New to English? These 10 essential grammar rules will keep your language flawless

Time of India

a day ago

Learning English grammar can feel overwhelming, but certain mistakes appear repeatedly amongst new speakers. These errors aren't random—they follow predictable patterns that you can learn to avoid.
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Understanding these ten essential rules will dramatically improve how you sound when speaking or writing English.
These grammar patterns form the foundation of clear English communication. When you get them right, people understand you better, and you sound more natural. When you get them wrong, your meaning can become confusing or unclear.
1. Use only one subject per sentence
Wrong:
My brother he is a doctor.
Right:
My brother is a doctor.
In English, you name the subject once.
Don't add extra words like "he," "she," or "they" when you've already said who you're talking about. This rule applies to all sentences.
Practice: Say "My sister works in a bank" not "My sister she works in a bank."
2. Use do/does/did for questions and negatives
Wrong:
He not like it.
/
You like it?
Right:
He does not like it.
/
Do you like it?
English requires helper words (do, does, did) when making questions or saying "no" in simple tenses. These words are not optional—you must use them.
Simple rule:
Present tense: use "do" or "does"
Past tense: use "did"
3. Add "-ing" after prepositions
Wrong:
He is good at play football.
Right:
He is good at playing football.
Prepositions are words like "at," "in," "for," "of," "by," "with." When a verb comes after these words, it must end in "-ing."
Common examples:
I'm interested in learning English
She's tired of working late
He's excited about visiting Paris
4. Use "to + base verb" after certain verbs
Wrong:
I want going home.
Right:
I want to go home.
Some verbs need "to" plus the basic form of another verb. Learn these common verbs: want, need, hope, plan, decide, try, forget, remember.
Examples:
I need to study
She hopes to travel
We plan to meet
5. Every sentence needs a subject
Wrong:
Is raining.
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Right:
It is raining.
English sentences must have a subject, even when it's not obvious. Use "it" when talking about weather, time, or distance.
Weather examples:
It is sunny
It was cold yesterday
It will rain tomorrow
6. Use "much" and "many" correctly
Wrong:
I have much friends.
Right:
I have many friends.
Use "many" for things you can count (friends, books, cars). Use "much" for things you cannot count (water, time, money).
Countable: many friends, many books, many problems Uncountable: much water, much time, much money
7. Choose the right adjective ending
Wrong:
I am boring.
Right:
I am bored.
Adjectives with "-ed" describe how you feel. Adjectives with "-ing" describe what causes the feeling.
How you feel: bored, tired, excited, interested What causes it: boring, tiring, exciting, interesting
Example:
The film is boring, so I am bored.
8. Put adverbs in the right place
Wrong:
He always is late.
Right:
He is always late.
Adverbs like "always," "usually," "never," "often" go:
After "be" verbs (am, is, are, was, were)
Before other verbs
Examples:
She is always happy (after "be")
He always arrives early (before other verbs)
9. Choose "a" or "an" by sound
Wrong:
He is an university student.
Right:
He is a university student.
Use "a" before consonant sounds and "an" before vowel sounds. Listen to the first sound, not the first letter.
"A" examples: a university (sounds like "yu"), a European, a one-way street "An" examples: an elephant, an honest person, an hour
10. Watch out for tricky phrases
Wrong:
I look forward to see you.
Right:
I look forward to seeing you.
Some phrases end with "to" but need "-ing" verbs, not infinitives. Common phrases include:
look forward to
be used to
get used to
Examples:
I'm used to working late
She's looking forward to meeting you
The golden rule: don't translate word-for-word
English has its own structure that may be different from your native language.
Instead of translating each word, learn English sentence patterns directly.
Practice tip: Read English sentences out loud and notice the patterns. The more you see correct English, the more natural these rules become.
Building your foundation
These ten rules form the foundation of clear English grammar. Focus on one rule at a time, practise it in your daily conversations, and gradually add the others. Remember, making mistakes is part of learning but knowing these patterns will help you avoid the most common errors that new English speakers make.
With consistent practice, these rules will some to you naturally, and you'll speak with greater confidence and clarity.