English Grammar
Your comprehensive guide to mastering English grammar fundamentals
What Is English Grammar?
English grammar is the system of rules that govern how words are combined to form meaningful sentences. It includes the structure of words, phrases, clauses, and sentences.
Understanding grammar helps you communicate clearly, write effectively, and express your ideas with precision and style.
Core Components of Grammar
Parts of Speech
The building blocks of language
Nouns, Verbs, Adjectives
Adverbs, Pronouns, Prepositions
Conjunctions, Interjections
Sentence Structure
How words combine to form sentences
Subject + Verb + Object
Phrases and Clauses
Simple, Compound, Complex
Essential Grammar Rules
Subject-Verb Agreement
The verb must agree with its subject in number and person
She likes music. (singular subject, singular verb)
They like music. (plural subject, plural verb)
I am happy. (first person singular)
Tense Consistency
Maintain consistent verb tenses within a sentence or paragraph
I went to the store and bought milk. (both past tense)
She is studying now and will take the test tomorrow. (present and future)
Proper Punctuation
Use punctuation marks correctly to clarify meaning
Let's eat, Grandma! (comma separates direct address)
Let's eat Grandma! (without comma, meaning changes)
The student's book (apostrophe shows possession)
Common Grammar Mistakes
Frequently Confused Words
Words that sound similar but have different meanings
their/there/they're
your/you're
its/it's
affect/effect
Sentence Fragments
Incomplete sentences that lack essential elements
❌ Running in the park.
✅ I was running in the park.
❌ Because it was raining.
✅ I stayed home because it was raining.
Interactive Quizzes
Quiz 1: Parts of Speech
Identify the part of speech for each word:
1. "The beautiful flowers bloomed quickly."
Answer: the (article), beautiful (adjective), flowers (noun), bloomed (verb), quickly (adverb)
2. "She runs and jumps in the park."
Answer: she (pronoun), runs (verb), and (conjunction), jumps (verb), in (preposition), the (article), park (noun)
Quiz 2: Subject-Verb Agreement
Choose the correct verb form:
1. The students _____ (is/are) studying for the exam.
Answer: are (plural subject needs plural verb)
2. Neither John nor Mary _____ (like/likes) coffee.
Answer: likes (singular verb with "neither...nor")
Quiz 3: Fix Grammar Errors
Correct these sentences:
1. "Me and him went to the store."
Answer: "He and I went to the store." (use subject pronouns)
2. "The book is laying on the table."
Answer: "The book is lying on the table." (lay = put down, lie = recline)
Quiz 4: Complete Sentences
Complete these sentence fragments:
1. Running in the park _____
Answer: is fun. (add subject and verb)
2. Because it was raining _____
Answer: I stayed home. (add independent clause)
Important Notes
• Grammar rules exist to make communication clear and effective, not to restrict creativity.
• Context matters - formal writing requires stricter adherence to grammar rules than casual conversation.
• Practice is essential - reading good writing helps develop an intuitive sense of correct grammar.
• When in doubt, keep sentences simple and clear rather than complex and potentially incorrect.
Pro Tip
Read your writing aloud. Your ear often catches grammar mistakes that your eye might miss. If something sounds wrong, it probably is wrong.