10 Grammar Rules Every Student Needs to Speak Amazing English

Do you think you’re good at grammar? If so, why not test yourself with these ten grammar questions, each focusing on a different rule? You might be surprised at your score! On the other hand, if English is your first language, don’t assume you’ll get a perfect score—some learners might outshine you! – 10 Grammar Rules Every Student Needs to Speak Amazing English

Why Grammar Matters in Speaking English

Grammar is the foundation of clear and effective communication. Whether you’re preparing for WAEC, NECO, IELTS, or TOEFL, or you simply want to improve your fluency, understanding these rules will certainly help you speak with confidence.

“Before downloading the PDF and practicing, make sure to read the following carefully before answering the questions.”

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1. Inverted Conditionals

To begin with, let’s talk about inverted conditionals—a tricky but useful grammar rule. Sometimes, we drop “if” and instead, invert the subject and verb to create emphasis.

✅ Correct: Had I known, I would have helped.
❌ Incorrect: If I had known, I would have helped.

As you can see, this makes your sentence sound more formal and fluent.

2. Reflexive Pronouns

Similarly, reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, etc.) are used when the subject and object are the same.

✅ Correct: She taught herself French.
❌ Incorrect: She taught her French.

In other words, when the subject performs an action on itself, a reflexive pronoun is necessary.

3. Inversion with a Negative Adverbial

Likewise, when a sentence starts with a negative adverbial like “Never before” or “Rarely,” the verb and subject must be inverted.

✅ Correct: Never before have I seen such a view.
❌ Incorrect: Never before I have seen such a view.

As a result, the sentence sounds more formal and structured.

4. Collective Nouns: British vs. American English

Furthermore, did you know that British and American English treat collective nouns differently?

British English: The team are winning.
American English: The team is winning.

For this reason, it’s important to be aware of regional variations when speaking English.

5. Lay vs. Lie

Now, let’s clarify the difference between lay and lie, which often confuse learners.

Lay = to put something down (Lay the book on the table).
Lie = to recline (I need to lie down).

Because of this, many people misuse these verbs in everyday speech.

6. Articles: A vs. An (Historic or An Historic?)

At this point, let’s address a common mistake with articles.

✅ Correct: It was a historic moment.
❌ Incorrect: It was an historic moment.

In short, “a” is used before words with a consonant sound, while “an” is used before vowel sounds.

7. Relative Clauses

Moving on, relative clauses help provide additional information about a noun.

✅ Correct: The man whose car was stolen is my neighbor.
❌ Incorrect: The man that car was stolen is my neighbor.

This means that choosing the correct relative pronoun is essential for clarity.

8. Words for General and Annoying Habits

Similarly, English uses different structures for general and annoying habits.

✅ General habit: He always leaves his shoes in the way.
✅ Annoying habit: He will always leave his shoes in the way.

As a result, adding “will” can subtly express frustration!

9. Correct Punctuation

Moreover, punctuation can completely change the meaning of a sentence.

✅ Correct: My brother, who lives in Canada, is visiting next week.
❌ Incorrect: My brother who lives in Canada is visiting.

Therefore, always use commas correctly to avoid confusion.

10. Subjunctive Mood (“I Wish” Statements)

Finally, let’s talk about the subjunctive mood, especially in “I wish” statements.

✅ Correct: I wish I were taller.
❌ Incorrect: I wish I was taller.

In conclusion, the subjunctive mood uses “were” instead of “was” for hypothetical situations.

Conclusion: Improve Your English Today!

Mastering these ten grammar rules will undoubtedly improve your spoken English. So, why not start practicing today?