Here’s a simple question for students of all grades:
Have you ever used Microsoft Word or Grammarly to check your grammar errors?
A Grammarly survey showed many eye-opening positive academic results. By using Grammarly for different subjects, the following reports were submitted:
The same survey also mentioned that almost all professional individuals from different sectors relied on Grammarly. You might ask, what’s wrong in doing so?
What’s wrong is that instead of building up our grammar, we are relying on such AI tools. And no matter how accurate and time-saving these apps may be, a student’s confidence in their writing and speaking skills won’t spike up. Let’s face it: Hard work means that we must do stuff ourselves and strive to learn it. These tools won’t be present in exam halls!
So, if you are ready to take English grammar into your own hands, today’s detailed guide is all you need for this purpose.
Yes, the English language grammar landscape is huge. However, we have listed the main topics that any grade student must be fluent in.
The term ‘voice’ is used to show the verb form that shows if the subject is the receiver or doer of the action. In other words, the verb voice explains the connection between the verb and its participants within a sentence.
In a sentence, active voice reflects that the pronoun or noun that serves as the subject is the doer of a verb. Simply put, the subject performs the action. The Collins Dictionary defines it as “a voice of verbs used to indicate that the subject of a sentence is performing the action or causing the event or process described by the verb.”
In contrast, the passive voice denotes that the subject is acted upon by the verb within the sentence. This makes the subject passive. The Collins Dictionary says that the passive voice is “formed using ‘be’ and the past participle of a verb. The subject of a passive clause does not perform the action expressed by the verb but is affected by it.”
Active voice is preferred the most as it conveys the information in a transparent and direct way. Students should refrain from using passive voice, even if it sounds more appealing. However, it can be used only when needed.
Don’t forget: The active voice includes the subject performing the verb, while the passive voice includes the subject receiving the verb. Ideas and information are best expressed in an active voice. This is why academic and professional settings prefer it.
Formula and Structure of Both Voices
All the words in English belong to one of the eight parts of speech. These denote what role each word plays in a sentence. Keep reading to learn the brief meanings of each:
The noun is a word that names a thing, person, concept, or location. The two types of nouns are proper and common nouns. The latter is used for general names, such as recipes or furniture. Proper nouns are used to name titles or names, such as Ali or Physics.
These are substitute words for particular nouns when the audience is already aware of the noun being referred to.
Instead of repeating Jenna’s name thrice, it is substituted with she and her pronouns.
These words explain nouns. For instance, how would you describe your favorite Netflix series to a friend who hasn’t seen any episode of it? You might say that the show is nicely written, hilarious, or engaging. These words are adjectives.
Study! Revise good! Write compelling exam answers! Use all study materials to grab a high grade!
The bolded words are denoted as verbs. You can notice that each one of them explains particular actions, such as writing or using. However, verbs don’t always refer to literal actions. The ones that refer to states of being or emotions, such as to be and like to read, are called nonaction verbs. However, the bolded words above are action verbs.
These words explain another adverb, a verb, or an adjective.
Confidently is defining how you gave (verb) your speech.
These words denote the connections between other words within a sentence.
For instance: “I left my books on top of the study desk.”
On top is the preposition since it is denoting the reader where you left your books.
These words are used to develop complicated sentences that deliver varying ideas.
All three of these sentences express a different idea and are grammatically correct. But is this the most efficient way to write ideas?
Do this instead: “I like going to the zoo and park, but I don’t like going to art exhibitions.”
And and but are serving as conjunctions in this sentence. They do a great job of connecting ideas.
A museum. A thriller movie. An Italian restaurant.
The bolded words are called articles. This part of speech is categorized into indefinite and definite articles. And just like the two variants of nouns, the type of article to use is based on how particular you want to be regarding the idea being expressed.
Did you purchase that coat?
The bolded definite article above shows that the speaker is referring to one particular article.
Now, replace it with an indefinite article.
Did you purchase a coat?
This sentence implies that the speaker is asking a general question.
The English language includes three basic tenses only: the past, the present and the future. All three of these differ, which makes it easier to discuss the time during which actions occurred. These tenses are divided into continuous and simple variations.
Punctuation is a system of signs to present how a sentence is formed and how it should be read. This set of symbols was made to make sentence meanings clearer. The basic punctuation signs are described below:
This sign is used when the writer wants to:
Utilize more than one adjective.
Give a pause before proceeding.
Separate objects.
Include a phrase that does not mention a new subject.
For instance: “The student, who worked day and night, ended up getting an A* in an exam.”
The clauses or phrases between the commas offer more details behind the student, aka the subject in the sentence.
This sign is always used to end a sentence. A full stop implies that an idea or point has been expressed and that the writer is now proceeding to a new point or explanation. The full stop is also related to an ellipsis, which is a series of three dots. The latter indicates where a part of a quotation is removed when it is irrelevant.
For example: “The animals were happy…at the start of the summer.”
One full stop also indicates an abbreviation of common words.
For instance: September (Sept.) and Telephone Number (Tel. No.)
This symbol showcases intense feelings inside a sentence, like love or fear. It can also be used to highlight emotions of words.
For instance: “Help! I am drowning!”
Similarly, an exclamation mark can also be used to describe important instructions.
For instance: “Open the door!”
When a sentence ends with an exclamation mark, there is no need to make a full stop.
Remember: Exclamation marks are not a good way to emphasize important points in academic writing. However, it can be used only when taken from a direct quote or when absolutely necessary.
Now that we are aware of the main grammar signs, we have shared 7 useful tips to improve your grammar. Non-native speakers naturally find English grammar difficult. However, once you get the hang of it, learning won’t seem like a chore.
Traveling in English-speaking countries will be smoother once you grasp all the grammar rules. You won’t have to wait for a Hollywood movie's translation.
Let’s get started with the 7 core tips.
Sure, reading textbooks is quite useful in learning grammar. But should they be your only resource? Textbooks are a noteworthy method for becoming familiar with vocabulary and grammar. But they won’t support you much when it comes to carrying on a conversation.
Learning English is best accomplished by hearing it instead of reading it. Plus, you will also catch essential grammar and vocabulary without knowing.
There is no need to learn individual words while studying English grammar, or from any other language for that matter, as it’s useless to learn them apart from their context. It’s better to learn complete sentences instead. Knowing what words mean and their usage in sentences makes it simpler to retain their meanings.
Quality is more valuable than quantity while learning a language. Make a habit of learning one new word and repeating it many times instead of learning lots of new words in a hurry. This prevents you from being overwhelmed by an information overload.
With this strategy, your brain becomes capable of remembering the meanings of words and phrases permanently. This way, you won’t ever forget them.
Are you struggling with learning grammar on your own? Consider enrolling in a course built for this purpose. Knowing your current level of English is important before starting your learning.
There are many English courses available online for intermediate learners and of any grade or age. The instructors of such courses will customize lessons around your needs.
To find a suitable program, simply do a quick Google. A comprehensive list will be shown. The only disadvantage is that you might have to pay more for lessons if you rely on them entirely.
However, if you wish to lower the cost of your lessons, invest time in self-study online programs. Doing so will save you at least half the tuition costs.
Like we said earlier, grammar is best learned by listening. Let’s expound on this point by discussing it in a similar way to ace grammar. Many students find listening to short stories in different tenses helpful.
Don’t just listen and repeat. Develop a habit of listening and replying. The English textbook method of "repeating after the speaker" is anything but a productive way of learning English. If a student answers questions instead of repeating the speaker’s phrases or words, they will appear more genius.
Tip: After every 20-30 seconds, try to summarize what has been said while listening to a video or podcast.
Let’s face it - tips and tricks won’t help you long-term. That’s why we have shared 6 practices below to guide you on your grammar-learning journey.
If you want to improve your English grammar, read at least one article daily. Make a list of prepositions, nouns, adjectives, verbs, pronouns, and more that you see in that article. See where these words are positioned in a sentence and guarantee that they make sense as per the rules you have learned.
Tip: If you are unsure where to find high-quality articles, read English newspapers, such as The NewYork Times or English author’s books.
Students often shy away from learning grammar because they think that they will have to remember all grammar rules. It is a gradual process, and it will take time for your mind to store that information. You can read grammar books if you need assistance anytime or whenever you forget any grammar rules.
Tip: Use grammar rules in your daily life.
Grab an article from a book paragraph or a newspaper to learn the use cases of the preposition “of.” Afterwards, search “of” within the whole article and only read those sentences aloud. See how it is being used in the sentence and try to retain the rules that are defined for this preposition usage.
This is a foolproof way to memorize the use cases of any part of speech words.
Once you have learned considerable grammar, teach it to anyone in your surroundings. This will boost your confidence like nothing else! What’s more, it will be retained in your brain for a long while.
Tip: Teach the grammar rules to your sibling or class fellow.
It’s common knowledge that punctuation is of great importance within English grammar. Why, you ask? This set of signs can change the entire meaning of any sentence. Try to solve punctuation exercises online or from your textbook.
Tip: Make a habit of using correct punctuation in your daily routine.
Another secret ingredient to successful grammar learning is writing a lot. Consider writing a personal diary, blogs, stories, articles, or anything else you prefer. While writing anything, ensure that you are using grammar rules correctly. When you make any grammar mistake, learn from it.
Similar Read: How to Learn English Grammar?
Bonus: Read Our Recommended Books for Excellent Confidence in Your Grammar!
We’ve talked about multiple resources for learning grammar, but to stay ahead of the learning curve, nothing quite beats the tried-and-true method of reading books from experts. Let’s see the two finest books for polishing your grammar. These are suitable for all ages and grades.
English Grammar In Use by Raymond Murphy
Alt text: English Grammar In Use by Raymond Murphy
This piece is inarguably one of the finest grammar books. Raymond has provided brief, 2-page lessons, clear topics, and drills to follow later. Even ESL learners find the book easy. You may supplement it with other books or depend on it only. For targeted support, the author has developed many levels of this book with different topics. English tutors at MTS also leverage this book to teach their students.
What we like:
A Student's Introduction to English Grammar 2nd Edition
Alt text: A Student's Introduction to English Grammar 2nd Edition
This book packs a punch of value on each page. Rodney's attitude toward the issue of theory versus practice serves as a fresh perspective. Readers are also shown in-depth usage of all punctuation marks. Whoever picks up this masterpiece by Rodney Huddleston once is urged to get help from it repeatedly in the future.
What we like:
Knowing grammar speeds up your language learning process with zero time wastage. Being a pro at grammar boosts confidence as it is directly linked to accuracy. Students feel assured that their words are having the right effect.
With our tips and techniques, you won’t need any tools to check your grammar. Say goodbye to Grammarly!
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