Whether you’re writing an academic essay, crafting an email, or just having a conversation, a strong command of English grammar is essential. Grammar isn’t just about following rules—it’s about making your message clear and effective. To help you sharpen your skills, here are 11 essential grammar rules every English learner and user should know and remember.
1. A Sentence Must Have a Subject and a Verb
Every complete sentence in English must have at least two essential components: a subject (who or what the sentence is about) and a verb (what the subject is doing).
✅ Correct: She runs every morning.
❌ Incorrect: Runs every morning. (Missing subject)
Even the simplest sentences like “He sleeps” or “Birds fly” follow this rule.
2. Use Correct Subject-Verb Agreement
Subjects and verbs must agree in number. This means that a singular subject requires a singular verb, while a plural subject must be paired with a plural verb.
✅ Correct: The dog barks loudly.
❌ Incorrect: The dog bark loudly.
For example:
- “She has a new book.” (singular)
- “They have new books.” (plural)
Watch out for tricky subjects like “everyone,” “nobody,” or phrases that seem plural but are treated as singular.
3. Watch Your Tenses
Verb tense shows the time of an action. Mixing up tenses in your writing can confuse readers. Always stay consistent unless you have a reason to change tense for clarity.
✅ Correct: She visited the store and picked up some groceries.
❌ Incorrect: She visits the store and picked up some groceries.
Choose the right tense for your context—past, present, or future—and stick with it throughout your sentence or paragraph.
4. Use Articles Correctly: A, An, The
Articles are small but powerful. “A” and “an” are types of indefinite articles, typically used when mentioning something non-specific or introducing it for the first time. “The” is a definite article, used for something specific or previously mentioned.
- “I saw a cat on the street.”
- “The cat looked hungry.”
- “He wants an apple.”
Use “a” when the word that follows begins with a consonant sound, and “an” when it begins with a vowel sound.
5. Use Commas to Avoid Confusion
A well-placed comma can change the meaning of a sentence.
- “Let’s eat, Grandma.” (We’re inviting Grandma to eat.)
- “Let’s eat Grandma.” (We’re eating Grandma! 😬)
Use commas to separate elements in a list, after introductory phrases, and to separate clauses in compound or complex sentences.
✅ Correct: After dinner, we watched a movie.
6. Avoid Sentence Fragments
A sentence fragment is a group of words that does not form a complete sentence. It may be missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought.
❌ Fragment: Because I was late.
✅ Complete: I missed the meeting because I was late.
While sentence fragments often appear in casual conversation, they should be avoided in formal or academic writing.
7. Use “Who” and “Whom” Properly
This classic grammar dilemma trips up many native speakers.
- Use “who” when referring to the subject performing the action.
- Example: “Who is on the phone?”
- Use “whom” when referring to the object receiving the action.
- Example: “To whom should the package be sent?”
Quick Tip: Replace “who” with “he” and “whom” with “him” to test your sentence.
If “he” sounds right, use “who.”
If “him” fits better, “whom” is correct.
Example:
✅ To who/whom did you speak? → You spoke to him → ✅ Whom is correct.
✅ Who/Whom called you? → He called you → ✅ Who is correct.
8. Know When to Use “Its” vs. “It’s”
This is a common grammar pitfall.
- “It’s” is a contraction of “it is” or “it has.”
- Example: It’s going to rain soon. (= It is going to rain soon)
- Example: It’s been a long day. (= It has been a long day)
- “Its” is a possessive pronoun that shows ownership or belonging.
- Example: The dog chased its tail.
9. Don’t Overuse Passive Voice
Passive voice isn’t always incorrect, but overusing it can make writing vague or dull. It occurs when the subject of a sentence is acted upon rather than performing the action.
✅ Active: The chef prepared the meal.
❌ Passive: The meal was prepared by the chef.
Choose active voice when you want your writing to be clear and direct. Use passive voice when the performer of the action is unknown, irrelevant, or less important than the action itself.
10. Place Modifiers Near the Words They Modify
Misplaced modifiers can make a sentence unclear or unintentionally funny.
❌ Incorrect: He nearly cooked dinner for an hour.
✅ Correct: He cooked dinner for nearly an hour.
In the first sentence, it sounds like she almost drove them (but didn’t). In the second, it’s clear she drove them frequently.
11. Avoid Double Negatives
In English, two negatives in a sentence usually cancel each other out, leading to confusion.
❌ Incorrect: I don’t know nothing.
✅ Correct: I don’t know anything.
Double negatives can make your message unclear and are generally considered poor grammar in standard English.
Bonus Tips to Improve Your Grammar
In addition to the core rules above, here are a few bonus tips to strengthen your grammar:
- Read widely: Exposure to well-written material improves your instinct for correct grammar.
- Practice consistently: Grammar improves with regular writing and review.
- Use tools wisely: Grammar checkers and apps can help spot errors, but understanding the rules is key.
- Learn from mistakes: Review corrections and try to understand why something was wrong.
Final Thoughts
Good grammar is more than just a set of rules—it’s the foundation of clear, confident communication. Whether you’re a student, a professional, or an English language learner, these 11 grammar rules are essential tools for mastering the language.
As you develop your English skills, it’s helpful to revisit these fundamental rules regularly. The more you practice, the more natural proper grammar will become. And remember—every great communicator was once a beginner!
