Essential Grammar Rules: Master Basic & Advanced Writing Skills

• Oct 25, 2024
• 5 min read

• Tags: English as a Second Language / ESL, Grammar, Language, Writing Tips

Ever found yourself second-guessing whether to use “they’re”, “their”, or “there”? Or maybe you find yourself confused about subject-verb agreement or the elusive comma splice. Welcome to the world of grammar rules in English, where nothing is as important as clarity and accuracy. 

In this blog, we will talk about English grammar, one rule at a time, and explain why using correct grammar is crucial in writing. Anyone can join us on this language exploration—a budding writer, a student looking for academic writing support, or someone who wishes to build a strong foundation in English. Let’s learn together! 

The fundamentals of grammar

Let us first answer the question, “What is grammar”. Grammar is the set of rules that govern how sentences are constructed in any language. In English, certain key aspects of grammar, called grammar rules, must be considered to ensure your communication is effective, clear, and impactful. 

Without properly learning and applying grammar rules, writing good content is nearly impossible. Before we take a look at the various grammar rules, let us break down a few key components, starting with sentence structure. 

Sentence structure

A sentence is made up of three essential parts: the subject, predicate, and object.

• Subject: The subject of a sentence is the person, place, thing, or idea that performs the action or is being described. 

The cat (subject) is sleeping.

• Predicate: The predicate tells us what the subject is doing or what state it is in. It usually contains a verb. 

The cat is sleeping (predicate).

• Object: The object receives the action in a sentence. It is typically a noun or pronoun. 

She kicked the ball (object).

Understanding these roles helps craft well-structured sentences that clearly express actions, ideas, and relationships between elements. 

Parts of speech

The most important thing any writer must understand is the concept of parts of a sentence to ensure correct grammar usage. 

Basic grammar rules cannot be applied to your writing unless you understand the parts of a sentence. There are eight parts of speech in English, and each plays a distinct role in sentence formation:

• Noun: Names a person, place, thing, or idea (e.g., dog, city, love).
• Pronoun: Replaces a noun (e.g., he, she, it).
• Verb: Describes an action or state of being (e.g., run, is).
• Adjective: Modifies a noun or pronoun, providing more detail (e.g., blue, fast).
• Adverb: Modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverbs, explaining how something is done (e.g., quickly, very).
• Preposition: Shows relationships between a noun (or pronoun) and other words (e.g., in, on, between).
• Conjunction: Connects words, phrases, or clauses (e.g., and, but, because).
• Interjection: Expresses emotion or exclamation (e.g., Wow!, Oops!).

You can use grammar checkers and grammar tools to eliminate grammar mistakes from your text. 

Top 10 grammar rules

Grammar mistakes are not uncommon in written content. However, you can make an impression by avoiding them and ensuring your text is free of all grammatical errors. 

It establishes your credibility, irrespective of whether you are a student, a working professional, a content writer, or anyone who communicates using the written word. 

Before you can do this, you must understand the most important rules of grammar that help you form correct sentences. Let us see the top 10 grammar rules in this section. 

1. Subject-verb agreement

• Rule: The subject and verb of a sentence must agree in number.

He is a student. (Singular subject, singular verb)

They are students. (Plural subject, plural verb)

2. Proper use of tenses in English grammar

• Rule: Choose the correct tense to indicate the time of the action or state.

I went to the store yesterday. (Past tense) 

He is studying now. (Present continuous tense)

She will travel next week. (Future tense)

3. Correct use of articles (a, an, the)

• Rule: Use “a” or “an” before singular countable nouns. Use “the” before specific or known nouns.

I saw a dog. (Indefinite article)

The dog I saw was friendly. (Definite article)

4. Pronoun-antecedent agreement

• Rule: A pronoun must agree in number and gender with its antecedent (the noun it refers to).

John lost his book. (Singular antecedent, singular pronoun)

The girls lost their books. (Plural antecedent, plural pronoun)

5. Correct use of commas

• Rule: Use commas to separate items in a list, after introductory phrases, and to set off non-essential clauses.

I bought apples, oranges, and bananas. 

After eating breakfast, we went for a walk. 

The dog, which is very friendly, loves to play.

6. Run-on sentence and comma splice issues

• Rule: Avoid run-on sentences (two independent clauses joined without punctuation) and comma splices (joining two independent clauses with only a comma).

Incorrect: I like pizza, I also like pasta. 

Correct: I like pizza and pasta.

Correct: I like pizza. I also like pasta.

7. Use parallel structure

• Rule: Use parallel structure when listing items or comparing elements.

He likes to swim, run, and play tennis. (Parallel verbs) 

She is tall, intelligent, and kind. (Parallel adjectives)

8. Correct use of adjectives and adverbs

• Rule: Use adjectives to describe nouns, and adverbs to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

The beautiful flower bloomed brightly. (An adjective modifies a noun; an adverb modifies a verb)

9. Avoid double negatives

• Rule: Don’t use two negative words in the same sentence.

Incorrect: I don’t have no money. 

Correct: I don’t have any money.

10. Misplaced modifiers

• Rule: Place modifiers as close as possible to the words they modify to avoid confusion.

Incorrect: The dog chased the ball, barking loudly. 

Correct: The dog, barking loudly, chased the ball.

Some other common grammar mistakes are:

• Apostrophe misuse: Confusing “its” (possessive) with “it’s” (contraction of it is).
• Confusing homophones: Mixing up similar-sounding words like their, there, and they’re.
• Incorrect pronoun reference: Using pronouns without clear antecedents (e.g., He said to give it to him).
• Too many passive voice sentences: Overusing passive voice instead of active voice.
• Incomplete comparisons: John is taller than anyone in his class (should specify anyone else to indicate the comparison).

Advanced grammar rules for fluent writing

Fluent writing requires mastery of advanced grammar rules. These rules ensure precision, making your writing more professional and easier to understand. 

Let us study some key aspects of advanced grammar that can enhance your writing.

1. Tenses and their usage

Correct tense usage is critical to indicate when an action takes place. English has three basic tenses (past, present, and future). They are further divided into four forms: simple, continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous. Here’s a quick guide:

Simple tenses

• Simple Present: Used for habits, general truths, and future events.

I play tennis every Tuesday.

The sun rises in the east.

The train leaves at 3 PM.

• Simple Past: Used for completed actions in the past.

She went to the store yesterday.

They lived in New York for five years.

• Simple Future: Used for future actions or predictions.

We will go on vacation next week.

It will probably rain tomorrow.

Continuous tenses

• Present Continuous: Used for actions happening now or around the time of speaking.

I am watching a movie right now.

They are playing football in the park.

• Past Continuous: Used for actions that were happening at a specific time in the past.

He was sleeping when the phone rang.

We were walking home when it started to rain.

• Future Continuous: Used for actions that will be happening at a specific time in the future.

I will be working on my project tomorrow afternoon.

They will be having dinner when we arrive.

Perfect tenses

• Present Perfect: Used for actions that started in the past and continue to the present, or for completed actions in the past when the time is not specified.

I have lived here for ten years.

Have you ever been to Paris?

• Past Perfect: Used for actions completed before another action in the past.

She had finished her homework before she went out.

They had eaten dinner before we arrived.

• Future Perfect: Used for actions that will be completed before a specific time in the future.

I will have finished my report by Friday.

They will have left by the time you get there.

Perfect Continuous tenses

• Present Perfect Continuous: Used for actions that started in the past and are continuing.

I have been waiting for him for an hour.

They have been living in this house since 2010.

• Past Perfect Continuous: Used for actions that were happening for a period of time before another action in the past.

She had been studying for two hours before she took the test.

They had been playing tennis for an hour when it started to rain.

• Future Perfect Continuous: Used for actions that will be happening for a period of time before a specific time in the future.

I will have been working on this project for three months by the end of the year.

They will have been traveling for six weeks by the time they reach their destination.

2. Passive vs. active voice

Voice refers to the relationship between the subject and the action of the verb. There are two voices in English: active and passive.

• Active Voice: In active sentences, the subject performs the action. This voice is clear, direct, and preferred in most writing.

The chef cooked the meal.

• Passive Voice: In passive sentences, the subject receives the action. The performer of the action may or may not be mentioned.

The meal was cooked by the chef.

3. Comma usage

Commas are essential for clarity, but they are frequently misused. Their correct placement prevents confusion in writing. Below are some of the most common comma rules:

• Use commas to separate items in a list:

I need to buy eggs, bread, milk, and cheese.

• Use a comma before a conjunction (and, but, or) when connecting two independent clauses:

I wanted to go to the park, but it started raining.

• Place a comma after introductory words, phrases, or clauses:

After the meeting, we went for coffee.

• Use commas to set off non-essential clauses or phrases (information that could be removed without changing the basic meaning of your sentence):

My brother, who lives in London, is visiting this weekend.

• Use commas in dates, addresses, and titles:

On June 12, 2024, we will attend the conference.

4. Apostrophes and their functions

Apostrophes serve two primary functions in writing: showing possession and forming contractions.

• To show possession:

Singular possession: Add an apostrophe and an s to show possession by one person or thing.

The cat’s bowl (the bowl belongs to the cat).

Plural possession: If the noun is plural and ends in s, add only an apostrophe.

The students’ books (the books belong to the students).

• To form contractions: Apostrophes replace missing letters in contractions.

It’s (it is)

Don’t (do not)

She’ll (she will)

Grammar tips & tools

• Extensive reading: The more you read, the better you’ll become at interpreting grammar rules and using correct grammar in your content.
• Practice writing: Regular writing helps you identify and correct grammar mistakes in your content.
• Use a grammar checker: Tools like Grammarly or Microsoft Word’s built-in grammar checker can help spot errors.
• Proofread carefully: Always proofread your work before submitting it to ensure it is devoid of errors.

Some popular online grammar checkers that can help you avoid common grammar errors are Grammarly, LanguageTool, WordTune, Microsoft Word, ProWritingAid, Hemingway Editor, etc. 

No one ever became a great writer by ignoring grammar rules. While creativity and style are essential, a solid foundation in grammar is the building block upon which all effective writing is built. By applying these rules, you can ensure that others can understand you well, which is important in both written and spoken communication.

For professional language and grammar correction assistance, use our editing and proofreading services. Our editors not only correct grammar but also make sure the content is aligned to your specific requirements. 

Here are some other grammar articles you might want to check out: 

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Rashmi

Rashmi is a versatile writer with a passion for developing engaging long-form content. With a keen interest in both academic and business spheres, she enjoys creating comprehensive content pieces that readers find informative and interesting. She endeavors to exercise her intellectual curiosity, explore new perspectives, and consider different possibilities through her writing.