Beginner Grammar (A1 · 64 lessons)
Beginner grammar covers first steps: basic sentences, everyday words and simple present tenses. Open any lesson below for the explanation, examples and practice points.
Nouns: Naming Words
A noun names a person, place, thing or idea.
Singular and Plural Nouns
Add -s to most nouns; add -es after s, x, ch, sh.
Irregular Plurals
Some nouns change form instead of adding -s.
Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Countable nouns can be counted; uncountable ones cannot take a/an or plural.
Proper and Common Nouns
Proper nouns name specific things and start with a capital letter.
Subject Pronouns
I, you, he, she, it, we, they replace the subject.
Object Pronouns
me, you, him, her, it, us, them follow verbs or prepositions.
Possessive Adjectives
my, your, his, her, its, our, their show ownership before a noun.
Possessive Pronouns
mine, yours, his, hers, ours, theirs stand alone.
Demonstratives: This, That, These, Those
Use this/these for near things, that/those for far things.
Verb To Be (Present)
am, is, are link the subject to a description.
Verb To Be: Negatives and Questions
Add not after be; swap be and subject for questions.
Articles: A and An
Use a before consonant sounds and an before vowel sounds.
Article: The
Use the for specific or already-known things.
Zero Article
No article with plural and uncountable nouns in general statements.
There is / There are
Introduce the existence of something.
Have / Has
Use has with he, she, it; have with others.
Present Simple: Affirmative
Use for habits, facts and routines; add -s for he/she/it.
Present Simple: Negative and Questions
Use do/does + base verb.
Spelling of -s Verbs
Verbs ending in consonant+y change to -ies; -ch, -sh, -s, -x, -o take -es.
Adverbs of Frequency
always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never go before the main verb.
Imperatives
Use the base verb to give orders, advice, instructions.
Can and Can't (Ability)
can + base verb shows ability or permission.
Present Continuous
be + verb-ing for actions happening now.
Prepositions of Place
in, on, at, under, next to, between show location.
Prepositions of Time
at (clock), on (days), in (months/years).
Question Words
who, what, where, when, why, how start information questions.
Basic Word Order (SVO)
English sentences follow Subject + Verb + Object.
Conjunctions: And, But, Or
Join words or sentences.
Adjectives: Describing Words
Adjectives come before nouns and after be.
Order of Adjectives (Basic)
Opinion comes before size, then colour.
Numbers and Ordinals
Cardinals count; ordinals show order.
Telling the Time
Use past and to, or say the digits.
Days, Months and Dates
Capitalise days and months; use ordinals for dates.
Like, Love, Hate + -ing
After like/love/hate we can use verb-ing.
Want to / Would like to
Use want/would like + to + verb to express wishes politely.
Let's and Shall We
Use to make suggestions.
Very, Too, Enough
very = a lot; too = more than needed; enough = sufficient.
Some and Any
some in positive sentences; any in negatives and questions.
Plural Nouns Ending in -y
Consonant + y becomes -ies; vowel + y just adds -s.
Plural Nouns Ending in -o
Some nouns take -es, others just -s.
Nouns Ending in -f or -fe
Many change to -ves in the plural.
Same Singular and Plural
Some nouns do not change in the plural.
Plural-Only Nouns
Some nouns are always plural.
Abstract Nouns
Abstract nouns name ideas or feelings you cannot touch.
Compound Nouns
Two words join to make a new noun.
Gender of Nouns
Some English nouns have male and female forms.
Pronoun: It for Weather and Time
Use it as an empty subject for weather, time and distance.
Pronoun: One and Ones
Use one/ones to avoid repeating a noun.
Be Going To: Questions
Swap be and the subject to ask about plans.
Can for Permission
Use can to ask or give permission.
There Was / There Were
Past form of there is / there are.
Is There / Are There Questions
Invert be and there for questions.
Present Simple: Routines and Facts
Use it for habits and things that are always true.
Present Simple vs Present Continuous
Simple = habits; continuous = happening now.
Stative Verbs: Basic
Verbs like know, like, want are not normally used in continuous form.
Adverbs of Place
here, there, outside, upstairs tell us where.
Adverbs of Time
now, today, soon, later tell us when.
Position of Adverbs of Frequency
Put them before the main verb but after be.
How Questions: How Much, How Many, How Old
Use how + word to ask about amount, number and age.
Prepositions of Movement
to, from, into, out of, through, across show movement.
At, In, On for Places
at = point; in = inside; on = surface.
At, In, On for Time
at + clock time; on + day; in + month or year.
Object Pronouns after Prepositions
Use me, him, her, us, them after a preposition.
Other levels for Grammar: Elementary · Intermediate · Upper-Intermediate · Advanced