwho,โ โwhom,โ or โwhose.โ
Restrictive clause examplesI want the phone that has the best camera.
The woman who is leading the meeting is my boss.
The person whose wallet this is must be looking for it.
Nonrestrictive clauses are a type of adjective clause (or relative clause) that gives nonessential, extra information about a noun, noun phrase, or pronoun. Nonrestrictive clauses begin with a relative pronoun (e.g., โwhich,โ โwho,โ โwhom,โ or โwhoseโ) and are set off from the sentence by commas.
Nonrestrictive clauses (also called nonessential clauses) can be removed from a sentence without changing its meaning.
Nonrestrictive clauses in sentences examplesKelsey is attending Gonzaga University, which is in Washington.
My brother, who is two years younger than me, is graduating from high school.
Our next-door neighbors, whose yard is always overgrown, are out of town.
Amalโs nephew, whom he babysits frequently, is coming over today.
A misplaced modifier is a word, phrase, or clause that is separated from what it is intended to modify in a sentence. Misplaced modifiers can create ambiguity or change the meaning of the sentence.
Misplaced modifier exampleThe children ran through the streets dressed in costumes.
In the example above, the modifier โdressed in costumesโ is supposed to modify “the children,” but instead, because of its location, it looks like it’s modifying the noun โthe streets.โ This placement lends itself to the interpretation that the streets are wearing costumes rather than the children.
To fix this mistake, the modifier needs to be moved next to the words it is intended to modify.
Corrected modifier examplesDressed in costumes, the children ran through the streets.
The children, dressed in costumes, ran through the streets.
A compound subject is more than one noun or pronoun joined by a conjunction that functions as the subject of a sentence or clause (e.g., โmy sister and Iโ).
Like all subjects, a compound subject either performs the action described by the verb in the predicate (e.g., โSarah and Alana walkโ) or is described by the predicate (e.g., โTrevor and Cara are tallโ).
A subordinating conjunction introduces a dependent clause in order to link it to an independent clause.
Subordinating conjunctions express a variety of meanings, and they often comprise more than one word.
Meaning
Subordinating conjunction examples
Condition
Iโll do the report for you as long as you help me with the proposal.
Time
He only suggested it after I mentioned it at the meeting.
Purpose
Put your keys in your bag now so that you donโt forget them.
Place
We can meet wherever it is most convenient for you.
Contrast
Despite the fact that I reminded her twice, she still forgot my book.
Subordinating conjunctions are also sometimes called subordinate conjunctions or subordinators.
Want your complex sentences to sound more natural? QuillBotโs Humanize AI tool improves the flow of sentences, making your use of subordinating conjunctions feel clear and natural.
A sentence fragment is a piece of writing that looks like a sentence but is grammatically incomplete. This is normally because it is missing a subject or a verb.
Sentence fragments can usually be spotted quite easily because they do not express a complete thought. They always lack at least one piece of information that is key to understanding the meaning.
Published on
May 15, 2024
by
Tom Challenger, BA.
Revised on
December 31, 2025
A coordinating conjunction is a type of conjunction used to connect two words, phrases or clauses that are grammatically equal. There are seven coordinating conjunctions in the English language. You can remember these using the mnemonic FANBOYS: โfor,โ โand,โ โnor,โ โbut,โ โor,โ โyet,โ and โso.โ
These words can have other functions, but โand,โ โbut,โ and โorโ are mainly used as coordinating conjunctions.
Coordinating conjunctions indicate the relationship between the elements they connect, such as addition (โandโ), contrast (โbutโ), choice (โorโ), and result (โsoโ).
Knowing about coordinating conjunctions helps us to use commas correctly.
Coordinating conjunction examplesHe doesnโt like fish and chips.
Correlative conjunctions are pairs of conjunctions that are used to show the relationship between two words, phrases, or clauses (e.g., โboth rain and snowโ).
Correlative conjunctions join two grammatically equal parts of a sentence (i.e., two words, phrases, or clauses).
Correlative conjunction examplesTobin will compete in both swimming and biking.
You can either go to the store with me or stay home.
Neither snow nor rain will ruin our fun.
Sophie is not only a great student but also a star athlete.
