30 English Grammar Rules

English grammar rules are the set of principles that govern the usage of the English language; that is, how you should use the English language is guided by English grammar rules. Most of the grammar rules, like vocabulary, are based on those of the Latin language.

Prescriptive grammars (school book grammars) tell us how we should use the language. These are the grammars that we study to correctly use English so that we can speak and write without any mistakes or errors. We have dedicated this post to such 30 English grammar rules.

This article covers:

• What is English grammar?
• Is grammar required for speaking?
• Tips on How to learn grammar
• 30 English grammar rules 

What is English Grammar?

English grammar is the set of rules that tells how English should be used according to the correct accepted standard. Grammar governs how words, phrases, clauses and sentences are and should be used.

Some of the major topics covered in grammar include parts of speech such as noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection, articles, punctuation marks, structures, words, phrases, clauses, sentences, tenses, etc.

Out of many types of grammar, traditional, transformational, prescriptive, descriptive, generative, historical grammars are some of them. These types of English grammar tell us how we should use the English language.

Is Grammar Required for Speaking?

The answer to "is grammar important for speaking?" is both yes and no depending on the learners and their demography. That is to say that, if you're living in an English speaking country, you may not need to learn grammar specifically. On the other hand, if you're living in a non English speaking country, you need to first learn grammar to be able to speak English. 

3 Tips on How to Learn Grammar 

1. Study Grammar Books: Grammar books are the first and foremost sources of learning English grammar. You have books written keeping in mind the different levels of English grammar. Start learning from basic grammar to advanced grammar or find out your grammar level and start accordingly.

2. Take up Grammar Exercises: Only learning grammar rules doesn't help you as the learned rules go to your passive memory. To be able to internalize the grammar rules required, you need to do grammar exercises.

3. Learn from Grammar Experts: Grammar teachers can play a vital role in helping you learn grammar fast. Therefore, you should be learning from a grammar expert who is well versed in all the essential grammar rules.

30 English Grammar Rules

There are numberless grammar rules that you need to learn to be able to speak and write English effectively and efficiently. No doubt that you can learn as many grammars as you want. However, there are some certain rules that you can't just avoid; you need to keep in mind forever. Here's a list of 30 English Grammar Rules:

1. Present Perfect vs. Past Simple 

a. Use present perfect for actions relevant to the present.

Examples:

• I have visited London.
• I have talked to him.  

b. Use past simple for actions that happened at a specific point in the past.

Examples:

• I visited my village last year.
• John dropped out of college last month.

2. Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns 

a. Use countable nouns for things that can be counted.

Examples:

• I have two books.
• John has three pens.

b. Use uncountable nouns for things that cannot be counted.

Examples:

• There is water in the bottle.
• There is wooden furniture in the room.

3. Relative Clauses  

Use relative clauses to give more information about a noun.

Examples:

• The scooter that I purchased is new.
• The boy who came yesterday is my friend.

4. Reported Speech

In reported speech, change the tense if the reporting verb is in the past.

Examples:

John said "I am talking to my friend." changes to John said that he was talking to his friend.

Sofia said, "I am going"  changes to She said that she was going

5. Conditionals: Zero, First, Second, Third

a. Zero Conditional: Use zero conditional for facts or truths.

Example: If you boil water, it boils.  

b. First Conditional: Use first conditional for real future situations.

Example: If it rains, I will not go to the market.  

c. Second Conditional: Use second conditional for hypothetical situations.

Example: If he were rich, he would travel to Egypt.  

d. Third Conditional: Use third conditional for hypothetical past situations.

Example: If John had studied harder, He would have passed the exam.

6. Passive Voice 

Sentences in passive voice focus on the action rather than the subject.

Examples:

• The cake was eaten by them.
• John was beaten severely by them.

7. Articles: A, An and The

a. Use "a" and "an" for indefinite singular nouns.

Examples:

• There is a boy in the room.
• There is an egg in the box.

b. Use "the" for specific things.

• The boy is sitting in the room.
• The pen is mine.

8. Gerunds and Infinitives 

a. You have to use gerunds (verb plus ing) after some certain verbs.

Examples:

• I like traveling.
• John enjoys walking.

b. You must use infinitives after some specific verbs.

Examples:

• I need to speak English.
• She wants to go to the market.

9. Modals of Advice and Obligation

a. Use the modal verb "should" for advice.

Example: You should watch the movie. 

b. Use the modal verb "must" for strong obligations.

Example. You must obey the rules. 

10. Comparatives and Superlatives  

a. Use comparative degrees of adjectives when comparing two things.

Example: John is better than me. 

b. Use superlative degrees of adjectives when comparing one with all the others.

Example: The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building.

11. Quantifiers: Much, Many, Few, A Few, Little, A Little

a. You must use much and little for uncountable nouns.

Examples:

• I have much water in the bottle.
• There is a little water in the pond.

 b. You have to use many and few for countable nouns.

Examples: 

• There are many boys in the room.
• There a few students in the classroom.

12. Future Forms: Will, Going To, Present Continuous  

a. Use will for decisions made at the moment.

Example: I will call you later.

b. Use going to for plans or predictions in the near future.

Example: I am going to visit my village very soon.  

c. Use present continuous for events that are scheduled.

Example: I am meeting the president the day after tomorrow.

13. Adjective Order  

Put adjectives in order when using many adjectives. The correct order is: Opinion, size, age, shape, color, proper adjective.

Example: A beautiful short young round yellowish American girl.

14. Comparison with "Like" and "As" 

a. Use "like" for comparisons.

Example: Sofia sings like a bird.

b. Use "as" for describing roles or functions.

Example: My mom works as a doctor.

15. Conjunctions: And, But, Because, Although

a. Use "and" to add information to your sentence.

Example: I enjoy swimming and walking.

b. Use "but" for contrast.

Example I want to go, but my father doesn't let me.

c. Use "because" for reason.

Example: He didn't come because he was busy.

16. Direct and Indirect Objects

a. A direct object receives the action directly.

Example: John bought the pen.

b. An indirect object indicates to whom or for whom the action is done.

Example: Sofia gave me a present.

17. Prepositions of Time: At, On, In

a. Use "at" for specific times.

Example: I woke up at 3 o'clock in the morning.

b. Use "on" for days and dates.

Example: I will attend the class on Tuesday.

c. Use "in" for months, years, and periods.

Example: She started as a teacher in 2013.

18. Too and Enough

a. Too indicates excess. 

Example: Today is too hot.

b. Enough indicates sufficiency. 

Example: I don't have enough money.

19. Double Negatives

You must avoid double negatives. Using double negatives is grammar error. 

Example: I don't need no information.

20. Conditionals with "If" + Past Perfect in Mixed Conditionals 

You must use mixed conditionals when talking about past conditions and present results.

Example: If I had studied harder, I would be working as a teacher.

21. Adverb Placement 

Use adverbs of frequency before the main verb.

Example: I always speak the truth.

22. Use of "Would" in Hypotheticals  

You should be using "would" for hypothetical situations.

Example: I had enough money, I would plan a trip to London.

23. Use of "Some" and "Any"

a. Some is used in positive statements and offers.

Example: John has some pens.

b. Any is used in negative statements and questions.

Example: She doesn't have any time.

24. Verb Tense Agreement 

When using compound sentences, you need to make sure the tenses match unless there's a clear reason to shift.

Example: John told me that he would go to the market.

25. Use of "Such as" and "Like"

a. Use "such as" when giving examples to better explain some concepts.

Example: I like fruits such as apples, bananas and pineapples.

b. Use "like" for general comparison between two things.

Example: She sings like a bird.

26. Causative Forms: Have/Get Something Done

Use have/get something done when someone else performs an action for you.

Example: John had his bike washed yesterday.

27. Subject-Verb Agreement

You need to make sure that the subject and the verb agree in number and person.

Example:

• John goes to the market.
• They go to the market.

28. Use of "All," "Most," "Some," "Few" with Nouns 

a. Use "all" to refer to the whole.

Example: All the students passed.  

b. Use "most" to refer to the majority.

Example: Most people like pizza.  

c. Use "some" for an unspecified number.

Example: Some children are playing.  

d. Use "few" to refer to a small number.

Example: Few students attended.

29. Relative Pronouns: Who, Which, That

a. Use "who" for people.

Example: The man who helped me is his uncle.  

b. Use "which" for things.

Example: The book which I read on grammar.  

c. Use "that" for people or things.

Example: The car that I bought is new.

30. Use of "Wish" and "If Only"  

a. Use "wish" for unreal or hypothetical situations.

Example: I wish I knew more English.  

b. Use "If only" to express regret about the past or present.

Example: If only I had studied harder.