English Grammar

Key Takeaways

1. Build Sentences on Solid Foundations

Every complete sentence needs a subject—the person, place, thing, or idea that is doing or being something—and a predicate (which finishes an idea about the subject).

Sentence completeness matters. An incomplete sentence leaves the reader guessing, presenting only a fragment of a thought. Ensuring each sentence has a subject performing or being something (the predicate) is the fundamental building block for clear communication.

Master core verbs. Irregular verbs like "go," "have," "be," and "do" are essential but often misused in various tenses. Understanding their correct forms (e.g., go/went/gone, do/did/done) and how they function as helping verbs is crucial for accurate expression.

Phrasal verb precision. Common multi-word verbs (like "try out" or "look forward to") require careful handling, especially with pronouns or gerunds. Keep their parts together and use the correct verb form (e.g., "divide up the bagels," "looking forward to seeing you").

2. Navigate the Maze of Pronouns

If you can replace the word with “he” or “she,” the proper choice is who. If the replacement can be “her” or “him,” whom is the correct usage.

Subject vs. Object. Pronouns change form depending on whether they are the subject (doing the action) or the object (receiving the action) in a sentence. This is particularly tricky when multiple pronouns are involved (e.g., "to him and me," not "him and I").

Reflexive pronoun use. Words like "myself" should only be used when the pronoun refers back to the subject of the sentence ("I hurt myself"). They are not substitutes for subject or object pronouns ("The check was sent to my wife and me," not "myself").

Agreement and clarity. Indefinite pronouns like "each" are singular and require singular verbs ("Each student is entitled"). Relative pronouns ("that," "which," "who") connect clauses and must refer clearly to the noun they modify, with "who" reserved for people. Modern usage is increasingly accepting singular "they" for gender neutrality or unknown subjects.

3. Master the Art of Punctuation

Commas add rhythm and beauty, not to mention clarity, to one’s written ideas.

Commas guide flow. Proper comma usage separates clauses, items in a series, and non-essential information, preventing run-ons (comma splices) and aiding readability. Avoid placing commas between a subject and its verb.

Apostrophes show possession. Use apostrophes to indicate ownership ("the dog's bone," "James's mom") or contractions ("it's," "they're," "you're"). Crucially, never use apostrophes to make nouns plural ("seven cats," not "cat's").

Dashes, colons, semicolons. Em dashes (—) can replace parentheses or colons for emphasis or asides. En dashes (–) connect number ranges or related concepts. Semicolons (;) join two related independent clauses. Colons (:) introduce lists, explanations, or long quotations.

4. Choose the Right Word, Every Time

English has so many words that are separated by a single letter.

Homophone hazards. Words that sound alike but have different spellings and meanings (like to/too/two, weather/whether/wether) are frequent sources of error. Double-checking their specific definitions is key.

Confusing pairs. Other pairs, like affect/effect, than/then, less/fewer, loose/lose, lay/lie, and accept/except, are easily mixed up due to similar sounds or spellings. Understanding their distinct roles (verb vs. noun, comparison vs. sequence, countable vs. uncountable, etc.) is vital for precision.

Precision in vocabulary. Words like "unique" (meaning one of a kind, not very special) or "literally" (meaning actually, not figuratively) are often misused as intensifiers. Using them correctly maintains the integrity of their meaning.

5. Craft Clear and Elegant Sentences

Misplacing your modifier can result in unexpected and startling mistakes, such as the humorous line from Groucho Marx: “I shot an elephant in my pajamas.”

Modifiers need anchors. Misplaced modifiers attach to the wrong word, creating awkward or nonsensical phrases. Dangling modifiers have no word to attach to at all. Ensure modifiers are placed directly next to the noun or verb they describe.

Avoid run-on sentences. Joining two or more independent clauses without proper punctuation or conjunctions creates run-ons. Fix them by using a period, semicolon, or a comma followed by a coordinating conjunction.

Parallel structure for balance. When listing items or ideas, use consistent grammatical form (e.g., all nouns, all -ing verbs, all infinitive phrases). This creates balance and clarity, making the sentence easier to read and understand.

6. Avoid Common Usage Blunders

“Alot” is not a word in the English language, yet many people persist in writing a lot as “alot,” as if it were right and normal to do so.

Non-words and contractions. Phrases like "could of," "should of," and "would of" are incorrect transcriptions of contractions ("could've," "should've," "would've"). Similarly, "alot" is not a word; the correct form is always "a lot."

Redundant negatives. Double negatives (like "can't get no satisfaction") can be confusing or, in formal writing, incorrect. While sometimes used for emphasis, they often obscure meaning.

Specific word errors. Avoid using "irregardless" (use "regardless") and "ext." or "ect." for "etc." (from Latin "et cetera"). Pay attention to the correct past participles for verbs like "get" (gotten in American English).

7. Understand Nuances of Style and Tone

Jargon is both a form of insider-based shorthand and a way to avoid a more detailed explanation.

Clarity over complexity. Avoid clichés, jargon, and redundancies ("past history," "final ending") that make writing stale or inaccessible. Choose fresh, precise language instead.

Voice and emphasis. Active voice ("Scientists conducted experiments") is generally more direct and vigorous than passive voice ("Experiments were conducted by scientists"), though passive voice has its uses (e.g., when the actor is unknown or unimportant).

Comparisons and superlatives. Form comparatives and superlatives correctly by adding -er/-est or using "more"/"most," depending on the word's length or if it's irregular (better/best, worse
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Last updated: July 8, 2025

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