Think about these questions, or answer them aloud.
A complete sentence has a subject (who or what) and a verb (what the subject does or is). It starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop, a question mark or an exclamation mark.
The usual English word order is subject + verb + object + place + time: I met my friends at the café on Saturday.
| Type | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | one subject + one verb | The train was late. |
| Compound | two full sentences joined by , and / , but / , so / , or | The train was late, so I took a taxi. |
| Complex | a main clause + a clause with because / when / although / if | I took a taxi because the train was late. |
In a direct question, the verb comes before the subject: Where is the library?
In an indirect question, the word order is the same as in a statement, so the subject comes before the verb: Could you tell me where the library is?
Indirect questions start with polite phrases such as Do you know…, Could you tell me…, I wonder… and I'd like to know…. When there is no question word, use if or whether: Do you know if the shop is open?
Match each sentence with the correct description.
My favourite place to study is the small library near my flat. It is quiet, and the chairs are very comfortable. I usually go there on Tuesday and Thursday evenings because I finish work early on those days. When I arrive, I always choose the same table by the window. The library does not have a café, so I take a bottle of water with me. Although it is sometimes cold in winter, I still prefer it to my home. At home, my phone and the television distract me. In the library, I can focus for two or three hours without a break.
The writer mixes short and longer sentences. This makes the paragraph easy to read, and it shows grammatical range, which examiners reward. Every sentence has a subject and a verb, and there are no comma splices.
Complete each sentence with a joining word from the box. The word in brackets tells you the meaning you need.
Read the message. Then put the word groups in order to make a correct reply. Alex: “The professor said the essay deadline has changed.”
Read the message. Then put the word groups in order to make a correct reply. Mia: “Why didn't you come to the party on Saturday?”
Describe a place in your town or city that you like to visit. Say where it is, when you go there and why you like it.
Use at least one compound sentence (with , and / , but / , so) and at least two complex sentences (with because / when / although). Write at least 80 words.
Write at least 80 words · about 12 minutes
Save words to review them later with flashcards.
“In “The dog barked”, the subject is “the dog”.”
“Every sentence needs at least one verb.”
““Because it was late” is a clause, not a full sentence.”
“Use a conjunction to join these two short sentences.”
“Your teacher may mark a fragment as an error.”
““It was late, we went home” is a comma splice.”
“Good punctuation makes your writing easier to read.”
“Start every sentence with a capital letter.”
““Could you tell me where the bank is?” is an indirect question.”
“English word order is usually subject, verb, object.”
