How to Improve English Grammar

How to Improve English Grammar? Grammar is a heart of English language. If you want to well-versed with any language, then the first thing you have to do is to learn grammar intuitively.

There are many part of the grammar where people faces difficulties such as tenses, clauses, sentences and many others.

To check your level of understanding in grammar section, you have to attempt a lot of questions. Whenever you practice questions also have their explanation that will help you to improve your concepts regarding grammar. The more you do practice the more your confidence level will be built.

Choose the area in which you are weak and start working on it. When you feel confident in this section, then select another section. Practicing is the best way to get rid of your weakness in English grammar.

In this article, we have discussed how to improve your English grammar in some points. After following this discussion, you will be more positive in your English Grammar.

Related Article: How to Improve English Writing Skills?

10 Best Steps to Improve English Grammar

1. Be Aware of Apostrophes

This is an important part of English grammar where you have to be more conscious as misplaced of apostrophe will change the meaning of the sentence. Apostrophe is used when we use contraction form as well as in possessive case.

For example, brother’s pen, Raman’s brother etc. If you avoid the apostrophe, the meaning of the sentence will be changed. For example, its – it’s, their – they’re. So be careful while using the apostrophe or avoiding the apostrophe in both the case.

2. Memorize important Heteronyms and Suffixes

There are many words which have same pronunciation but spelling is different are known as heteronyms such as canvas-canvass, canon-cannon, accept-except, and many more. In English, suffix is used to form new words which is very important.

For example, the suffix -less can be used to form new word from root word meaningless; root words are in existence without any suffix. There are some suffix that are used to make certain words meaningful. For example, the -ible suffix is added to form a meaningful word such as divisible.

3. Remember to use a comma after introductory phrases or prepositional phrases

It is very important to use and you can place it easily. The prepositional phrase is nothing but combination of words whose main element is preposition. You can find it easily. Generally, at the starting of prepositional phrase, there will be a preposition but at the end it will be a noun or pronoun.

As for example we can see:

Under the heap of garbage, we got the key.

After a good day at work, we plan to have a party.

4. Clear the concept of ‘Appositive’

An appositive is a noun or noun phrase that is placed near other noun or pronoun to rename or describe it. It is very common to use appositive to add explanation to the sentence. ‘Appositive’ is a Latin word meaning “placing near” which is used just after the word or phrase that it identifies.

Generally, appositives are offset with commas or dashes or round brackets.

For example: Tomy, our pet dog, has eaten all meat we keep in our kitchen.

5. Make a Clear Concept about Article

To improve your English grammar, you must have clear understanding of the usage of articles. In English grammar, there are two types of articles such as definite (the) and indefinite (a, an).

You must always keep it in your mind that indefinite articles ‘a/an’ are used before singular countable nouns when they are indefinite and introduced for the first time.

For example:

This is a pen.

She is a student.

On the other hand, definite article ‘the’ is used before definite nouns towards which we can point out, the nouns that we can visualize or that has been introduced.

For example:

The English defeated the French.

Jaipur is the Rome of India.

6. Separate the words that, who and which using comma

Comma is an important part of English grammar. To learn and improve your English grammar, you must have a clear understanding of the usage of comma. To set off non-essential words, clauses and phrases, we use comma.

For example:

Rima who is my cousin enter into the room (Incorrect)

Rima, who is my cousin, enter into the room (Correct)

In the above example, note comma is used after Rima and cousin. Most of the writers do mistake to place this important comma. This closing comma is known as appositive comma. There are also other instances where we need to use an appositive comma with one or more nouns.

My favorite uncle, Ram arrived. (Incorrect)

My favorite uncle, Ram, arrived. (Correct)

The four books, physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics were on the bed. (Incorrect)

The four books, physics, chemistry, biology, and mathematics, were on the bed. (Correct)

7. Be careful while using Semicolon

Semicolon has a very important role to from a correct and standard sentence. For the improvement of your grammatical concept, learn the use of semicolon in proper places.

To join two independent clauses instead of conjunction, semicolon is used in a complex sentence. Generally, capital letter is not used after semicolon but if it is used before a proper noun or an acronym, then it will be written in capital letter.

For example: Roni has gone to the field; Ram has gone to watch movie.

8. Learn about Countable and Uncountable Nouns

The countable and uncountable nouns play an important role in English grammar. The items which can be counted are referred to as countable nouns and the items which cannot counted is referred to as uncountable noun.

For example, rupees, seconds etc. are examples of countable nouns as these can be counted and sugar, salt, water are examples of uncountable nouns as these cannot be counted.

In case of countable nouns, the word many is used, for example, pen, bus, house etc. and for uncountable nouns the word much is used, for example, salt, air, knowledge etc. There is a phrase ‘a lot of’ that can be used in both the case countable and uncountable nouns.

9. Enrich your Vocabulary collection

To write standard writing, you should have collection of words or increase your vocabulary. Reading of newspaper, books, magazines is a good habit and source to build your vocabulary. While reading this, prepare a note of important words that are used most of the time.

10. Be conscious about spelling while writing or reading English

Learn different words with their correct spelling. Spelling should be correct as incorrect spelling may spoil the meaning of your sentence. There are many online platforms where you can check your spelling.

Related Article: How to improve English Vocabulary

Practice makes a man perfect. To improve your English grammar, you have to do practice a lot. You have to be very careful while using various words. After having good concept about different sections of grammar, you can improve your English grammar.

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