Understanding the rules of grammar is essential for effective communication in English. Whether you’re writing or speaking, proper grammar ensures clarity and correctness in your sentences. Learning these fundamental grammar rules will help you build a strong foundation in English and avoid common mistakes.
In this article, we will cover 20 essential rules of grammar that every English learner must know. By following these rules, you can improve your writing, speaking, and overall understanding of the language.
Grammar rules are a set of rules that guide us to make grammatically correct sentences. Without following rules of grammar in speaking or writing, our sentences will not make any sense or convey true meanings of what we want to say in our communication.
20 Important Rules of Grammar
In English, rules of grammar guide us to make better sentences. A grammatically correct sentence makes complete sense and provides the meaning of what is being said in the sentence without any ambiguity. Here are 20 important rules of grammar explained with examples:
1. A Sentence Must Have a Subject and a Verb
A complete sentence must have a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a verb (what the subject does). Without these elements, a sentence is incomplete.
Examples:
- She sings beautifully. (She = subject, sings = verb)
- Sings beautifully. (missing subject)
2. A Complete Sentence Must Express a Complete Thought
A sentence must convey a full idea. If the sentence lacks meaning, it is called a sentence fragment and is considered incorrect.
Examples:
- I like reading books. (This sentence is complete.)
- Becuase I like reading. (Incomplete thought. What happens next?)
3. Use the Correct Word Order in a Sentence (SVO)
English follows a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) word order. Changing this order can make a sentence confusing or incorrect.
Examples:
- She eats an apple. (Subject: She, Verb: eats, Object: an apple)
- Eats she an apple. (Incorrect because of wrong word order)
Verb and Tense Rules of Grammar
4. Use the Correct Tense to Indicate Time
Tenses show when an action happens: past, present, or future. Using the wrong tense can change the meaning of a sentence.
Examples:
- Present Tense: She studies every day.
- Past Tense: She studied yesterday.
- Future Tense: She will study tomorrow.
5. Subject-Verb Agreement
The verb must match the subject in number (singular or plural).
Examples
- The dog runs fast. (Singular subject = dog, Singular verb = runs)
- The dogs run fast. (Plural subject = dogs, Plural verb = run)
6. Use Auxiliary Verbs Properly
Auxiliary verbs (helping verbs) like is, am, are, was, were, has, have, had, will, and shall are used to form different tenses and voices.
For example:
- She has finished her work.
- They were talking when I arrived.
Noun and Pronoun Rules of Grammar
7. A Noun Must Agree With Its Number and Gender
A noun must match its verb in number and be correctly gendered if necessary.
Examples:
- The boy plays soccer. (singular noun = singular verb)
- The boys play soccer. (plural noun = plural verb)
8. Use the Correct Pronoun to Replace a Noun
A pronoun (he, she, it, they, etc.) must correctly refer to a noun.
For Example;
- John is my friend. He is very kind.
- John is my friend. It is very kind. (People are not referred to as ‘it’)
9. Possessive Nouns Require an Apostrophe (‘s)
To show ownership, use ‘s for singular nouns and s’ for plural nouns.
Use apostrophes correctly to show ownership.
- The cat’s toy is missing. (correct)
- The cats toy is missing. (incorrect)
- The cat’s toy is missing. (singular: one cat)
- The cats’ toys are missing. (plural: multiple cats)
Adjective and Adverb Rules of Grammar
10. Adjectives Describe Nouns; Adverbs Describe Verbs
An adjective modifies a noun, while an adverb modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
Examples:Â
- She is a beautiful singer. (adjective describing noun)
- She sings beautifully. (adverb describing verb)
- She has a beautiful dress. (adjective describes ‘dress’)
11. Use Comparative (-er) and Superlatives (-est) Correctly
Comparatives compare two things, while superlatives compare three or more.
Examples:
- He is taller than me. (comparative)
- He is the tallest in the class. (superlative)
- This book is better than that one. (comparative)
- This is the best book I’ve read. (superlative)
12. Adverbs of Frequency Come Before the Main Verb
Adverbs like always, often, never, sometimes are placed before the main verb but after ‘be’ verbs.
Examples:Â
- She always drinks coffee in the morning. (correct)
- She drinks always coffee in the morning. (incorrect)
Preposition and Conjunction Rules of Grammar
13. Prepositions Show Relationships Between Words
Prepositions indicate direction, place, or time.
Examples:
- The book is on the table. (Correct)
- She sat beside her friend. (Correct)
14. Use Coordinating Conjunctions (FANBOYS) Correctly
Use coordinating conjunctions (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) correctly because these words connect two independent clauses.
Examples:Â
- I wanted to go out, but it was raining. (Correct)
- I wanted to go out. But it was raining. (Incorrect)
- I wanted to go out, but it was raining.
- I wanted to go out. But it was raining. (Fragment)
15. Subordinating Conjunctions Connect Clauses
Subordinating conjunctions (e.g., because, although, since, unless, while) help connect a dependent clause to an independent clause. This makes sentences clearer by explaining relationships between ideas, such as cause and effect or contrast.
Examples:
- She stayed home because she was sick.
Here the dependent clause “because she was sick” explains the reason for staying home.
- Although it was raining, we still went for a walk.Â
The dependent clause “Although it was raining” contrasts the action.
By using subordinating conjunctions correctly, you can make sentences more meaningful and structured.
Punctuation Rules of Grammar
16. Use a Capital Letter at the Beginning of a Sentence and for Proper Nouns
Capitalization helps differentiate proper nouns (specific names of people, places, or things) from common nouns. It also marks the beginning of a sentence for clarity.
Examples:
- London is a beautiful city. (proper noun: London is capitalized)
- I love learning English. (Sentence starts with a capital letter)
- i love learning English. (incorrect)
(i should be I, and English should be English)
Proper capitalization ensures that your writing is professional, clear, and grammatically correct.
17. Use Commas Correctly
Commas help organize ideas in a sentence, separate items in a list, and prevent confusion.
Examples:
- I bought apples, bananas, and oranges. (comma separates items in a list)
- After dinner, we went for a walk. (comma after an introductory phrase)
- I bought apples bananas and oranges (missing commas make it unclear)
Using commas correctly helps readers understand your writing without confusion.
18. Use Apostrophes for Contractions and Possessives
Apostrophes are used for contractions (to shorten words) and to indicate possession (ownership).
Examples of contractions:
- I don’t like cold weather. (shortened form of “do not”)
- She can’t come today. (shortened form of “cannot”)
- She cant come today. (Missing apostrophe)
Examples of possessives:
- John’s book is on the table. (The book belongs to John)
- The dogs’ toys are scattered everywhere. (Toys belong to multiple dogs)
- The dogs toys are scattered everywhere. (missing apostrophe for possession)
Apostrophes clarify meaning and help avoid confusion in writing.
Common Rules of Grammar for Effective Writing
19. Avoid Double Negatives in a Sentence
Double negatives cancel each other out and create confusion. In standard English, you should use only one negative word in a sentence.
Examples:Â
- I don’t have any money. (Correct)
- She has nothing to say. (Correct)
- I don’t have no money. (Incorrect: double negatives make the sentence unclear)
Avoiding double negatives improves sentence clarity and correctness.
20. Use Active Voice for Clarity
Active voice makes sentences direct, clear, and engaging. Passive voice, on the other hand, can make sentences weak or vague.
Examples of Active Voice:
- She wrote the book. (The subject performs the action.)
- The teacher explained the lesson. (Direct and clear.)
Examples of Passive Voice:
- The book was written by her. (Less direct)
- The lesson was explained by the teacher. (Less engaging)
Using active voice makes your writing more compelling and easier to understand.
Conclusion
Mastering these rules of grammar is key to improving your English skills. By applying these 20 important grammar rules, you can enhance both your writing and speaking abilities. Remember, grammar is the foundation of effective communication, so practice regularly to become more confident in using English.
By following these essential rules of grammar, you can avoid common mistakes and communicate more clearly and correctly. Keep learning, keep practicing, and soon, grammar will become second nature to you!
I hope this article helped you to learn 20 essential rules of grammar that every English learner must know. By following these rules, you can improve your writing, speaking, and overall understanding of the language.
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