Advanced Grammar
Advanced grammar goes beyond basic rules — understanding sentence structure helps you write clearly and avoid errors that weaken your writing.
Clauses
Independent clause: complete thought, can stand alone ("She studied hard.")
Dependent clause: incomplete, needs main clause ("Because she studied hard," — needs more.)
Relative clause: modifies a noun ("the book that she read")
Sentence Types
| Type | Structure |
|---|---|
| Simple | One independent clause |
| Compound | Two+ independent clauses (joined by FANBOYS) |
| Complex | Independent + dependent clause |
| Compound-Complex | Two+ independent + one+ dependent |
Parallelism
Use the same grammatical structure for items in a list or paired ideas.
Wrong: "She likes running, to swim, and bikes."
Right: "She likes running, swimming, and biking."
Common Errors
Comma splice: two independent clauses joined with just a comma. Fix with a semicolon or coordinating conjunction.
Dangling modifier: modifier doesn't clearly attach to what it modifies.
Misplaced modifier: modifier placed too far from what it modifies.
FAQ
What are FANBOYS? For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So — coordinating conjunctions that join independent clauses.
Quick Quiz
Test what you just learned. Choose the best answer for each question.