9 Rules of Grammar
English can be hard to learn. Like most languages, it has its rules you need to follow. From writing to speaking English, learn 9 grammar rules that are important to know.
1. Use Active Voice
When it comes to English grammar rules, you can start with your voice. Every human language starts an active sentence with the subject or the "doer." In English, the verb (what's being done) follows the subject. If there is an object (the receiver of the action), it comes after the verb.
2. Link Ideas With a Conjunction
Sometimes you want to link two ideas with a second S+V+O combination. When you do, you need a coordinating conjunction. The addition of the coordinating conjunction creates a new layout for you to follow.
3. Use a Comma to Connect Two Ideas as One
Coordinating conjunctions are used when connecting two ideas as one in a single sentence, but don't forget the comma.
4. Use a Serial Comma in a List
The serial, or Oxford, comma is a controversial rule of grammar. Some want to eliminate it altogether, while others just don't know how to use it. The serial comma is the last comma in a list, usually appearing before "and." So.
5. Use the Semicolon to Join Two Ideas
When it comes to a list of grammar rules, you have to include the scariest of punctuation marks. It might look funny, but don't be afraid of the semicolon; it's the easiest thing in the world to use! Say you want to join two ideas but can't figure out or can't be bothered to use a coordinating conjunction. The two ideas can be separate sentences, but you think that they are so closely connected; they really should be one. Use a semicolon.
6. Add -ed to Verbs for the Past Tense
When we talk about the past, we have to add an -ed to regular verbs to make the past tense form. Irregular verbs are tricky and have their own sets of rules, but most of the time, you make it past tense by adding -ed.
7. Use Present Perfect for the Unfinished Past
The present perfect can be confusing for some, but it is one of the most important rules of grammar. For example, when people talk about things that have already happened but consider the time in which they occurred to be unfinished, they use the present perfect with a helping verb. The helping verb for the present perfect is the present tense conjugation of "to have."
8. Use Present Perfect Progressive for Unfinished Action and Past
When the action, as well as the time, is considered unfinished, the verb loads up on present perfect form helping verbs ("to be" and "to have") and changes to the progressive form. When you use this form, it looks like these examples.
9. Use Past Perfect for the First of Two Past Actions
When two things happen in the past, we have to mark which one happened first. The one that happened first changes to the past perfect form and gets the helping verb "had."
Understanding and consistently following the basic English grammar rules will help you speak and write English correctly and with minimal hesitation. And it’s one of the key steps to becoming proficient with the English language. See more English grammar fun by checking out 10 examples of bad grammar.
