Grammar is the set of rules that tells us how to put words together so other people understand us. If you are learning English, a few basic rules will take you a long way.
You do not need to learn everything at once. This guide covers the most important basic English grammar rules in simple words, with clear examples and a short practice at the end. It is ideal for SSC and HSC students and for adult beginners.
1. The Parts of Speech
Every word in a sentence has a job. These jobs are called parts of speech.
- Noun: a person, place, thing or idea. teacher, Dhaka, book, honesty
- Pronoun: a word used instead of a noun. he, she, it, they, we
- Verb: an action or state. run, eat, is, have
- Adjective: describes a noun. tall, happy, red
- Adverb: describes a verb, adjective or another adverb. quickly, very, often
- Preposition: shows place, time or direction. in, on, at, under
- Conjunction: joins words or sentences. and, but, because
- Interjection: shows feeling. Oh! Wow!
2. Every Sentence Needs a Subject and a Verb
A complete sentence has a subject (who or what) and a verb (what they do or are).
- Rina sings. (subject: Rina, verb: sings)
- The bus is late.
Because I was tired. is not a complete sentence. It needs a main clause: I went to bed early because I was tired.
3. Use the Normal English Word Order
Most English sentences follow Subject + Verb + Object.
- I (S) read (V) books (O).
- She (S) bought (V) a new phone (O).
This is different from Bangla, where the verb usually comes at the end. Try not to translate word for word.
4. Make the Subject and Verb Agree
A singular subject takes a singular verb. A plural subject takes a plural verb.
- He plays cricket. (not He play)
- They play cricket.
- Everyone has a book. (everyone is singular)
For all the rules, read our guide to subject-verb agreement.
5. Choose the Right Tense
Tenses show time. The three most common tenses for beginners are:
- Present simple for habits and facts: I walk to school every day.
- Past simple for finished actions: I walked to school yesterday.
- Future with will: I will walk to school tomorrow.
Once you are comfortable, move on to the continuous and perfect tenses. Our guide to the 12 English tenses explains each one with examples.
6. Use Articles Correctly
- Use a before a consonant sound: a book, a university
- Use an before a vowel sound: an apple, an hour
- Use the for something specific or unique: the sun, the book on the table
Articles are one of the hardest areas for Bangladeshi learners. See how to use a, an and the for more help.
7. Form Questions and Negatives Correctly
English usually needs a helping verb (do, does, did, is, are, have) for questions and negatives.
- Do you like tea? (not You like tea? in writing)
- She does not eat meat.
- Did they finish the work?
8. Use Capital Letters and Full Stops
- Start every sentence with a capital letter.
- Use capitals for names, places, days and months: Karim, Chattogram, Monday, March.
- The word I is always a capital.
- End statements with a full stop and questions with a question mark.
9. Use Adjectives and Adverbs in the Right Place
- Adjectives usually go before the noun: a big house.
- Adverbs of frequency go before the main verb: I always study at night.
- Use an adjective after be, look, feel, seem: She looks happy.
10. Join Ideas With Conjunctions
Use and, but, or, so and because to join ideas and make your writing flow.
- I was hungry, so I ate lunch.
- She is clever but lazy.
Common Beginner Mistakes
| Wrong | Right |
|---|---|
| He go to school. | He goes to school. |
| I am agree. | I agree. |
| She is a honest girl. | She is an honest girl. |
| I have seen him yesterday. | I saw him yesterday. |
| Where you are going? | Where are you going? |
Free Places to Practise
- The British Council’s free LearnEnglish grammar lessons, organised by level with exercises.
- Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab grammar guide for clear explanations.
- Purdue OWL’s free grammar exercises to test yourself.
Quick Practice
Correct these sentences:
- My brother work in a bank.
- I saw a elephant at the zoo.
- She don’t like coffee.
- We goes to the market yesterday.
Answers: 1. works 2. an elephant 3. doesn’t 4. went
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the easiest way to learn English grammar?
Learn one rule at a time, practise it in your own sentences, and read simple English every day. Short daily practice works better than long, rare sessions.
How long does it take to learn basic grammar?
It depends on your starting level and practice time. With regular daily practice, most learners can use the basic rules confidently within a few months.
Do I need to learn grammar to speak English?
You can communicate with little grammar, but good grammar makes you clearer and more confident, especially in exams, interviews and writing.
Final Thoughts
Basic English grammar is not difficult when you take it step by step. Learn the parts of speech, use the subject-verb-object order, make subjects and verbs agree, choose the right tense and use articles carefully. Practise a little every day, and your English will improve quickly.
