Practical Grammar
You do not need all of English grammar. You need the part that stops people understanding you — and that part is smaller than you think.
What actually stops communication
Many grammar errors are harmless. If you say I have went yesterday, everyone knows exactly what you mean. It is worth correcting eventually, but it is not urgent.
A small number of errors genuinely cause confusion, and those are the ones to fix first. They are listed below, in order of how much trouble they cause.
- Word order, especially in questions. You are going where? often needs repeating; Where are you going? does not.
- Time. If the listener cannot tell whether you mean yesterday, today or tomorrow, the message fails completely.
- Negatives. Getting a not into the wrong place can reverse your meaning.
- Singular and plural, where the number actually matters — one ticket or two tickets.
- Everything else, which is worth fixing but rarely prevents understanding.
1. Word order
English word order is fixed, and this is a gift: once you know the pattern, you can say almost anything.
Statements
Who — does — what — where — when.
- I bought a shirt at the market yesterday.
- She sends the report to the manager every Friday.
- Place before time. At the market yesterday, not yesterday at the market.
Questions
Two patterns cover nearly everything.
- With a question word: Where do you work? When does the bus leave? Why did she call?
- Yes or no: Do you work here? Is she at home? Can you help me?
- Remember: after do, does or did, the main verb has no ending. Where did you went → Where did you go?
Negatives
Put not after the helping verb.
- I do not know. / I don't know.
- She is not coming. / She isn't coming.
- They have not arrived. / They haven't arrived.
- If there is no helping verb, use do, does or did: He works → He doesn't work.
2. Talking about time
Five tenses will carry you through almost every conversation you will ever have.
Now
- I am waiting for the bus. — happening this minute
- I work in a bank. — true generally
The past
- I went to Kandy last week. — finished, and the time is finished
- I have been to Kandy. — at some time, the time not important
The future
- I will call you tonight. — deciding now
- I am going to start a course. — already planned
- I am meeting her at four. — a fixed arrangement
A rescue that always works
If you are not sure of a tense, say the time word. Yesterday I go to the market is not correct English, but nobody will misunderstand it.
Time words are the safety net: yesterday, last week, now, at the moment, tomorrow, next month, already, still, since Monday. Use them freely while your tenses are settling.
Patterns worth learning as whole phrases
Do not build these from rules. Learn them complete, the way you learnt a song.
- Could you…?
- A polite request. The most useful phrase in the language.
- Example: Could you repeat that, please? Could you help me for a moment?
- I would like…
- Polite wanting. Far better than I want, which can sound abrupt.
- Example: I would like two tickets to Colombo, please.
- Do you mind if I…?
- Asking permission politely.
- Example: Do you mind if I sit here? Do you mind if I open the window?
- I am afraid…
- Softens bad news or a refusal.
- Example: I am afraid I cannot come on Sunday.
- Shall I…? / Would you like me to…?
- Offering help.
- Example: Shall I carry that for you? Would you like me to explain again?
- I am not sure, but I think…
- Saying something without claiming certainty.
- Example: I am not sure, but I think the office closes at four.
- What do you mean by…?
- Asking for clarification without embarrassment.
- Example: What do you mean by 'the application form'?
- Let me check and get back to you.
- Buying time. Invaluable at work.
- Example: Let me check the file and get back to you this afternoon.
3. Articles: a, an, the
Articles cause endless anxiety and almost never cause misunderstanding. Learn the simple version and stop worrying about the rest.
If in doubt, use the with something specific and a with something general. You will be right most of the time, and understood every time.
- a / an — one of many, or mentioned for the first time: I need a pen. She is a teacher.
- an before a vowel sound: an apple, an hour, an honest man.
- the — when the listener knows which one: Pass me the pen (the one here), the sun, the manager of our branch.
- nothing — with plural or uncountable things in general: Books are expensive. Water is free.
Practise
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Graded grammar practice in book form
A grammar practice book with explanations and answers, for independent study or classroom use.
O/L English Grammar Practice BookSee it in RCF Publications