GRAMMAR RULES

GRAMMAR RULES

Rule	Example
1. A sentence must always have a subject and a verb.	She runs every morning.
2. Use a singular verb with a singular subject.	The dog barks loudly.
3. Use a plural verb with a plural subject.	The dogs bark loudly.
4. With "l" and "you," always use a plural verb.	You are ready. / I am happy.
5. Collective nouns take singular verbs if the group acts as one.	The committee decides today.
6. Collective nouns take plural verbs if members act individually.	The committee are arguing among themselves.
7. Indefinite pronouns like "everyone," "each,"somebody" are singular	Everyone is here.
8. "Both," "many," "few," and "several" are plural.	Few were chosen.
9. With "either/or" or "neither/nor, " verb agrees with the nearer subject	Neither the teacher nor the students are late.
10. Adjectives usually come before the noun.	She wore a red dress.
11. Use articles correctly: a before consonant sounds, "an" before vowel sounds.	A car, an apple.
12. "The" is used for something specific or known.	The moon is full tonight.
13. Proper nouns usually don't take an article.	Mount Everest is the highest peak.
14. Use the present simple for habits or facts.	Birds fly.
15. Use present continuousfor actions happening now.	She is singing.
16. Use past simple for complete actions.	They visited Paris last year.
17. Use past continuous for actions happening at a past time.	She was cooking when I arrived.
18. Use present perfect for actions with relevance to the present.	I have finished my homework.
19. Use present perfect continuous for ongoing actions started in the past.	She has been studying since morning.
20, Use past perfect for an action before another past action.	He had left before I arrived.
21. Use past perfect continuous for an action ongoing until another past event.	She had been waiting for two hours when the bus came.
22. Use future simple for predictions or decisions made now.	I will call you later.
23. Use future continuous for actions happening at a future time.	I will be working at 10 a.m.
24. Use future perfect for an action completed before a future time,	By 2026, she will have graduated.
25. Use future perfect continuous for ongoing actions up to futur point.	By next year, I will have been working here for a decade.
26. Adverbs of frequency go before the main verb.	She always arrives early.
27. With "to be," adverbs of frequency go after the verb.	He is often late.
28. Comparative adjectives compare two things.	She is taller than him.
29. Superlative adjectives compare three or more things.	This is the tallest building.
30. Double comparatives are incorrect.	x More better * Better
31. Use "much" with uncountable nouns.	Much water is wasted.
32. Use "many" with countable nouns.	Many books are on the shelf.
33. "Fewer" is for countable nouns, "less" for uncountable.	Fewer cars, less traffic.
34. Don't use double negatives in standard English.	X I don't need no help I don't need any help.
35. Use "who" as a subjec pronoun.	Who is calling?
36. Use "whom" as an objec pronoun.	Whom did you see?
37. Use "which" for choices, "what" for open questions.	Which color do you want?
38. "That" introduces defining clauses, "which" for non-defining.	The book that I bought is new.
39. Use commas with non-defining clauses.	My brother, who lives in London, is visiting.
40. Do not use commas with defining clauses.	The man who called is my teacher.
41. Always use parallel structure in a list.	She likes dancing, singing, and running.
42. Don't mix verb forms in parallel structure.	X He likes to read, writing, and to jog.
43. Use gerunds after prepositions.	She is interested in learning.
44. Use infinitives after adjectives.	It's easy to learn.
45. Use infinitives to expres purpose.	I came to study.
46. Some verbs are followed by) gerunds, not infinitives.	She enjoys swimming.
47. Some verbs are followed by infinitives, not gerunds.	She decided to leave.
48. Some verbs can take both, with a change in meaning.	She stopped smoking (quit). / She stopped to smoke (pause).
49. Use active voice for clarity.	The chef cooked the meal.
50. Use passive voice when the doer is unknown or unimportant.	The meal was cooked.
51. In reported speech, change present to past.	Direct: "l am tired." Reported: He said he had seen her.
52. In reported speech, past simple becomes past perfect.	"l saw her." He said he had seen her.
53. Questions in reported speech change word order.	"Where is she?" He asked where she was.
54. Modal verbs usually stay the same in reported speech	"l can swim." -5 She said she could swim.
55. Use "shall" for offers n British English.	Shall we go?
56. Use "should" for advice	You should see a doctor.
57. Use "must" for strong necessity.	You must wear a seatbelt,
58. Use "have to" for external obligation.	I have to finish this report.
59. Use "may" or "might" for possibility.	It may rain later.
60. Use "could" for past ability.	When I was young, I could run fast.
61. Use "can" for present ability.	She can sing well.
62. Use "ought to" for moral duty.	We ought to help the poor.
63. Use "used to" for past habits.	I used to play football.
64. Use "would" for repeated past actions.	He would tell stories every night.
65. A conditional sentence has "if'i and a result clause.	If it rains, we'll stay home.
66. Zero conditional: facts.	If you heat ice, it melts.
67. First conditional: real future possibility.	If it rains, I will stay in.
68. Second conditional: unreal present/future.	If I were rich, I would travel.
69. Third conditional: unreal past.	If I had studied, I would have passed.
70. Mixed conditional: past condition with present result.	If I had slept earlier, I wouldn't be so tired now.
71. Apostrophes show possession.	Sarah's book is new.
72. Apostrophes form contractions.	Don't = do not.
73. Do not use apostrophes for plurals.	X Apple's Apples
74. Use commas in lists.	I bought apples, bananas, and grapes.
75. Use a semicolon to connect related sentences.	I have a meeting; it starts at noon.
76. Use a colon to introduce lists or explanations.	Sine bought: apples, oranges, and pears.
77. Use quotation marks for direct speech.	She said, "I'm happy."
78. Periods and commas go inside quotation marks in American English.	"I'm ready," she said.
79. Question marks stay inside if part of the quote.	She asked, "Are you coming?"
80. Capitalize the first word of a sentence.	The book is new.
81. Capitalize proper nouns.	We visited London.
82. Do not capitalize common nouns unnecessarily.	X The Dog is cute The dog is cute.
83. Capitalize days, months, and holidays.	Monday, July, Christmas.
84. Don't capitalize seasons unless part of a title.	I love spring.
85. Use "a lot" as two words.	She reads a lot.
86. Don't confuse "its"	The dog wagged its tail. / It's raining.
(possessive) and "it's" (it is
87. Don't confuse "your"	Your book is here. / You're right.
(possessive) and "you're" (you are).
88. Don't confuse "their," "there," and "they're."	Their car, over there, they're waiting.
89. Don't confuse "then" (time) and "than" (comparison).	I was younger then. / She is taller than me.
90. Don't confuse "affect" (verb) and "effect" (noun).	The weather affects me. / The effect was strong.
91. Don't confuse "lay" (put something down) and "lie" (rest).	Lay the book down. / I need to lie down.
92. Use "fewer" for countables, "less" for uncountables.	Fewer chairs, less sugar.
93. Use "between" for two, "among" for more than two.	Between two cities, among friends.
94. Use "who's" for "who is," "whose" for possession.	Who's coming? / Whose bag is this?
95. "That" is restrictive, "which" os non-restrictive.	The car that is red is mine.
96. Avoid sentence fragments in formal writing.	X Running fast. She is fast.
97. Avoid run-on sentences.	X I like tea I drink it daily * I like tea, and I deink it daily.
98. Use subject�verb-object order in English.	She (S) eats (V) apples (O).
99. Place time expressions at the end of a sentence.	I met him yesterday.
100. Place manner adverbs before place and time.	She sang beautifully in Paris last night.
101. In formal writing, avoid contractions.	Informal: I can't go. * Formal: _l cannot go.