Essential English Grammar Rules and Writing Techniques

Posted on Jan 10, 2026 in English

English Verb Tenses

Present Simple

  • General truths: The Earth orbits the Sun.
  • Habits: They always ask silly questions.
  • Instructions: First, cut the carrot into pieces.
  • Timetables: The train leaves at 17:30.
  • Storytelling: So… it’s 3 PM, I enter the pub and see him.
  • Permanent facts: I am 29. Winnipeg is in Canada.

Present Continuous

Form: am/is/are + -ing

  • Actions happening now: She is studying right now.
  • Future arrangements: I am meeting the clients at 5.
  • Temporary situations: I am living in Madrid.
  • Trends: More citizens are raising concerns.
  • Annoyance: You are always interrupting me!

Present Perfect Simple

Form: have/has + past participle

  • Life experiences: I have been to Canada.
  • Number of times: I have visited her three times.
  • Started in the past and true now: I have been a member for 4 years.
  • Been vs. Gone: Been means returned; gone means still there.
  • Time expressions: For, since, already, yet, just, ever, never, still.

Present Perfect Continuous

Form: have/has been + -ing

  • Duration: I have been studying for 3 hours.
  • Time markers: Use for or since for time.
  • Unfinished or unclear: I have been painting the room.
  • Excuses: Sorry, I have been experiencing problems.

Past Simple

Form: 2nd column / didn’t + infinitive

  • Completed past: I played basketball yesterday.
  • No time if obvious: The Empire lost the war.
  • Second conditional: If I were you, I would get a haircut.

Past Continuous

Form: was/were + -ing

  • Action in progress: I was pretending to study.
  • Interrupted action: I was explaining when the door slammed.
  • Two simultaneous actions: I was cooking while he was cleaning.

Past Perfect

Form: had + past participle

  • Past before another past: I had finished when you called.
  • Long past: I had worked there for years.
  • Unfulfilled plan: I had wanted to visit you.
  • Continuous: I had been waiting for 3 hours.

Past Habits

  • Used to + infinitive: I used to play piano.
  • Be/get used to: I am used to waking up early.
  • Would + infinitive: We would go fishing every Sunday.

Grammar Fundamentals

Stative Verbs

These are not used in continuous forms because they describe states.

  • Communication: Agree, deny.
  • Thinking: Believe, know.
  • Emotions: Love, hate.
  • Existence: Be, exist.
  • Possession: Have, own.
  • Perception: See, hear.
  • Note: I think it’s important (opinion) vs. I’m thinking about going (action).

Common Phrasal Verbs

Get up, turn on, take off, put on, pick up, give up, look for, come back, break down.

Articles

  • A/An: Used for singular countable nouns.
  • The: Used for specific, unique, or previously mentioned items.
  • No article: Used for general, plural, uncountable nouns, names, meals, and sports.
  • Exceptions: The USA, The UK, The Netherlands.

Nouns

  • Common: General (girl, car).
  • Proper: Specific (London).
  • Concrete: Senses (apple).
  • Abstract: Ideas (love, honesty).
  • Feminine: Add -ess or use irregular forms (e.g., actor to actress).

Noun Clauses

These act as nouns and begin with what, who, that, when, why, or how. Examples: What she said is true. / She knows what my name is.

Pronouns

  • Subjective: I, you, he, she, it, we, they.
  • Objective: Me, you, him, her, it, us, them.
  • Possessive: Mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs.
  • Intensive: Myself, yourself, himself, etc.
  • Agreement: Number and person must match.
  • Indefinites: Everyone, somebody (always singular).

Determiners

Used before nouns to indicate quantity, possession, or specificity.

  • Singular countable: Each, every, the whole, either, neither.
  • Plural: Both, most, all.
  • Plural/Uncountable: All, some, certain.
  • Tips: Each book / Both books. Everyone takes a singular pronoun.

How to Write an Essay

Structure

  1. Introduction (30–40 words): Introduce the topic, paraphrase the prompt, and state the thesis.
  2. Body (2 paragraphs): Present main ideas supported by examples.
  3. Conclusion (30–40 words): Summarize the points; do not introduce new information.

Language Tips

  • Use formal language (no contractions).
  • Utilize varied sentence structures.
  • Incorporate advanced vocabulary (e.g., beneficial or detrimental).
  • Always check grammar and tenses.

Connectors

  • Addition: Furthermore, Moreover, In addition.
  • Contrast: However, Although, On the other hand.
  • Example: For instance, Such as.
  • Conclusion: In conclusion, To sum up.

Advanced Vocabulary and Expressions

Key Vocabulary

  • Delves into: Explores deeply.
  • Connotations: Implied meanings.
  • Colloquial: Informal.
  • Counterpoint: Opposite idea.
  • Savvy: Knowledgeable.
  • Etiquette: Proper behavior.
  • Recruiting: Hiring.
  • Invaluable: Very useful.

Prefixes and Suffixes

  • Interfere → Interference
  • Justify → Justification
  • Concept → Misconception
  • Create → Recreated
  • Represent → Misrepresentation

Verb + Preposition

Disapprove of, collaborate with, contribute to, distinguish between, warn against, discourage from.

Advanced Phrasal Verbs

  • Go down with: Be well received.
  • Narrow down: Reduce.
  • Comes down to: Depends on.
  • Break down: Stop working.
  • Wind down: Relax.
  • Step down: Resign.

Animal Expressions

  • Beaver away: Work hard.
  • Chicken out: Lose courage.
  • Monkey around: Act silly.
  • Bug: Annoy.
  • Hound: Harass.
  • Fish out: Take out.
  • Clam up: Stop talking.

Collective Nouns

  • Colony: Ants.
  • Herd: Cows or people.
  • Flight: Birds or insects.
  • Flock: Birds or sheep.
  • Swarm: Insects or people.
  • Pack: Wolves or things.

Linking Words

Firstly, Secondly, In addition, Apart from, Also, However, Although, Therefore, It is clear that, Such as, For instance, On balance.