pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

Search YourDictionary Articles

HOME ENGLISH GRAMMAR RULES & USAGE GRAMMAR RULES AND GRAMMAR TIPS

11 RULES OF GRAMMAR

11 Rules of Grammar

/ /

/

10th grade 11th grade 12th grade 4th grade 5th grade 6th grade

7th grade 8th grade 9th grade College Elementary School High School

Infographics Middle School

You can reach more bravelyinto the scary world ofsentence construction andaccurate communication ifyou are armed with grammar

YourDictionary Slideshows

THESAURUS QUOTES WORD LISTSDICTIONARY EXAMPLES REFERENCE WORD FINDER LOGIN

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

guidelines. These 11 rules ofgrammar will help youbecome a champ at selectingwords and punctuation.

Key Rules1. Use Active Voice

Every human language startsan active sentence with thesubject, or the "doer." InEnglish, the verb (what's beingdone) follows the subject. Ifthere is an object (the receiverof the action), it comes afterthe verb. The formula lookslike this:

S+V+O. This rule is thefoundation of the Englishlanguage.

Here are some examples:

Follow YourDictionary

Top 10 Trending Words from 2015

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

View & Download PDF

Mary walked the dog.The dog liked Mary.I did not like the dog.

2. Link Ideas with a Conjunction

Sometimes you want to link two ideas with a second S+V+Ocombination. When you do, you need a coordinating conjunction.The new formula looks like this:

S+V+O, COORDINATING CONJUNCTION+S+V+O

Coordinating conjunctions are easy to remember with an acronymicmnemonic device:

FANBOYS

ForAndNorButOrYetSo

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

3. Use a Comma to Connect Two Ideas As One

FANBOYS are used when connecting two ideas as one in a singlesentence, but don't forget the comma.

For example:

I do not walk Mary's dog, nor do I wash him.Mary fed her dog, and I drank tea.Mary feeds and walks her dog every day, but the dog is stillhyperactive.

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 knowhow to use it. The serial comma is the last comma in a list, usuallyappearing before "and." The serial comma comes after "dog" in thissentence:

Pets R Us has lizards, dogs, and birds.

Commas separate units in a list. In the above case, each unit only hasone part, so it's easy. Where people get confused is when the unitsare bigger, but the rule still applies:

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

Pets R Us has lizards and frogs, dogs and cats, and parakeetsand macaws.

Notice that the serial comma comes before "and" but not the last"and" in the sentence. The "and" that follows the comma is only therebecause it sounds better. Grammatically, "and" is irrelevant. Onlyunits matter.

5. Use the Semicolon to Join Two Ideas

A list of grammar rules has to include the scariest of punctuationmarks. It might look funny, but don't be afraid of the semicolon; it'sthe easiest thing in the world to use! Say you want to join two ideasbut can't figure out or can't be bothered to use a coordinatingconjunction. The two ideas can be separate sentences, but you thinkthat they are so closely connected; they really should be one. Use asemicolon.

Mary's dog is hyperactive; it won't stop barking or sit still.My heart is like a cup of Lapsang Souchong tea; it's bitter andsmoky.Mary has to walk her dog every day; it is the most hyperactivedog anyone has ever seen.

6. Use the Simple Present Tense for Habitual Actions

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

The simple present is the tense you use for any habitual action. Thethings you always do or do every Tuesday are described with thesimple present, which just means you pick the first form of any verb.

Mary likes dogs.I don't walk Mary's dog.Mary and I drink tea every Tuesday together.

7. Use the Present Progressive Tense for CurrentAction

The present progressive tense is for anything that is happening rightnow. All of the progressive tenses are easy to spot because theirverbs always end with "-ing" and get a helping verb. A helping verb isjust so we know who and when we're talking about. In the presentprogressive, the helping verbs are the present tense conjugations of"to be."

I am drinking Lapsang Souchong tea.The barking dogs outside are driving me crazy.Mary is playing with her hyperactive dog.

8. Add "ed" to verbs for the Past Tense

When we talk about the past, we have to add an "-ed" to regularverbs to make the second form. Irregular verbs are tricky and have

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

their own sets of rules. Drink, for example, turns to "drank." Most ofthe time, though, "-ed" will do.

I drank a lot of Lapsang Souchong tea yesterday, but Mary didn't.The dogs stopped barking two seconds ago, and I am feelingbetter.Mary played fetch with her hyperactive dog.

9-11. Use Perfect TensesPractice makes perfect with the perfect tenses. Here are three rules tofinish the 11 rules of grammar. If you remember these, you'll be wellon your way to perfection.

9. Use Present Perfect for the Unfinished Past

The present perfect can be confusing for some, but it is one of themost important rules of grammar. When people talk about thingsthat have already happened but consider the time in which theyoccurred to be unfinished, they use the third form of the verb with ahelping verb. The helping verb for the present perfect is the presenttense conjugation of "to have."

I have drunk three cups of Lapsang Souchong tea today.Mary's hyperactive cur dog has bitten me three times so far.Mary has walked her hyperactive poodle 100 times this week.

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

Unfortunately, the only way to know the third forms of verbs is toremember them.

10. Use Present Perfect Progressive for UnfinishedAction and Past

When the action as well as the time is considered unfinished, theverb loads up on third form helping verbs ("to be" and "to have") andchanges to the progressive form.

Western countries have been waging wars in the Middle East forthousands of years.I have been drinking tea all day.Mary's dog has been barking like crazy since it was born.

11. Use Past Perfect for the First of Two Past Actions

When two things happen in the past, we have to mark which onehappened first. The one that happened first changes to third formand gets the helping verb, "had."

By the time I drank one cup of Lapsang Souchong, Mary's doghad barked a million times.I had not yet eaten breakfast when Mary walked her dog.He could not pay for lunch because he had lost his wallet.

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

Understanding and consistently following the basic English grammarrules will help you speak and write English correctly and withminimal hesitation.

Post a comment.

Comments Community

Join the discussion…

• Reply •

Shalanna Collins • 2 years ago

WILL YOU MARRY ME?! I love y'all! I haven't heard accurate rules for writers since I was in high school and hadreally smart (older) teachers. Please pass this link along to all those idiotic, er, MISGUIDED workshop leaders whotell people never to use the word "had" and that all forms of "be" in a sentence indicate passive voice. people that sometimes the actor is unknown or unimportant. "Report cards were passed out, and so were several ofthe students." Keep up the good work!

26△ ▽

This comment is awaiting moderation. Show comment.

Recommend 30

Share ›

LINK/CITE

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

• Reply •

Mary Grandre • 5 months ago> Shalanna Collins

Yes, I think it's about time that we up the ante on reading ease for poetic license. My best essay workwould not pass the required reading ease limit, and using something like the sentence above wouldput me way over the top! But there is something elegant with a well-termed phrase, notwithstandingthe departure from simplicity.

△ ▽

• Reply •

harry steele • a year ago

We are brainwashed to let grammar usage hinder the act of communicating. 11△ ▽

• Reply •

Анна • a year ago

Can someone help me with grammar? I don't even know what's the name of this situation.

I don't remeber when was (is it the right place for "was"?) the last time I ate my breakfast. 6△ ▽

Quirkyjoe • a year ago> Анна

Let me start by saying "I usually stink at grammar" but It seems to me that you should leave the words"WHEN" and "WAS" out of the sentence completely. It's already understood or you could leave "I don'tremember" out if you are asking the question to yourself or another person.

"When was the last time I ate my breakfast".

"I don't remember the last time I ate my breakfast".

Also, you could leave out "my".

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

• Reply •

My teachers use to say I was using too many words. I think they would say the same for you :O)

Anyway, I hope this helped. If others think I am wrong feel free to correct me. I still stink at grammar :O) 5△ ▽

• Reply •

richpar • a year ago> Анна

'I don't remember when' is the statement, then you ask a question straight away 'when was the last...' You are combining a statement with a question, which is very common.

You would use can't and not don't. You should alo miss out the 'my' as it's obvious it's your breakfast and notsomeone elses!

So, this leaves us with:

I can't remember the last time I ate breakfast orI can't remember when I last ate breakfast.

Also, most people refer to eating breakfast as 'having' breakfast, as in:What are we having for breakfast? I'd like eggs for breakfast.Have you had breakfast? No. I don't have breakfast these days. In fact, I can't remember the last time I hadbreakfast.

1△ ▽

• Reply •

Анна • a year ago> richpar

Thank you!It is strange some (most) use "my" when they're talking about their parents, of course it is yours notdomeone elses. That's why I included "my" in breakfast situation.

△ ▽

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

• Reply • △ ▽

• Reply •

sabi kayastha • a year ago

I live At Nepal (this sentence is correct if yes ok if not why???) 7△ ▽

• Reply •

richpar • a year ago> sabi kayastha

You live IN a country, you live IN a house, you live IN a district of a large town, you live IN a nice neighbourhood. Does he live AT that address? No, he lives AT a different address, IN a much larger house.

6△ ▽

• Reply •

AMIT PODDAR • 3 months ago> sabi kayastha

country always be with IN . But when it is capital, we have to use AT. suppose AT DILHI. △ ▽

• Reply •

roma8989 • 4 months ago> sabi kayastha

nope.... I live in Nepal is what it should be.... △ ▽

• Reply •

Eltoma Awad • a year ago

Thanks...it is very helpful 3△ ▽

• Reply •

Khaled Grrich • 2 years ago

Thank you;;; :) look helpful :) 2△ ▽

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

• Reply •

Amit Chowdhary • a year ago

In the part 6 example-1You wrote, mary likes dogs.Here plural verb is used with plural object why??

1△ ▽

• Reply •

Mrs. Jasper • a year agoMod > Amit Chowdhary

The verb and the noun or the verb and the object of a sentence should agree - if one is plural, then bothshould be plural.

Here is some more information - http://grammar.yourdictionary....

If you have more grammar questions, you can always find me over at YourDictionary's Homework Helpscreen at http://grammar.yourdictionary....

1△ ▽

• Reply •

Jessie B Abis • 3 months ago> Mrs. Jasper

it is the NOUN that can be called singular and plural, VERB can never be called singular or plural.Verb with s like sings can be better called the s-form rather than saying the plural form. Verb with no slike sing is called the base form and not the singular form. It is safe to say singular subject will agreewith the s-form of the verb. ( Jessie sings very loud.) Plural subject will agree with the base form ofthe verb ( Jessie and Robie sing very loud.)

△ ▽

roma8989 • 4 months ago> Amit Chowdhary

the verb is not plural... this is a common misconception that non-English speakers have.. "s" automatically should mean plural.. bu tin English, putting an "s" at the end of a verb means always (i.e.,

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

• Reply •

"s" automatically should mean plural.. bu tin English, putting an "s" at the end of a verb means always (i.e.,usually) means third person singular... without an "s" at the end is for all other pronouns... (I, you, we, they,etc..)

△ ▽

• Reply •

melanie shawn • 4 months ago

how to know the past tense as the word came in -ed cause i'm so weak in past tense that came of the word with -ed △ ▽

• Reply •

GeoffZoref • 4 months ago

Prescriptive Grammarian; because someone needed to sell a new edition of their style book, and so now weshouldn't end sentences with a preposition. For...reasons.

Look, behind every grammatical rule" like the former example, or splitting infinitives, or stating a sentence with "but"or "and" is a rule that somebody made up out of while cloth. The rule somehow spread and is now taught in schoolswith no question as to WHY it was made into a rule in the first place.

Yes, written language is more formal than spoken language, give. they are refuted every day when a new "rule" is broken and the offending the phrase still sounds perfectly intelligibleto native speakers.

Like it or not, people will still use number seven on your list, "Use the Present Progressive Tense for Current Action"in the past tense. For example: "So I'm walking home and this guy is following me."

300 years ago, your own writing would look so informal and incorrect as to be illegible. And that's because languagesare dynamic and don't like to obey made up "rules."

△ ▽

Dragneel Natsu • 5 months ago

what are the 30 agreement?

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

• Reply •

what are the 30 agreement? △ ▽

• Reply •

Ailiya • 5 months ago

10 km is given. 10 km are given. 10 kms are given. 10 kms is given. Kms-kilometres. Which is the correct one and why?

△ ▽

• Reply •

AMIT PODDAR • 3 months ago> Ailiya

I HAVE A QUESTION TO Kashif Ali Gaad WHEN WE WRITE "TEN THOUSNND RS" THEN WE CAN NOTUSE 'S'. THATS WHY ONLY 1 AND 3 QUESTIONS ARE CORRECT.

△ ▽

• Reply •

Kashif Ali Gaad • 5 months ago> Ailiya

10 kms are given. is correct because we use s'' more than 1 thing and also ''are''. △ ▽

• Reply •

Hossain • 8 months ago

great jobs! △ ▽

Sophia Horan • 9 months ago

Hi Mrs. Jasper, I was confusing a few stuffs in here. So my teacher saidHas- past perfect (singular)

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

• Reply •

Has- past perfect (singular)

Have- past perfect (plural)Had- present perfect (singular/plural)What is used for plural? Does it even have plural? When we change active voices to passive, should I use 'will havebeen' or 'will had been'?

△ ▽

• Reply •

AMIT PODDAR • 3 months ago> Sophia Horan

YOU HAVE TO SEE CLASS NINE AND TEN ENGLISH GRAMMAR. YOUR PROBLEM WILL BE SOLVED. △ ▽

• Reply •

miranda farros • 5 months ago> Sophia Horan

Hey, there is no use of Had in present perfect, it is Have for I or Plural; or Has for singular and for past perfectit is HAD. Look at nine, ten and eleven examples in the explanation.

△ ▽

• Reply •

Mrs. Jasper • 5 months agoMod > miranda farros

You are correct. This was my error. △ ▽

Mrs. Jasper • 9 months agoMod > Sophia Horan

For plural past perfect it would be "Have." For present perfect the plural would be "Had."

There is no specific rule about verb tense when changing from active to passive. You decide on the verbtense based on subject/verb agreement (use a singular subject with a singular verb) AND using the correcttense (e.g. present vs. past vs. past perfect). If you want to give me a few sentences changing active to

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

• Reply •

tense (e.g. present vs. past vs. past perfect). If you want to give me a few sentences changing active topassive I would be glad to look them over and see if they are correct.

△ ▽

• Reply •

ham perry • 9 months ago

Which is correct between these two sentences? (a) Jessica is one of the mothers who participate in the activity, or(b) Jessica is one of the mothers who participates in the activity. Is it a or b?

△ ▽

• Reply •

AMIT PODDAR • 3 months ago> ham perry

A IS CORRECT. △ ▽

• Reply •

Bradvines • 10 months ago

"Mary couldn't stop laughing; her dog had bitten me again" is incorrect;'had' was jammed in front of the irregular past tense verb 'bit', forcing the irregular past participle 'bitten'. If you don'tknow how to see past tense verbs, you're going to have trouble seeing 'had' in front of them, so you're going to havetrouble with the past perfect.A past tense verb with 'had' in front of it is NOT past perfect.

△ ▽

• Reply •

Mrs. Jasper • 10 months agoMod > Bradvines

Thanks for your comments Bradvines. I will ask our editors to look into this and make any necessarychanges.

If you have more grammar comments or questions, you can always find me over at YourDictionary'sHomework Help screen at http://grammar.yourdictionary....

△ ▽

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

Reply △ ▽

• Reply •

Bradvines • 10 months ago

"I have drunk three cups of Lapsang Souchong tea today", is WRONG.I DRANK three cups today is correct.

△ ▽

• Reply •

AMIT PODDAR • 3 months ago> Bradvines

I drank three cups today is correct. when it is only one past sentence then we have to use past 2nd form withverb. If we use have here then it is must wrong.

△ ▽

• Reply •

roma8989 • 4 months ago> Bradvines

"I have drunk" is also correct.. ah yes, nuance, nuance....;-)

"I have drunk" means so far today I have drunk three cups...

"I drank" means today I had three cups... implying I will no longer have any more cups today..... △ ▽

• Reply •

Bradvines • 4 months ago> roma8989

What language was spoken at your family dinner table when you were growing up, Roma8989? △ ▽

• Reply •

sam • 9 months ago> Bradvines

'I have drunk' is correct. Have must go with the past participle of the verb. If you prefer not to use have anduse 'i drank' , it's still correct because it is the past tense.

△ ▽

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

• Reply •

Bradvines • 9 months ago> sam

sam. You can correctly say, "I have drunk Lapsang Souchong tea all of my adult life (and I still do) =past that continues into the present. But, "I have drunk three cups of Lapsang Souchong tea today", is WRONG."I DRANK three cups today" is correct.

If you can't grasp that, you need more help than I am willing to give you in this little box.Come to [email address deleted] if you like..brad.30april2015.

△ ▽

• Reply •

Jessie B Abis • 3 months ago> Bradvines

Bradvines is this correct... I have drunk three cups of Lapsang Souchong tea since thismorning... that is how I understand present perfect tense.

△ ▽

• Reply •

Gino Joshua Tabaquero • a year ago

hey it is also 11 or more △ ▽

• Reply •

Dung Nguyen • a year ago

GOD bless. Thank you for your sharing this topic. Grammar is always make us confulse in use. Learn by heart is thebest way

△ ▽

souljah • a year ago

Can anyone know how to use prepositions in the sentence?

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

• Reply •

Can anyone know how to use prepositions in the sentence? △ ▽

• Reply •

Mrs. Jasper • a year agoMod > souljah

Here is some additional info on prepositions - http://grammar.yourdictionary....http://examples.yourdictionary...

If you have more grammar questions, you can always find me over at YourDictionary's Homework Helpscreen at http://grammar.yourdictionary....

△ ▽

• Reply •

safaghdgs • a year ago

i am just happpy with ittt!!!!!!!ahh! its not that much of bad △ ▽

Subscribe✉ Add Disqusd Privacy

Share ›

Share ›

Share ›

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

RELATED ARTICLES10th Grade Grammar4th Grade Grammar9th Grade GrammarWhat Are the FourteenPunctuation Marks in EnglishGrammar?List of Conjunctions

Past Tense Verb ChartWhat Are English TensesClassifications?Examples of Active and PassiveVoiceExamples of Colons andSemicolons in SentencesPart of Speech Examples

pdfcrowd.comopen in browser PRO version Are you a developer? Try out the HTML to PDF API

ABOUT YOURDICTIONARY ADVERTISERS CONTACT US PRIVACY POLICY

TERMS OF USE HELP SUGGESTION BOX TOOLS

© 1996-2016 LoveToKnow, Corp. All Rights Reserved. Audio pronunciation provided by LoveToKnow, Corp.