There are hundreds of grammar rules but the basics refer to sentence structure and parts of speech, including nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions and conjunctions. You'll have a great foundation for reading and writing if you can answer the question, 'What are the basic English grammar rules?' Let's take a closer look at sentences and parts of speech and how they tie into the rules of grammar. Sea creatures showing parts of grammar Basic Parts of SpeechBefore we dive into English grammar basics, it's best to have an idea of the components within each rule. The basic parts of speech below are the building blocks of every sentence we write. Let's take a look at the most popular players in the game: NounsA noun names a person, animal, place, thing, quality, idea, activity, or feeling. A noun can be singular, plural, or possessive. For example:
PronounsA pronoun is a word that takes the place of a noun, like 'I,' 'you,' or 'they.' For example:
VerbsA verb shows action and can be a main verb (such as 'run' or 'sit') or a helping verb (such as 'were' or 'has'). Verbs also indicate tense and sometimes change their form to show past, present, or future tense. You'll also find linking verbs, which link the subject to the rest of the sentence (such as 'appear' and 'seem'). For example:
AdjectivesAn adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun. Adjectives usually, although not always, come before the noun they're modifying. It adds meaning by telling which one or what kind, or describing it in other ways. For example:
If you ever find yourself wanting to include multiple adjectives in a sentence, here's more on how to order them properly. AdverbsAn adverb modifies a verb and shares more information about it, including how much, when, where, why, or how. For example:
PrepositionsA preposition demonstrates a relationship between nouns or pronouns. They're often used with a noun to indicate location, like 'beside,' 'in,' or 'on.' It can also show time, direction, motion, manner, reason, or possession. Note that prepositions must always be followed by a noun or pronoun. For example:
ConjunctionsConjunctions connect two words, phrases, or clauses. Common conjunctions include 'and,' 'but,' and 'or.' For example:
InterjectionsInterjections demonstrate emotion. They're typically, though not always, followed by an exclamation point. Examples include 'hurray,' 'uh-oh,' and 'alas.' For example:
ArticlesArticles are very useful little words. There are two kinds: indefinite articles include 'a' and 'an' and refer to non-specific nouns. Meanwhile, 'the' is a definite article and is used to refer to a specific person, place, thing, or idea. For example:
Basic Grammar Rules in EnglishWith an understanding of the fine parts that make a study of English grammar possible, let's roll up our sleeves and get into the rules. Subjects Are VitalThe subject is the star of the sentence; it's the person, place, animal, thing, or idea that's being described or performing the action. Not every sentence needs a subject. An example might be, 'Run!' Still, you're going to find them in much of your reading and writing. Here are some examples:
Predicates Express ActionThe predicate expresses the action the subject is taking or shares something more about the subject. Take a look:
Sentences Need StructureSome of the most basic and important English grammar rules relate directly to sentence structure. These rules specify that:
Another term for a sentence is an independent clause:
Multiple Parts of Speech May Be UsedAs we can see, a single sentence can be filled with many different parts of speech. But, at its core, a basic positive sentence in English will generally adhere to the following formulas:
Of course, not every sentence requires a direct object. 'She reads,' or 'He ran,' are two examples of complete sentences that didn't require a direct object. When predicates are involved, they're providing more information about the subject. Another example is, 'The apartment is cozy.' In this case, '...is cozy' is providing more information about the subject of the sentence, 'apartment.' Predicates often work with linking verbs. Also, these parts of speech may be used in any of the four types of sentences:
Direct Objects Are Information ProvidersWhen direct objects are involved, they're providing more information about the verb. For example:
Indirect Objects Work With Direct ObjectsThen, there are indirect objects. Indirect objects are receivers of the direct object. For example:
Once you've constructed a cohesive sentence with all the right elements, including subjects, verbs, and information-providers, it's time to separate those words with proper punctuation. Punctuation RulesGrammar can't be studied without a basic understanding of punctuation rules. This entails capitalization at the start of a sentence, terminal punctuation at the end of a sentence, and other elements. Let's kick things off with the beginning of the sentence. Capitalization Is KeyCapitalization is important. All sentences must start with a capital, or upper-case, letter. Titles of people, books, magazines, movies, and specific places are considered proper nouns and are typically capitalized. Organizations and company names are also capitalized. For example:
Terminal Punctuation Is RequiredEvery sentence needs a terminal punctuation mark at the end of it. These include a period, exclamation mark, or question mark. For example:
Colons Indicate SeparationColons are used to separate a sentence from a list of items, to introduce a long, direct quote, or to separate two clauses when the second one further explains the first. For example:
Semicolons Separate Related IdeasSemicolons can take the place of a conjunction and are often placed before introductory words like 'therefore' or 'however.' As a general rule, it's best to reserve semicolons for two independent clauses. That is, two clauses that could standalone as sentences. Semicolons are also used to separate a list of things if there are commas within one or more units in the list. For example:
Commas Are for PausingThere are a lot of rules for commas. The basic ones are that commas separate items in a series and they go wherever there is a pause in the sentence. They surround the name of a person being addressed, separate the day of the month from the year in a date, and separate a town from the state. For example:
Parentheses Add InformationParentheses enclose words that clarify other words. They contain information that's not essential to the main point, making them full of supplementary (if not interesting) information. For example:
Apostrophes Indicate Missing Letters and PossessionApostrophes are used in contractions to take the place of one or more letters. To show possession, an apostrophe and 's' is added if the noun is singular and an apostrophe alone is added if the noun is plural. For example:
Be a Grammarian for LifeStand tall above the crowd. In a land of BRBs and LOLs, be a member of the crowd that doesn't solely rely on spellcheck and autocorrect. Construct accurate and beautiful sentences as you tell a story, write a paper for school, or conduct an experiment. Being neat and tidy in your prose never hurt a thing. Ready to test your English grammar basics? For a little fun, try out your new-found knowledge in our quick quiz Could You Pass a Basic English Grammar Test? |
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