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English Grammar Guide

English Grammar

What is grammar?

Grammar is the mortar that hold the bricks of vocabulary together. Without mortar the bricks can come tumbling down and that can cause embarrassing misunderstandings.

There is a common impression that learning English grammar is painful, but it is a lot easier than many other languages. Of course, English is more than just memorising grammar rules, the grammar must be incorporated into your everyday use of the language. Theory and practice should always go hand in hand. Grammar matters.

That said, here on the Learn English Network, we believe that when you begin to learn English, speaking and building up your vocabulary is more important than worrying about correct grammar. Then, as you progress, you will incorporate more grammar into your learning programme.

At an advanced level you might want to think more about the correct use of the English language and study grammar in more depth.

HOW TO USE THIS GUIDE TO ENGLISH GRAMMAR:

 Read This! Click here to read an explanation of the grammar.

 Picture This! Click here to see examples of the grammar.

 Test This! Click on this button to test your understanding.

ADJECTIVES - 

Comparative -     
Order -   
Possessive    
Superlative -      
Used to -   
Common Adjectives -   
Personality Adjectives -   

ADVERBIALS - 

ADVERBS -      

Degree -   
Duration - 
Frequency - 
Manner 

Place - 
Probability - 
Time - 
Comparative - 
Superlative - 

ARTICLES -          

CASE -   

Objective/Accusative - 
Possessive/Genitive  
Subjective/Nominative 

CLAUSES - 

CONDITIONALS - 

Type I  
Type II   
Type III 
Zero

CONJUNCTIONS - 

Coordinating Conjunctions - 
Subordinating Conjunctions - 
Correlatives 

DETERMINERS -     

Some vs Any   

GERUNDS AND INFINITIVES -   

NOUNS 

Abstract Nouns 
Collective Nouns - 
Common Nouns 
Compound Nouns   
Concrete Nouns 
Countable/Uncountable Nouns -   
Gerunds - 
Plural Nouns   
Predicate Nouns - 
Proper Nouns - 

PARTICIPLES -   

Past Participle -  
Perfect Participle - 
Present Participle - 

PREPOSITIONS - 

Prepositions of Movement -     
Prepositions of Place -      
Prepositions of Time -        

PRONOUNS -   

Indefinite Pronouns - 
Personal Pronouns -   
Possessive Pronouns -   
Reflexive Pronouns -   

QUESTIONS   

Closed Questions 
Open (Wh ..) Questions -   
Tag Questions -   

REPORTED SPEECH   

TENSES -      

SIMPLE

Past  
Present -   
Simple Present as Future - 

CONTINUOUS

Past   
Present      
Present Continuous as Future - 

PERFECT

Past Perfect Simple -    
Past Perfect Continuous
 -   
Present Perfect Simple -     
Present Perfect Continuous   
Present Perfect Simple as Future - 
Present Perfect Continuous as Future - 

FUTURE

The Future using going to - 
The Future using shall/will - 

VERBS - 

Action Verbs -   
Auxiliary Verbs  
Finite / Non-finite Verbs - 
Irregular Verbs -     
Modal Verbs -   
Mood 
Phrasal Verbs 
Regular Verbs -  
Stative Verbs - 
Conjugation and Contraction   

SOME VERY IMPORTANT VERBS

To be -  
To do -   
To have -  
Do or make  
Used to -  
List of Irregular Verbs - 

VOICE -  

Active Voice - 
Passive Voice - 

Simple Guides

SIMPLE CAPITALISATION GUIDE - 

SIMPLE GRAMMAR GUIDE FOR EMAIL 

SIMPLE PLURALISATION GUIDE -      

SIMPLE PREFIXES GUIDE - 

SIMPLE PUNCTUATION GUIDE   

SIMPLE QUESTION GUIDE 

SIMPLE SENTENCE CONSTRUCTION GUIDE - 

SIMPLE SHORT FORM GUIDE 

SIMPLE SPELLING GUIDE -   

SIMPLE SUFFIXES GUIDE - 

Technical Terms

How to use these pages:-

Double click on any word for its definitions, and to listen to the pronunciation.

Beginners:

  • Don't worry about learning all the rules.
  • Do the grammar tests.
  • Review the tests regularly.

Intermediate Learners:

  • Make sure you understand the basic grammar terminology.
  • Practise what you have learnt in the forum, or in our sessions.
  • You should be able to do the tests.

Advanced Learners:

  • You should already know the basics of English grammar.
  • You should be able to understand the exceptions to the rules.
  • You should be able to easily complete the tests.
  • You should be able to comfortably read the grammar articles for each section.

Have you read these pages, but you still have a question? Ask Ellie.

Maybe you're not sure how to say what you want to say. Ask on the forum.

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