Do you want to learn English grammar but don’t know where to start? Grammar is key to speak or write English. Here are some key steps to learn English grammar easily. Maybe you’ve been studying grammar for a long time but still can’t get it right. Or perhaps you even hate grammar now because it feels impossible to learn.
If that sounds like you, don’t worry—learning grammar doesn’t have to be difficult. In fact, with the right approach, you can master English grammar step by step.
In this guide, we’ll explore the best way to learn English grammar and how to combine it with vocabulary so that you can speak and write fluently.
Why You Should Never Learn Grammar Alone
One of the biggest mistakes learners make is trying to study grammar in isolation.
Grammar and vocabulary should always be learned together.
- When you learn a grammar rule, practice it with new vocabulary.
- When you learn new words, use them in sentences with grammar rules you already know.
This way, you’re always making sentences—the ultimate goal of grammar and vocabulary learning.
Step 1: Understand Sentence Composition
Before learning grammar rules, you must first understand how sentences are built. Every sentence in English is made up of different parts of speech—the roles that words play.
The Main Parts of Speech
- Noun – Names a person, place, or thing (e.g., pencil, driver).
- Verb – Shows an action (e.g., play, drive).
- Adjective – Describes a noun (e.g., beautiful, angry).
- Adverb – Describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb (e.g., beautifully, extremely).
Other Parts of Speech
- Pronouns (he, she, it, him, her)
- Prepositions (of, to, from, at)
- Conjunctions (and, or, but)
- Interjections (wow, ouch, yay)
Example of Sentence Composition
The extremely angry driver drives really angrily.
- Driver → noun
- Drives → verb
- Angry → adjective
- Extremely → adverb (modifies adjective)
- Really angrily → adverb modifying another adverb
By understanding how parts of speech work together, you can start building more meaningful and accurate sentences.
Step 2: Learn English Tenses
Tenses are the backbone of English grammar. They show when an action happens: past, present, or future.
The 12 Tenses in English
Each tense has four forms:
- Simple
- Continuous (Progressive)
- Perfect
- Perfect Continuous
Examples of Tenses
- Simple Tenses
- Present: I go to school.
- Past: I went to school.
- Future: I will go to school.
- Continuous Tenses
- Present: I am going to school.
- Past: I was going to school.
- Future: I will be going to school.
- Perfect Tenses
- Present: I have played tennis.
- Past: I had played tennis.
- Future: I will have played tennis.
- Perfect Continuous Tenses
- Present: I have been playing tennis.
- Past: I had been playing tennis.
- Future: I will have been playing tennis.
How to Master Tenses
Instead of trying to learn all 12 tenses at once, start simple:
- Learn the basic three simple tenses – present simple, past simple, future simple.
- The musician plays the guitar. (present simple)
- Yesterday, the musician played the guitar. (past simple)
- Tomorrow, the musician will play the guitar. (future simple)
- Add adjectives and adverbs to make sentences richer.
- The talented musician plays the guitar beautifully.
- Yesterday, the great musician played the guitar awfully.
- Gradually expand to continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous tenses.
- The musician is playing the guitar.
- The musician was playing the guitar.
- The musician will be playing the guitar.
- Mix tenses to tell short stories.
- Jack is a musician. He plays the guitar. Yesterday he was playing at a concert. He played beautifully.
By practicing this way, you’ll not only understand tenses but also be able to use them naturally in speaking and writing.
Step 3: Learn the Essential Grammar Rules
English grammar has hundreds of rules, but you don’t need to learn all of them right away. Focus on the essentials first:
- Relative Clauses (who, which, that, whose)
- Passive Voice (The car was driven by John)
- Quantifiers (many, much, a few, a little)
- Conditional Sentences (if-clauses: zero, first, second, third, mixed)
- Infinitives & Gerunds (to + verb, verb + ing)
When combined with tenses, adjectives, adverbs, and vocabulary, these rules form the alphabet of English grammar.
Step 4: Practice by Writing and Speaking
- Write short paragraphs or stories using the tenses and grammar rules you’ve learned.
- Play with adjectives and adverbs to enrich your sentences.
- Learn from common mistakes—study examples of typical errors and correct them.
The more you practice making sentences, the better your grammar will get.
Final Thoughts
Learning English grammar doesn’t mean memorizing endless rules. Instead, focus on:
- Understanding sentence composition
- Mastering tenses step by step
- Learning grammar and vocabulary together
- Practicing through sentences and stories
If you approach grammar this way, you’ll find it much easier, more natural, and even enjoyable.
FAQs About Learning English Grammar
1. What is the best way to learn English grammar quickly?
Start with the basics—sentence structure and simple tenses. Practice by making short sentences daily and gradually add more grammar rules.
2. Should I learn grammar or vocabulary first?
Both should be learned together. Grammar tells you how to form sentences, while vocabulary gives you the words to use.
3. How long does it take to master English grammar?
It depends on your practice. With consistent learning and daily use, you can build strong grammar skills within 6–12 months.
4. Is it necessary to learn all 12 tenses?
Yes, but not at once. Start with simple tenses and slowly expand to continuous, perfect, and perfect continuous forms.
5. Can I learn grammar without a teacher?
Yes! With online resources, grammar books, and daily practice, you can learn independently. Writing and speaking practice is key.