20 Important Rules of Grammar You Need to Learn

by | Nov 25, 2024 | Grammar Rules

Are you wondering what are the most important rules of grammar that you must learn for better English communication?

In English, grammar rules guide us to make better sentences. A grammatically correct sentence makes complete sense and provide the meaning of what is being said in the sentence without any ambiguity. 

In this article, you will learn 20 basic but important rules of English grammar along with examples. Let’s start learning grammar rules to avoid mistakes in English language communication!

Why Do You Need to Learn Grammar Rules?

Grammar rules are set of rules that guide us to make sentences that are grammatically correct. For example, if we do not follow rules while speaking or writing, we will definitely make mistakes in our communication and our sentences will not provides meanings or convert message that we want to say in our communication.

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In addition, grammar rules helps us to improve our communication skills because when speak or write following grammar rules, our communication makes sense.

20 Most Important Rules in English Grammar

Here are  20 simple rules and tips to help you avoid mistakes in English grammar. For more comprehensive rules please look under the appropriate topic (part of speech etc.) on our grammar and other pages.

1. A sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a period or full stop, a question mark or an exclamation mark.

For example

  • The fat cat sat on the mat.
  • Where do you live?
  • My dog is very clever!

2. Basic Sentence Structure

The order of a basic positive sentence is Subject – Verb – Object. (Negative and question sentences may have a different order).

For example;

  • John loves Mary.
  • They were driving their car to Bangkok.

3. Sentence Order

Every sentence must have a subject and a verb. An object is optional. Note that an imperative sentence may have a verb only, but the subject is understood.

For example;

  • John teaches.
  • John teaches English.
  • Stop! (i.e. You Stop!)

4. Subject – Verb Agreement

The subject and verb must agree in number, that is a singular subject needs a singular verb and a plural subject needs a plural verb.

Examples;

  • John works in London.
  • That monk eats once a day.
  • John and Mary work in London.
  • Most people eat three meals a day.

5. Singular Subject – Singular Verb

When two singular subjects are connected by or, use a singular verb. The same is true for either/or and neither/nor.

Examples;

  • John or Mary is coming tonight.
  • Either coffee or tea is fine.
  • Neither John nor Mary was late.

6. Adjective comes before noun

Adjective usually come before a noun (except when a verb separates the adjective from the noun).

Examples:

  • I have a big dog.
  • She married a handsome Italian man.
  • Her husband is rich.

7. Basic Sentence Structure

When using two or more adjective together, the usual order is opinion-adjective +fact-adjective + noun. (There are some additional rules for the order of fact adjectives).

Examples;

  • I saw a nice French table.
  • That was an interesting Shakespearian play.

8. Basic Sentence Structure

Treat collective nouns (e.g. committee, company, board of directors) as singular or plural. In BrE a collective noun is usually treated as plural, needing a plural verb and pronoun. In AmE a collective noun is oten treated as singular, needing a singular verb and pronoun.

Examples:

  • The committee are having sandwiches for lunch. Then they will go to London. (typically BrE)
  • The BBC have changed their logo. (typically BrE)
  • May family likes going to the zoo. (typically AmE)
  • CNN has changes its logo. (typically AmE)

9. Basic Sentence Structure

The words its and it’s are two different words with different meanings.

Examples;

  • The dog has hurt its leg.
  • He says it’s two o’clock.

10. Basic Sentence Structure

The words your and you’re are two different words with different meanings.

Examples:

  • Here is your coffee.
  • You’re looking good.

11. Basic Sentence Structure

The words there, their and they’re are three different words with different meanings.

Examples:

  • There was nobody at the party.
  • I saw their new car.
  • Do you think they’re happy?

12. Basic Sentence Structure

The contraction he’s can mean he is or he has. Similarly, she’s mean she can or she has, and it’s can mean it is or it has, and John’s can mean John is or John has.

Examples;

  • He is working.
  • He has finished.
  • She is there.
  • She has left.
  • John is married.
  • John has divorced his wife.

13. Basic Sentence Structure

The contraction he’d can mean he had or he would. Similary, they’d can mean they had or they would.

Examples;

  • He had eaten when I arrived.
  • He would eat more if possible.
  • They had already finished.
  • They would come if they could.

14. Basic Sentence Structure

Spell a proper noun with an initial capital letter. A proper noun is a “name” of something, for example Josef, Mary, Russia, China, British Broadcasting Coroproation, English.

Examples:

  • We have written to Mary.
  • Is China in Asia?
  • Do you speak English?

15. Basic Sentence Structure

Spell proper adjectives with an intitial capital letter. Proper adjectives are made from proper nouns, for example Germany- German, Orwell – Orwellian, Machiavellie – Machiavellian.

Examples:

  • London is an English town.
  • Who is the Canadian prime minister?
  • Which is your favorite Shakesperan play?

16. Basic Sentence Structure

Use the idefinite article a/an for countable nouns in general. Use the definite article the for specific countable nouns and all uncountable nouns.

Examples;

  • I saw a bird and a ballon in the sky. The bird was blue and the balloon was yellow.
  • He always saves some of the money that he earns.

17. Basic Sentence Structure

Use the indefintie article a with words beginning with a consonant sound. Use the indefinite article an with words beginning with a vowel sound.

Examples;

  • a cat, a game of golf, a human endeavour, a Frenchman, a university
  • an apple, an easy job, an interesting story, an old man, an umbrella, an honorable man

18. Basic Sentence Structure

Use many or few with countable nouns. Use much/a lot or little for uncountable nouns.

Examples;

  • How many dollars do you have?
  • How much money do you have?
  • There are a few cars outside.
  • There is little traffic on the roads.

19. Basic Sentence Structure

To show possession (who is the owner of something) use an apostrophe +s for singular owners, and s + apostrophe for plural owners.

Examples:

  • The boy’s dog. (one boy)
  • The boys’ dog. (two or more boys)

20. Basic Sentence Structure

In general, use the active voice (Cats eat fish) in preference to the passive voice (Fish are eaten by cats).

Examples:

  • We use active in preference to passive.
  • Active is used in preference to passive.

How to memorize Rules of Grammar?

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Frequently Asked Question Relating to Rule of Grammar

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