Basic English Grammar for Beginners

Does grammar make you nervous? Do words like "tense," "preposition," and "article" sound scary? You're not alone. Many people who want to learn English feel confused by grammar rules.

But here's good news: basic English grammar is actually simple. You don't need to memorize hundreds of rules. A few essential concepts will help you speak and write correctly in most situations.

At 999 English in Hyderabad, we teach grammar in a practical way. We focus on what helps you communicate, not complicated theory. This guide follows the same approach - simple English grammar explained in a way anyone can understand.

If you're also learning to speak English at home, check our complete guide to learning English speaking at home for additional tips.

Why Learn English Grammar Basics?

Some people say, "Don't worry about grammar, just speak!" There's some truth to this - you shouldn't let grammar fear stop you from speaking. But understanding English grammar basics helps you:

• Be understood clearly: Wrong grammar can change meaning or confuse listeners
• Build confidence: When you know the rules, you speak with more certainty
• Improve faster: Grammar gives you a framework to learn new sentences
• Sound professional: Correct grammar matters in job interviews, emails, and formal situations
• Learn independently: You can check and correct your own mistakes

Think of grammar as the skeleton of a language. You don't need to know every bone, but understanding the main structure helps everything else make sense.

The 8 Parts of Speech: Building Blocks of English

Every English word belongs to a category called a "part of speech." There are 8 main parts. Don't worry about memorizing definitions - just understand what each one does.

1. Nouns - Naming Words

Nouns are names of people, places, things, or ideas.

Examples:

• People: Rahul, teacher, mother, doctor
• Places: Hyderabad, school, kitchen, India
• Things: phone, book, water, car
• Ideas: love, happiness, freedom, education

In Telugu: Noun ante peru - manishi peru, place peru, vastu peru.

In Hindi: Noun matlab naam - insaan ka naam, jagah ka naam, cheez ka naam.

Common mistake: Forgetting to capitalize proper nouns (specific names). Write "India" not "india," write "Monday" not "monday."

2. Pronouns - Words That Replace Nouns

Instead of saying "Rahul went to Rahul's office in Rahul's car," we use pronouns: "Rahul went to his office in his car."

Common pronouns:

• I, me, my, mine
• You, your, yours
• He, him, his / She, her, hers
• It, its
• We, us, our, ours
• They, them, their, theirs

Common mistake: Mixing up "I" and "me." Use "I" when you're doing the action: "I went to the shop." Use "me" when action is done to you: "He called me."

3. Verbs - Action Words

Verbs show action or state. They're the most important part of any sentence.

Action verbs: run, eat, sleep, work, study, speak, write

State verbs: am, is, are, was, were, have, feel, seem

Examples:

• She works in an IT company.
• I am happy today.
• They played cricket yesterday.

Common mistake: Using wrong verb form with the subject. Say "He works" (not "He work"). Say "They work" (not "They works").

4. Adjectives - Describing Words

Adjectives describe nouns. They tell us more about people, places, or things.

Examples:

• A tall building
• A delicious meal
• An interesting book
• Hot coffee

In Telugu: Adjective ante noun ni describe chese word. "Beautiful girl" lo "beautiful" adjective.

In Hindi: Adjective matlab noun ko describe karne wala word. "Beautiful girl" mein "beautiful" adjective hai.

5. Adverbs - Words That Modify Verbs

Adverbs tell us how, when, where, or how much an action happens. Many adverbs end in "-ly."

Examples:

• She speaks slowly. (how)
• He arrived yesterday. (when)
• They live here. (where)
• I really like this. (how much)

Common mistake: Using adjective instead of adverb. Say "She sings beautifully" (not "She sings beautiful").

6. Prepositions - Position and Relationship Words

Prepositions show relationships between words, often related to position, time, or direction.

Common prepositions: in, on, at, to, from, with, by, for, about, between, under, over, after, before

Examples:

• The book is on the table.
• I work at a software company.
• She went to the market.
• We'll meet after lunch.

Common mistakes with in/on/at:

• Time: at 5 o'clock, on Monday, in January, in 2025
• Place: at the bus stop, on the road, in the room

7. Conjunctions - Connecting Words

Conjunctions join words, phrases, or sentences.

Common conjunctions: and, but, or, so, because, although, if, when, while

Examples:

• Tea and coffee
• I wanted to go, but it was raining.
• She studies hard because she wants good marks.

8. Interjections - Exclamation Words

Interjections express emotions. They're often followed by exclamation marks.

Examples: Wow! Oh! Ouch! Hey! Hurray! Alas!

These are the simplest to understand and use.

Essential Grammar Rules for Beginners

Now that you know the parts of speech, let's learn some essential rules. These English grammar basics will help you form correct sentences.

Rule 1: Basic Sentence Structure (Subject + Verb + Object)

English sentences follow a specific order: Subject (who) + Verb (action) + Object (what/whom).

Examples:

• I (subject) eat (verb) rice (object).
• She (subject) reads (verb) books (object).
• They (subject) play (verb) cricket (object).

In Telugu, the order is often Subject + Object + Verb ("Nenu annam tintanu"). In English, the verb comes before the object. This is a key difference to remember.

In Hindi, similarly, the order changes ("Main khana khata hoon"). English always puts the verb before the object.

Rule 2: Subject-Verb Agreement

The verb must match the subject in number. Singular subjects take singular verbs. Plural subjects take plural verbs.

Singular (one person/thing):

• He works hard.
• She is a teacher.
• The dog runs fast.

Plural (many people/things):

• They work hard.
• We are students.
• The dogs run fast.

Simple pattern to remember:

• I/You/We/They + work, eat, go, have (no 's')
• He/She/It + works, eats, goes, has (add 's' or 'es')

Common mistake: "He go to office" - Wrong! Correct: "He goes to office."

Rule 3: Articles (A, An, The)

Articles are small words used before nouns. They're confusing for Indian learners because Telugu and Hindi don't have articles.

A / An (Indefinite Articles): Used for general, non-specific things

• Use "a" before consonant sounds: a book, a car, a university
• Use "an" before vowel sounds: an apple, an hour, an umbrella

The (Definite Article): Used for specific things

• I saw a dog. (some dog, any dog)
• The dog was brown. (that specific dog I mentioned)

When to use "the":

• When both speaker and listener know which thing: "Please close the door."
• When there's only one: "The sun rises in the east."
• Second mention: "I bought a phone. The phone is Samsung."

When NOT to use articles:

• General plural nouns: "I like dogs." (not "I like the dogs" - unless specific dogs)
• Uncountable nouns in general: "Water is essential." (not "The water is essential" - unless specific water)

Rule 4: Understanding Tenses (Present, Past, Future)

Tenses show when an action happens. English has three main times (present, past, future) with different forms. Let's focus on the most important ones.

Present Simple Tense

Use for habits, facts, and regular actions.

Structure: Subject + base verb (add s/es for he/she/it)

Examples:

• I wake up at 6 AM every day. (habit)
• The sun rises in the east. (fact)
• She works in Bangalore. (regular situation)

Present Continuous Tense

Use for actions happening right now.

Structure: Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing

Examples:

• I am reading a book. (right now)
• She is cooking dinner.
• They are playing cricket.

Past Simple Tense

Use for completed actions in the past.

Structure: Subject + past form of verb (usually add -ed)

Examples:

• I watched a movie yesterday.
• She called me last night.
• They went to Delhi. (irregular verb)

Common irregular verbs: go-went, come-came, eat-ate, see-saw, take-took, give-gave, do-did, have-had

Future Simple Tense

Use for actions that will happen later.

Structure: Subject + will + base verb

Examples:

• I will call you tomorrow.
• She will come at 5 PM.
• They will finish the project next week.

In Telugu: Present - ippudu jariguthondi, Past - mundu jarigindi, Future - tarvata jaruguthundi.

In Hindi: Present - abhi ho raha hai, Past - pehle hua, Future - baad mein hoga.

Common Grammar Mistakes to Avoid

Indian learners often make similar mistakes. Here are the most common ones with corrections.

Mistake 1: Using "I" and "me" incorrectly

Wrong: "Me and my friend went to the movie."

Correct: "My friend and I went to the movie."

Wrong: "He gave the book to my friend and I."

Correct: "He gave the book to my friend and me."

Tip: Remove the other person from the sentence. Would you say "Me went to the movie"? No! So use "I." Would you say "He gave the book to I"? No! So use "me."

Mistake 2: Forgetting articles or using them wrongly

Wrong: "I am teacher." / "She is doctor."

Correct: "I am a teacher." / "She is a doctor."

Wrong: "I bought the new phone yesterday."

Correct: "I bought a new phone yesterday." (First mention, not specific yet)

Mistake 3: Wrong preposition usage

Wrong: "I am waiting for you since 2 hours."

Correct: "I am waiting for you for 2 hours."

Wrong: "She is married with him."

Correct: "She is married to him."

Wrong: "I reached to the office."

Correct: "I reached the office." (reach doesn't need "to")

Mistake 4: Double negatives

Wrong: "I don't have no money."

Correct: "I don't have any money." OR "I have no money."

Mistake 5: Wrong question formation

Wrong: "Where you are going?"

Correct: "Where are you going?"

Wrong: "What you want?"

Correct: "What do you want?"

Question pattern: Question word + helping verb + subject + main verb?

How to Learn Grammar Easily: Practical Tips

Grammar rules can be boring to memorize. Here are practical ways to learn grammar easily and actually remember it.

1. Learn Through Sentences, Not Rules

Instead of memorizing "Present continuous = subject + am/is/are + verb-ing," learn sentences:

• "I am eating breakfast."
• "She is watching TV."
• "They are playing outside."

When you need to use this tense, these example sentences will come to mind.

2. Read English Daily

Reading helps you see grammar in action. You naturally absorb correct patterns. Read:

• Simple English news (News in Levels website)
• Children's books (simple grammar)
• Blog posts on topics you like
• English social media posts

3. Notice Grammar in What You Hear

When watching English content, notice how speakers form sentences. When they say "I've been working," notice it's different from "I worked." This develops grammar intuition.

4. Practice With Simple Exercises

Fill-in-the-blank exercises help reinforce grammar. Try these:

Fill in the correct verb form:

1. She ___ (go) to school every day.
2. I ___ (eat) dinner right now.
3. They ___ (visit) Mumbai last year.
4. He ___ (call) you tomorrow.

Answers: 1. goes, 2. am eating, 3. visited, 4. will call

5. Speak and Write Regularly

Passive learning only takes you so far. Active use - speaking and writing - helps grammar become automatic. Make mistakes, learn from them, and try again.

6. Focus on High-Impact Grammar First

You don't need to learn all grammar at once. Focus on what affects everyday communication:

1. Subject-verb agreement
2. Basic tenses (present, past, future simple)
3. Articles (a, an, the)
4. Common prepositions (in, on, at, to, for)
5. Question formation

Master these before moving to advanced grammar like conditionals, perfect tenses, or passive voice.

Simple Practice Exercises

Let's practice what you've learned. Try these exercises and check your answers below.

Exercise 1: Correct the Mistakes

Find and correct the error in each sentence:

1. She work in a bank.
2. I am doctor.
3. He go to gym yesterday.
4. Where you live?
5. Me and my sister are twins.

Answers:

1. She works in a bank.
2. I am a doctor.
3. He went to gym yesterday.
4. Where do you live?
5. My sister and I are twins.

Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Option

1. She (is/are) my best friend.
2. I (have/has) two brothers.
3. They (was/were) at the party.
4. He (don't/doesn't) like coffee.
5. We (am/are) learning English.

Answers: 1. is, 2. have, 3. were, 4. doesn't, 5. are

Exercise 3: Fill in the Articles (a, an, the, or nothing)

1. She is ___ engineer.
2. I saw ___ cat. ___ cat was black.
3. ___ water is necessary for life.
4. He is ___ honest man.
5. Please open ___ window.

Answers: 1. an, 2. a, The, 3. (nothing), 4. an (because "honest" sounds like it starts with a vowel - "onest"), 5. the

Building a Strong Grammar Foundation

Learning simple English grammar takes time, but it's worth it. Here's a suggested approach for the next few weeks:

Week 1-2: Parts of Speech

• Understand nouns, verbs, adjectives
• Identify them in sentences you read
• Create your own sentences

Week 3-4: Basic Tenses

• Master present simple and continuous
• Practice past simple with regular and irregular verbs
• Use future simple in sentences

Week 5-6: Sentence Building

• Practice subject-verb-object pattern
• Form questions correctly
• Use conjunctions to make longer sentences

Week 7-8: Polish and Practice

• Focus on articles
• Practice common prepositions
• Write short paragraphs and check grammar

Next Steps in Your Grammar Journey

This guide covers basic English grammar for beginners. Once you're comfortable with these concepts, you can move to:

• Present perfect and past continuous tenses
• Passive voice ("The book was written by him")
• Conditionals ("If I had money, I would buy...")
• Relative clauses ("The man who called...")
• Advanced punctuation

But don't rush. Solid English grammar basics will take you far in everyday communication.

Getting Help With Grammar

Self-study works well for grammar basics. But sometimes you need guidance:

• When you keep making the same mistakes
• When explanations don't make sense
• When you want to learn faster with structure
• When you need practice with a real person

At 999 English, we teach grammar as part of our spoken English courses. Our approach focuses on practical grammar - the rules that actually help you speak correctly. We don't bore you with theory you'll never use.

If you're in Hyderabad and want structured grammar learning along with speaking practice, contact us for a free demo class. We're located at KPHB and keep our courses affordable for everyone.

Call us at +91 8019646484 to know more.

Final Thoughts

Grammar isn't about memorizing rules to pass a test. It's about communicating clearly and confidently. The basics covered here - parts of speech, sentence structure, tenses, and common mistakes - will serve you well in most situations.

Remember:

• Start with the essentials and build from there
• Learn through examples, not just rules
• Practice regularly - even 10 minutes daily helps
• Don't fear mistakes - they're part of learning
• Grammar should help you speak, not stop you from speaking

In Telugu: Grammar simple ga undali. Rules baaga ardham cheskondi, daily practice cheyandi.

In Hindi: Grammar simple hona chahiye. Rules ko achhe se samjho, daily practice karo.

You now have a solid foundation to build on. Keep learning, keep practicing, and your grammar will improve naturally over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related: Our review of Raymond Murphy's Essential Grammar in Use, improve English speaking skills, and tips to speak English fluently.