English Grammar Guide

Practical explanations for the grammar points that come up constantly in real conversation — each with an example, a common mistake, and a short exercise.

Present simple

Use it for: facts, habits, and routines that are generally true, not just happening right now.

Example: "She works at a hospital." / "I don't drink coffee in the evening."

Common mistake: "She work at a hospital."
Correction: "She works at a hospital." — the verb takes an -s with he/she/it.

Practice: Complete the sentence: "My brother ___ (live) in Karachi and he ___ (not / speak) French."

Present continuous

Use it for: actions happening right now, or temporary situations around the present.

Example: "I'm reading a great book this month." / "She's studying for her exam right now."

Common mistake: "I am study English now."
Correction: "I am studying English now." — the main verb needs -ing after am/is/are.

Practice: Turn this into present continuous: "He (write) an email at the moment."

Past simple

Use it for: a completed action at a specific, finished time in the past.

Example: "I visited Lahore last year." / "They didn't call me yesterday."

Common mistake: "I didn't went to the meeting."
Correction: "I didn't go to the meeting." — after "didn't," the verb goes back to its base form.

Practice: Rewrite in the negative: "She finished the report on time."

Present perfect

Use it for: a past action connected to now — either it just happened, or the exact time isn't the point, only the result or experience is.

Example: "I've already sent the email." / "Have you ever visited Istanbul?"

Common mistake: "I have seen him yesterday."
Correction: "I saw him yesterday." — a specific past time word ("yesterday") needs past simple, not present perfect.

Practice: Choose the correct form: "I (finish) ___ my homework already." vs. "I (finish) ___ my homework two hours ago."

Future forms

Use "will" for decisions made at the moment of speaking and predictions: "I think it will rain."
Use "going to" for plans already decided: "I'm going to visit my parents this weekend."
Use present continuous for fixed arrangements: "I'm meeting her at 6pm on Friday."

Common mistake: "I will meet her tomorrow at 6, we arranged it last week."
Correction: "I'm meeting her tomorrow at 6." — a fixed, arranged plan usually takes present continuous, not "will."

Practice: Which is more natural — "I will go to the dentist at 3pm tomorrow (already booked)" or "I'm going to the dentist at 3pm tomorrow"? Why?

Articles (a, an, the)

Use "a/an" for a non-specific, single, countable thing, mentioned for the first time: "I saw a dog."
Use "the" when both speaker and listener know exactly which one: "The dog next door barks all night."
Use no article for general plural or uncountable nouns: "Dogs are loyal." / "I like music."

Common mistake: "I am the engineer." (when just stating a profession in general)
Correction: "I am an engineer." — professions use a/an, not "the," unless there's only one of that role in context ("the engineer on this project").

Practice: Fill the gap: "I bought ___ book yesterday. ___ book was really interesting."

Prepositions

Time: "in" for months/years ("in June"), "on" for days/dates ("on Monday"), "at" for clock times ("at 5pm").
Place: "in" for enclosed spaces ("in the room"), "on" for surfaces ("on the table"), "at" for points/addresses ("at the bus stop").

Common mistake: "I will call you in Monday."
Correction: "I will call you on Monday." — specific days use "on."

Practice: Fill the gaps: "The meeting is ___ 10am ___ Friday ___ the main office."

Subject-verb agreement

Rule: the verb must match the subject in number — singular subject, singular verb; plural subject, plural verb, even when other words come between them.

Example: "The list of items is on the table." (the subject is "the list," not "items.")

Common mistake: "Each of the students have a book."
Correction: "Each of the students has a book." — "each" is singular, regardless of the plural noun that follows it.

Practice: Choose the correct verb: "The number of applicants (is/are) increasing every year."

Modal verbs

Can/could — ability or polite requests: "Can you help me?"
Must/have to — obligation: "I have to finish this today."
Should — advice: "You should see a doctor."
Might/may — possibility: "It might rain later."

Common mistake: "I must to finish this today."
Correction: "I must finish this today." — modal verbs are followed directly by the base verb, with no "to."

Practice: Rewrite using a modal verb: "It's possible that she is already home." (Hint: use "might.")

Conditionals

Zero conditional (general truths): "If you heat water to 100°C, it boils."
First conditional (real future possibility): "If it rains tomorrow, I'll stay home."
Second conditional (unreal/hypothetical present): "If I had more time, I would learn another language."
Third conditional (unreal past): "If I had studied harder, I would have passed."

Common mistake: "If I will have time, I will call you."
Correction: "If I have time, I will call you." — the "if" clause in a first conditional uses present simple, not "will," even though it refers to the future.

Practice: Complete: "If I ___ (win) the lottery, I ___ (travel) around the world."

Common sentence errors

Run-on sentences: "I was tired I went to bed early." → "I was tired, so I went to bed early."
Double negatives: "I don't know nothing about it." → "I don't know anything about it."
Missing subject: "Is raining outside." → "It is raining outside." (English requires a subject, even a "dummy" one like "it.")

Practice: Fix this sentence: "He don't have no time for hobbies he always busy."

FAQ

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