English Grammar Rules

Choosing between -ed (bored) and -ing (boring) adjectives

Comparing equal things: as tall as, not as good as, as much as

Comparing two things: taller, more expensive, better

Comparing three or more: the tallest, the most expensive, the best

The correct order for multiple adjectives: opinion-size-age-shape-color-origin-material-purpose

Very tired vs absolutely exhausted: which modifiers to use

Intensity and extent: very, quite, extremely, too, enough

How often: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never

How something is done: quickly, carefully, well, badly

When things happen: yesterday, today, soon, already, yet, still

Sufficiency and excess: good enough, too hot, enough money, too much

Expressing attitude: fortunately, obviously, surprisingly, honestly

Intensifiers: so tired, such a mess, so much, such beautiful weather

Expressing opinions: I agree, I think so too, I'm not sure about that

Agreeing with statements: So do I, Neither can she, I do too, I don't either

Use a/an for general or first mention; the for specific or known items

When no article is used with plural/uncountable nouns and generic references

When to use 'the' with countries, rivers, mountains, and other geographical names

Tricky article usage: school vs the school, in hospital, play the piano

Clauses that modify verbs: because, although, when, if, so that

Clauses that function as nouns: what you said, that she left, whether it works

Shortened clauses using -ing or -ed: Having finished, she left. Shocked by the news, he sat down.

General truths and facts: If/When + present, present

Real/likely future results: If + present, will + base verb

Unreal or unlikely present/future results: If + past, would + base

Unreal past results: If + past perfect, would have + V3

Combining different time frames: past condition → present result or present condition → past result

Connecting cause and effect with because, so, therefore

Joining equal parts: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Connecting events in time with before, after, while, until, as soon as

Link contrasting ideas using although, though, even though, however

Expressing purpose with so that / in order to

After when/if/as soon as/before/after, use present for future meaning

Joining dependent clauses: because, although, if, when, while, unless

Pointing to things near and far: this book, that car, these shoes, those people

Words that show ownership before nouns: my, your, his, her, its, our, their

Introducing existence: There is a book. There are many people.

It as empty subject: It's raining. It seems that... It's important to...

Emphasizing information: It was John who called. What I need is coffee.

Leaving out words to avoid repetition: I can swim and she can too → I can swim and she can

Reversing word order for effect: Never have I seen..., Not only did she...

Replacing words to avoid repetition: do so, one/ones, that/those

Choosing between verb + -ing and verb + to + base

Adding information: and, also, too, as well, moreover, furthermore, in addition

Giving examples: for example, such as, for instance, like

Ordering ideas: first, then, next, after that, finally, in conclusion

Showing contrast: however, nevertheless, on the other hand, in contrast

Asking for and giving permission with can/may

Giving advice and recommendations with should/ought to

Expressing ability with can, could, and be able to

Polite requests and offers: Can I...? Could you...? Would you like...? Shall I...?

Expressing obligation and necessity with must / have to / don't have to / mustn't

Expressing degrees of certainty: may, might, could, must

Making logical conclusions: must be, can't be, might be, could be

Expressing obligation: must, have to, need to, should, ought to

Making sentences negative: don't, doesn't, isn't, can't, haven't

Negative determiners and pronouns: no time, none left, nothing happened

Negative pairs: neither...nor, either...or, not...either

Understanding count nouns (a book, two books) vs mass nouns (water, information)

Nouns that don't follow regular -s/-es plural rules

Showing ownership with 's and of: John's book, the leg of the table

Regular plural rules: add -s, -es, -ies, and special cases

Two words forming one noun: toothpaste, bus stop, mother-in-law

Counting vs ordering: one/first, two/second, three/third

Expressing dates and times: on Monday, in January, at 3 o'clock

Expressing parts: half, quarter, third, 0.5, 2.75

Focus on the action or receiver, not the doer: be + past participle

Modal + be + past participle: can be done, must be seen, should be finished

Advanced passive forms: perfect/continuous, get-passives, causatives

Using in, on, at for time expressions

Using in, on, at for locations

Showing direction with to, into, onto, from

Fixed prepositions that follow certain verbs and adjectives: interested in, depend on, good at

Fixed combinations: afraid of, good at, interested in, proud of

Showing ownership: my/mine, your/yours, his, her/hers, its, our/ours, their/theirs

Using myself, yourself, himself, herself, itself, ourselves, yourselves, themselves

I/me, he/him, she/her, we/us, they/them - when to use each

Referring to unspecified people/things: someone, anything, nobody, everywhere

Using who, whom, whose, which, and that to connect clauses

Using apostrophes for possession and contractions

When and how to use commas correctly in English

Advanced punctuation: ; for related clauses, : for lists and explanations

Individual vs group: each student (one by one) vs every student (all together)

Expressing quantity with much, many, and a lot of

Using some, any, and no with countable and uncountable nouns

Responding to yes/no questions: Yes, I do. No, she isn't. Yes, they have.

Questions with who, what, where, when, why, which, how

Questions answered with yes or no: Do you like coffee? Is she coming?

Short questions at the end of statements: isn't it?, don't you?, can't she?

Who saw him? (subject) vs Who did he see? (object)

Whatever, whoever, whenever, wherever, however: any... at all

Combine sentences by adding information with who/which/that/where/when/whose

Shortening defining relative clauses with -ing/-ed or to-infinitive forms

Reporting what someone said with backshift and pronoun/time changes

Reporting yes/no and wh- questions, and commands/requests

Different ways to report: say, tell, ask, suggest, admit, promise, warn

Understanding sentence types: simple, compound, and complex

Basic English word order: The dog (S) chased (V) the cat (O)

When to double final consonants: stop → stopping, big → bigger

Words that sound the same but have different meanings: their/there/they're

The classic spelling rule: i before e except after c

Letters we write but don't pronounce: knife, psychology, doubt

Word beginnings that change meaning: un-, re-, dis-, pre-, mis-

Word endings that change word class: -tion, -ness, -able, -ly, -ment

Used for habits, facts, routines, and general truths

Actions happening now or around now, and temporary situations

Completed actions or states in the past with a finished time reference

Decisions made now, predictions, promises, offers, and future facts

Choosing simple vs continuous forms for present, past, future

Plans, intentions, and predictions based on evidence: I'm going to visit Paris

Actions in progress at a specific past time: was/were + verb-ing

Links past actions to the present: life experience, recent events, unfinished time

Actions that started in the past and continue now, or recently stopped with a present result

Actions completed before another past action/time: had + past participle

Actions in progress at a specific future time: will be + verb-ing

Actions in progress before another past event: had been + verb-ing

Action completed before a specific future time: will have + V3

Actions in progress up to a future point: will have been + verb-ing

Giving commands, instructions, and requests: Open the door. Please sit down.

Common expressions with make and do: make a decision, do homework

Making subjects and verbs match in number: singular subjects take singular verbs

Getting others to do things: have something done, make someone do, let someone do

Common expressions: have a look, have a rest, get ready, get lost

Phrasal verbs where the object must come after the particle: look after the children (not look the children after)

Phrasal verbs where the object can go between verb and particle: turn off the light / turn the light off

Verbs that describe states and rarely use continuous forms

Expressing past habits and states: used to do, would do, be used to doing

What follows verbs: verb + to, verb + -ing, verb + object + to

Expressing regrets and hypothetical desires: I wish I had more time

Key differences: colour/color, lift/elevator, have got/have

Words often mixed up: borrow/lend, bring/take, say/tell, do/make

Comparing two or more things using -er/more and -est/most

Forming yes/no and wh- questions with correct inversion

Placing adverbs of manner, frequency, time, and place correctly

Embedded questions with statement word order: I wonder where she is