English grammar explains how words, phrases, clauses, and sentences work together to express clear meaning. It includes parts of speech, verb forms, sentence structure, punctuation, and the rules that shape accurate communication.
Explore lessons on nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, phrases, clauses, sentences, verb tenses, and other essential grammar topics. Each section provides clear explanations, practical rules, and examples.
A clause of purpose is a dependent clause that explains what someone intends to achieve by doing something. Finite purpose clauses commonly begin with so that or in order that. The caretaker left the side gate unlocked so that the…
A clause of reason is a dependent clause that explains why something happens, why someone takes an action, or why a statement is considered true. It commonly begins with because, since, or as. Consider: The outdoor concert was postponed because…
A time clause is a dependent clause that tells us when something happens, how long it continues, or how one event relates in time to another. Time clauses commonly begin with when, while, before, after, until, and as soon as.…
A conditional clause is a dependent clause that states a condition under which something happens, becomes possible, or would happen in an imagined situation. It commonly begins with if. Consider: If the replacement parts arrive by Thursday, the workshop will…
Choosing between a gerund and an infinitive can be confusing because English does not use one simple rule for every verb. Enjoy reading is correct, but want to read is correct. With verbs such as like and start, both forms…
An adverb phrase is a word or group of words built around an adverb. It may contain modifiers or other words that add to the adverb’s meaning. Compare: The violinist played softly. The violinist played remarkably softly. In both sentences,…
An adjective phrase is a word or group of words built around an adjective. It may contain words that strengthen, limit, compare, or complete the adjective’s meaning. Consider: The hikers were extremely proud of their achievement. The complete adjective phrase…
A verb phrase is a main verb alone or a main verb combined with one or more helping verbs, also called auxiliary verbs. These verbs work together to express an action or state and grammatical meanings such as possibility, completion,…
A phrase is a word or group of words that functions as a grammatical unit. A clause is a structure built around a verb, usually with its own subject. Compare: Both expressions tell us about time. However, the second contains…
You may look up the word or look the word up, but you must look after the child, not look the child after. Both expressions contain a verb followed by a short word, yet their grammar is different. In look…
The stressed syllable is the part of a word you say more strongly. You can hear it in words like TAble, beGIN, and eduCAtion. One syllable stands out. It sounds slightly louder, longer, and clearer than the others. If your…
An unstressed syllable is the part of a word that is spoken more softly and quickly. If every part of a word is pronounced with equal strength, the word can sound unnatural. English depends on a pattern of strong and…