English grammar reference
English grammar reference: the rules you use most, with examples
Quick answer
English grammar for everyday use comes down to a short list: the tenses (especially present simple, present continuous, past simple, present perfect and the future forms), articles (a, an, the), countable and uncountable nouns, comparatives and superlatives, modal verbs, conditionals, the passive and reported speech. This page explains each one in a few lines with examples, from A1 to B2 level. Grammar sticks fastest when you use it out loud, so each section ends with something to say.
This reference is free and on one page, so you can search it with Ctrl+F or your phone's find in page. Start with the tense table, then jump to the topic you need.
English tenses at a glance
| Tense | Form | Example | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Present simple | work / works | She works in a bank. | Habits, facts, timetables |
| Present continuous | am / is / are working | I am working from home today. | Now, temporary situations, fixed plans |
| Present perfect | have / has worked | I have worked here for two years. | Past linked to now, experience, unfinished time |
| Present perfect continuous | have / has been working | We have been waiting for an hour. | Duration up to now |
| Past simple | worked | He worked late yesterday. | Finished actions at a finished time |
| Past continuous | was / were working | I was cooking when you called. | Background action in the past |
| Past perfect | had worked | The film had started when we arrived. | Earlier past |
| Past perfect continuous | had been working | She had been studying for hours. | Duration before a past moment |
| Future with will | will work | I will call you later. | Decisions now, predictions, promises |
| Future with going to | am / is / are going to work | We are going to move next year. | Plans, evidence now |
| Future continuous | will be working | This time tomorrow I will be flying. | Action in progress in the future |
| Future perfect | will have worked | By June I will have finished. | Completed before a future time |
Articles: a, an, the
- Use a or an with a singular countable noun mentioned for the first time: I bought a car. She is an engineer.
- Use an before a vowel sound, not a vowel letter: an hour, a university.
- Use the when both people know which one: The car is outside. Also with unique things: the sun, the internet.
- No article with plural or uncountable nouns used in general: Dogs are loyal. Water is important.
- Say it: describe your room using a, an and the in five sentences.
Countable and uncountable nouns
- Countable nouns have a plural: one book, two books. Use many and a few: many books, a few ideas.
- Uncountable nouns have no plural: information, advice, money, furniture. Use much and a little: much time, a little advice.
- Some and any work with both: some apples, some water. Any is usual in questions and negatives: Do you have any questions?
- Say it: tell someone what is in your fridge right now.
Comparatives and superlatives
- Short adjectives add er and est: cheap, cheaper, the cheapest. Big, bigger, the biggest.
- Longer adjectives use more and most: expensive, more expensive, the most expensive.
- Irregular: good, better, the best. Bad, worse, the worst. Far, further, the furthest.
- Compare equals with as ... as: This phone is as fast as that one.
- Say it: compare three cities or three jobs you know.
Modal verbs
- Ability: can, could. I can swim. I could read when I was four.
- Obligation: must, have to. You must wear a seat belt. I have to work on Saturday.
- Advice: should. You should see a doctor.
- Possibility: might, may, could. It might rain later.
- Permission and requests: can, could, may. Could you help me, please?
- A modal is followed by the base verb, with no to and no s: She can drive, not she cans drive or she can to drive.
Conditionals
- Zero (always true): If you heat ice, it melts. If plus present, present.
- First (real future): If it rains, we will stay home. If plus present, will plus verb.
- Second (imaginary present or future): If I had more time, I would learn Japanese. If plus past, would plus verb.
- Third (imaginary past): If I had studied, I would have passed. If plus past perfect, would have plus past participle.
- Say it: what would you do if you won a year of free travel?
The passive
- Form: be plus past participle. The report was written by Anna.
- Use it when the action matters more than who did it: The bridge was built in 1932.
- Every tense has a passive: is made, was made, has been made, will be made.
Reported speech
- Move the tense one step back when reporting: I am tired becomes She said she was tired.
- Will becomes would, can becomes could: He said he would call.
- Questions become statements: Where do you live? becomes She asked where I lived.
- If the fact is still true, you can keep the tense: He said he lives in Paris.
Questions
- Use an auxiliary before the subject: Do you like coffee? Did she call? Have you finished?
- With question words: Where do you work? What did you say?
- No auxiliary when the question word is the subject: Who called you? What happened?
Practise grammar by speaking
Grammar rules are easy to read and hard to use in real time. SpeakBase is an AI speaking tutor: Kate talks with you, corrects grammar mistakes as you make them, explains them in your own language if you prefer, and turns each correction into a flashcard for review. The first lesson is free.
Frequently asked questions
How many tenses are there in English?
Twelve are usually taught: present, past and future, each in simple, continuous, perfect and perfect continuous forms. In everyday speech the most common are present simple, present continuous, past simple, present perfect and the future with will and going to.
What is the difference between past simple and present perfect?
Past simple is for a finished time: I saw that film last year. Present perfect connects the past to now, without a finished time: I have seen that film. Do not use present perfect with a finished time such as yesterday or in 2020.
When do I use a and when do I use the?
Use a or an for one thing mentioned for the first time or one of many. Use the when the listener knows which one you mean, or when there is only one.
What is the best way to learn English grammar?
Learn one rule at a time from a short reference like this one, practise it in writing, then use it out loud in conversation and get corrected. Speaking practice is what turns a rule you know into one you use.
