Verb tense
Match the verb to the time.
Grammar
Common English mistakes, each with the rule that fixes it.
41 rules
Rules in this book
Subject-verb agreement
The verb agrees with the subject in number.
Since, for, ago
Use "since" with a starting point ("since 2019") and "for" with a length of time ("for three years").
Present perfect vs. simple past
If the sentence names a finished time (yesterday, last year, in 2023), use the simple past.
Used to
"Used to" + base verb describes a past habit that is over.
Gerund or infinitive
Some verbs take -ing and some take to + verb.
If-sentences: real vs. unreal
For a real future, use the present after if and "will" in the other half.
Modal verbs: can, could, must, have to
A modal verb takes the base verb, with no "to" and no -s: "She can swim", never "can to swim" or "cans swim".
Passive voice
The passive is be + past participle.
Phrasal verbs: turn it off
With separable phrasal verbs, a pronoun must go between the verb and the particle.
Articles
Use "a" before a consonant sound and "an" before a vowel sound.
Plurals
Most nouns add -s.
Countable vs. uncountable
Some nouns have no plural form: advice, information, news, furniture, luggage, feedback.
Much vs. many
Use "many" with countable nouns and "much" with uncountable nouns: "many emails", "much time".
A few vs. a little
"A few" goes with countable nouns and "a little" with uncountable ones: "a few emails", "a little time".
This, that, these, those
Match the word to distance and number.
Some vs. any
Use "some" in positive sentences and "any" in negatives.
Other vs. another
"Another" is one word and goes with a singular noun: "another cup".
Of vs. possessive -s
For people, use 's: "my brother's book", not "the book of my brother".
All, every, each
"Every" and "each" take a singular noun and a singular verb: "every employee gets a badge".
Comparatives and superlatives
Use one comparison marker, not two.
So vs. such
"So" goes before an adjective or adverb alone: "so expensive", "so quickly".
Too vs. very
"Very" makes an adjective stronger and stays neutral: "very tall".
Prepositions
Prepositions rarely translate word-for-word, so learn them with the phrase.
Word choice
Pick the word that fits the meaning and the usual pairing (collocation).
Make vs. do
Use "do" for work and general tasks: "do the dishes", "do your homework".
Say vs. tell
"Tell" needs a person right after it: "tell me", "tell the team".
Affect vs. effect
"Affect" is usually the verb, meaning one thing changes another: "the delay affects the launch".
Lie vs. lay
"Lie" means to rest yourself, and takes no object: "I lie down".
Borrow vs. lend
"Borrow" means to take something for a while: "I borrowed his charger".
Word order
English is subject–verb–object.
Clarity
One idea per sentence.
Forming questions
Most questions need do, does, or did before the subject.
Reported speech
"Say" takes no person; "tell" needs one: "He told me he was tired", not "He said me".
Despite vs. although
"Despite" is followed by a noun or an -ing form: "despite the rain".
During vs. while
"During" is followed by a noun: "during the meeting".
Punctuation
End sentences with a period.
Spelling
Watch commonly confused spellings and the i-before-e pattern.
Capitalization
Capitalize the first word of a sentence, the pronoun "I", proper nouns, and days, months, and languages.
Possessive apostrophes
Add 's to show who owns something: "the manager's office".
Its vs. it's
"It's" with the apostrophe always means "it is" or "it has".
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