Become an English Grammar Guru
Become an English Grammar Guru
Hello everyone,
If you’re learning English, you might have noticed that grammar can be really tricky.
So many rules, exceptions, and weird things can make it confusing.
But don’t worry!
Understanding English grammar is super important for speaking and writing clearly.
The good news is that with the right strategies and practice, anyone can become a “grammar guru.”
This awesome lesson will help you understand English grammar better and give you tools to improve.
The Basics
Parts of Speech Before we get into the more advanced grammar stuff, let’s go over the basic building blocks of sentences:
Nouns:
These are words that stand for people, places, things, or ideas (like dog, Sarah, happiness, London).
Verbs:
Words that show action or a state of being (like jump, think, is).
Adjectives:
Words that describe qualities of a noun (like red, happy, massive).
Adverbs:
Words that describe verbs and adjectives (like slowly, very, often).
Pronouns:
Words that take the place of nouns (like it, he, they, ourselves).
Understanding how prepositions relate a noun/pronoun to another word is important for grasping more advanced grammar concepts.
Pay attention to the parts of speech in sentences you read and listen to in order to become more familiar with them.
Mastering Verb Tenses can be challenging, as it involves learning different tenses and knowing when to use them correctly.
Here’s a quick guide:
Present tense (e.g. I walk, she thinks): Used for current actions
Past tense (e.g. I walked, she thought): Used for actions that already occurred
Future tense (e.g. I will walk, she will think): Used for actions that will happen in the future
There are also continuous tenses (was walking, will be thinking), perfect tenses (had walked, will have thought), and various combinations.
Focus on mastering the basics like simple past, present, and future tenses.
Try to identify patterns in example sentences rat3her than just memorizing charts.
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Polishing Your Sentence Structure
Once you understand the different parts of a sentence and how verbs change based on time, you can create sentences that make sense.
It’s important to pay attention to the order of words, especially when asking questions (Do you like…?) or using negatives (I don’t want…).
You should also get comfortable with the main parts of a sentence:
Subject – Who or what the sentence is about
Verb – The action that is happening
Object – Who or what the action is happening to
For example: She (subject) reads (verb) books (object).
Sentences can also have clauses, which are smaller parts of a sentence with their own subject and verb.
Compound sentences combine two clauses together, like “I studied hard, but I failed the test.”
Complex sentences have an independent clause and a dependent clause, like “Although I studied hard, I failed the test.”
Parallel structure means keeping the grammar consistent throughout the sentence.
For example, instead of saying “I like cooking, to read, and hiking,” it should be “I like cooking, reading, and hiking.”
As you practice creating well-structured sentences, your writing and speaking skills will improve.
Mastering Tricky Grammar Concepts
Some advanced grammar rules can be confusing and don’t follow the usual patterns.
Trying to memorize all the exceptions can be frustrating. Instead, take it step by step and start with common issues like:
Subject-verb agreement – Use “She walks” instead of “She walk” and “They were” instead of “They was.”
Choosing the right words – Know when to use accept/except, affect/effect, lie/lay, and borrow/lend.
Mixing past and present tenses – Avoid saying things like “I had walked to the park and now feel tired.” It should be “I had walked to the park and now I feel tired.”
Using the correct pronouns – Instead of saying “He gave the gift to she,” it should be “He gave the gift to her.”
Using articles correctly – Don’t say “I want a apple,” say “I want an apple.”
One way to improve is by seeing grammar rules in real examples, rather than just studying them on their own.
Read a lot, take note of the mistakes you tend to make, and review those areas.
In today’s digital world, you don’t have to figure out English grammar all by yourself!
There are so many online resources and tools that can help you. Here are some great recommendations:
Grammar Websites and YouTube Channels:
Englishclub.com: This website has lots of helpful grammar lessons.
Learn English with EnglishClass101.com: Check out this YouTube series for easy-to-understand grammar lessons.
Learn English with Rebecca: This YouTube channel is great for watching videos that explain grammar points.
Grammar Apps and Games:
Grammar Up by Gamestolearnenglish.com: This app is a fun way to practice your grammar skills.
The Grammar Games by Cambridge University Press: These games make practicing grammar more interactive and enjoyable.
Online Lessons and Exercises:
Perfect English Grammar from University of California Irvine on Coursera.org: Take this online course to learn grammar in-depth and complete quizzes for feedback.
GrammarBank exercises by University of Brown: These exercises will help you practice different grammar concepts.
English Grammar 101 course on Udemy.com: This course offers comprehensive learning with quizzes to test your understanding.
Remember to use writing tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid to check your grammar as you practice writing.
Here are some important tips to make studying grammar more effective:
Apply grammar rules to real-life situations as you learn, not just by doing exercises in books.
Focus on one grammar concept at a time instead of overwhelming yourself.
Take notes and create examples of grammar patterns you find difficult and review them regularly.
Read out loud and pay attention to how grammar sounds when spoken.
Have conversations with grammar tutors or teachers to get feedback.
Be patient with yourself – learning grammar in a new language is challenging!
By studying diligently, looking for ways to reinforce concepts, and allowing yourself to make mistakes, you can become a true “grammar guru.”
Don’t get discouraged and keep practicing!
Having a strong command of English grammar is a valuable skill that will benefit you greatly.
Stay motivated and keep up the good work!