English Grammar for Beginners: Where to Start

Quick Answer: Start English grammar with subject pronouns, the verb "be", basic subject-verb-object word order and the present simple. Then add questions with do and does, articles, plurals, possessives, can, there is and there are, and finally the past simple. Learn one topic at a time and use it in your own sentences right away.

Key takeaways

• Every English sentence needs a subject: say "It is cold", never "Is cold".
• Use "be" for age, jobs and feelings: "I am 25 years old", not "I have 25 years".
• In the present simple, add s or es after he, she and it: she works, he watches.
• After do, does or did, the main verb stays in its base form: "Does he work?", "I didn't go."
• Use "an" before a vowel sound, not a vowel letter: an hour, but a university.
• Ten topics cover the core of A1 grammar; learn them in the order in the table below.

Why grammar order matters

Each topic in this list builds on the one before it: you need pronouns and "be" before you can make a present simple question, and present simple questions with do prepare you for past questions with did. These topics match the A1 English level and the start of A2.

The 10 first grammar topics

Order	Topic	Example
1	Subject pronouns	I, you, he, she, it, we, they
2	The verb be	She is a doctor.
3	Word order	I like coffee.
4	Present simple	He works in a bank.
5	Questions and negatives with do	Do you live here? I don't know.
6	Articles a, an, the	a cat, an egg, the sun
7	Plural nouns	one book, two books
8	Possessives	my, your, his, her, Tom's car
9	Can and there is or there are	I can swim. There is a park.
10	Past simple	I watched a film yesterday.

1. Subject pronouns

Every English sentence needs a subject. You cannot leave it out as in some languages.

• I am tired. (not "Am tired.")
• It is raining. (not "Is raining.")

2. The verb "be"

Positive	Negative	Question
I am (I'm)	I am not (I'm not)	Am I?
You are (you're)	You aren't (you're not)	Are you?
He, she, it is (he's)	He isn't	Is he?
We, they are (we're)	We aren't	Are we?

Use "be" for names, jobs, age, feelings and places: "I'm 30." "We're hungry." "They're in Paris."

3. Word order

The basic English order is subject, verb, object:

• I (subject) eat (verb) bread (object).
• She speaks English.

Adjectives usually come before nouns: "a red car", not "a car red". Read more in English word order.

4. The present simple

Use it for habits, routines and facts. Add s or es for he, she and it.

• I work. She works.
• They go. He goes.
• We watch TV. My brother watches TV.

5. Questions and negatives with do and does

For most verbs in the present simple, use do or does.

• Do you like tea? Yes, I do.
• Does she live here? No, she doesn't.
• I don't eat meat. He doesn't drive.

After does or doesn't, the main verb has no s: "Does he work?" not "Does he works?".

Later you will compare this with the present continuous; see present simple vs present continuous.

6. Articles a, an and the

• a before consonant sounds: a book, a university.
• an before vowel sounds: an apple, an hour.
• the for specific things the listener knows: "Close the door."

Articles are hard for many learners. Our full guide to a, an and the has many examples.

7. Plural nouns

Most nouns add s: book, books. Some add es: box, boxes. Some change: child, children; man, men; person, people.

8. Possessives

• Possessive adjectives: my, your, his, her, its, our, their.
• Possessive s: "Anna's phone", "my parents' house".

9. Can, there is and there are

• Can for ability and requests: "I can cook." "Can you help me?"
• There is for one thing, there are for more: "There is a bank on the corner." "There are two cafes near here."

10. The past simple

Regular verbs add ed: work, worked; play, played. Many common verbs are irregular: go, went; have, had; see, saw. Questions and negatives use did:

• Did you see the match? I didn't see it.

Common beginner mistakes

Mistake	Correct
She like music.	She likes music.
I am work in a bank.	I work in a bank.
Is very cold today.	It is very cold today.
Does he works here?	Does he work here?
I have 25 years.	I am 25 years old.
I didn't went.	I didn't go.

How to study grammar effectively

1. One topic at a time. Learn the rule, then make five sentences about your life.
2. Say sentences out loud. Grammar must become automatic in speaking.
3. Notice grammar in what you read and hear. Look for the s on he, she and it verbs.
4. Review often. Spaced review keeps rules fresh.
5. Do not wait for perfection. Use what you know now.

Practice quiz

Choose the correct option.

1. They ___ from Brazil. (is / are / am)
2. My sister ___ in Madrid. (live / lives / living)
3. ___ you speak French? (Are / Do / Does)
4. I saw ___ elephant at the zoo. (a / an / the)
5. There ___ three chairs in the room. (is / are / be)
6. We ___ to the beach last Sunday. (go / goes / went)

Answers: 1 are, 2 lives, 3 Do, 4 an, 5 are, 6 went.

LearnLingo's English grammar hub explains each of these topics, and the free A1 course practices them step by step in short browser lessons with spaced review.

People Also Ask

What should I learn first in English grammar?

Start with the verb be, subject pronouns, basic word order, and the present simple. These let you build many useful sentences from the very first week.

How long does it take to learn basic English grammar?

With regular practice, many beginners learn the core A1 grammar in a few weeks to a few months. Using it confidently in speaking takes longer and comes with practice.

Do I need to learn grammar rules to speak English?

You need some grammar, but you do not need to memorize every rule. Learn simple rules, then practice them in real sentences until they become automatic.

What is the hardest part of English grammar for beginners?

Many beginners struggle with articles (a, an, the), the s on he, she and it verbs, and making questions with do and does.

Related Reading

• English Word Order: Subject, Verb, Object
• Present Simple vs Present Continuous
• A, An or The? English Articles Made Easy
• A1 English Level: What You Can Do
• Comparatives and Superlatives