Grammar Exercises for Beginners: English Grammar Guide

Learning English grammar doesn’t have to be boring or difficult. For beginners, it’s all about understanding the basics and practicing regularly through simple, structured exercises. In this guide, you’ll review essential topics—sentence structure, parts of speech, tenses, subject–verb agreement, articles, prepositions, adjectives vs. adverbs, pronouns and possessives, conjunctions, question forms, and short writing. Each section includes bite-sized exercises you can do right away. Keep a notebook to write your answers and check them later with a teacher, a study partner, or an answer key you create for yourself as you learn.

Understanding Basic Sentence Structure (SVO)

A clear English sentence usually follows this pattern: Subject + Verb + Object (SVO).

Example: She (subject) eats (verb) apples (object).

Why it matters: When your sentences follow SVO, your meaning is easier to understand and your writing becomes more confident.

Exercises:

1. Identify the subject, verb, and object.
   a. Tom plays the guitar.
   b. The dog chased the cat.
   c. My friend likes pizza.
   d. They visited the museum yesterday.
   e. The teacher explains the lesson clearly.

2. Rearrange the words to form correct sentences.
   a. apples / every day / eats / she
   b. football / the park / play / we / in
   c. a / read / I / book
   d. cat / my / is / black
   e. likes / he / coffee / morning / every

Study tip: After you rearrange, read your sentence aloud. If it sounds natural and follows SVO, you’re on the right track.

Parts of Speech Basics

English has eight common parts of speech: noun, pronoun, verb, adjective, adverb, preposition, conjunction, interjection.

Quick examples:
• Noun: dog, city
• Pronoun: she, they
• Verb: run, think
• Adjective: blue, happy
• Adverb: quickly, very
• Preposition: in, at, under
• Conjunction: and, but, because
• Interjection: wow, oh

Exercises:

1. Identify the underlined word’s part of speech.
   a. She runs quickly.
   b. Wow! That’s amazing.
   c. The dog is barking.
   d. We went to the market.
   e. He and I are best friends.

2. Fill in the blanks with the correct type.
   a. The sky is very _______ (adjective).
   b. Please speak _______ (adverb).
   c. _______ (pronoun) love to travel.
   d. He _______ (verb) his homework before dinner.
   e. _______ (preposition) the box, there is a gift.

Study tip: Label words in short sentences from your favorite stories or social posts. This strengthens recognition.

Verb Tenses for Daily Use

Tenses show when an action happens.

• Present simple: I eat breakfast. (habits, facts)
• Past simple: I ate breakfast. (finished actions in the past)
• Future (will): I will eat breakfast. (future plans or decisions)

Exercises:

1. Choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses.
   a. She _______ (play) the piano every day.
   b. They _______ (go) to school yesterday.
   c. I _______ (see) my friend tomorrow.
   d. He _______ (study) English last night.
   e. We _______ (be) happy to meet you.

2. Rewrite each sentence in the indicated tense.
   a. She eats lunch. (past)
   b. They walk to school. (future)
   c. He studies English. (past)
   d. I am tired. (future)
   e. We go shopping. (past)

Study tip: Build a three-line diary: yesterday (past), today (present), tomorrow (future). Keep it short but consistent.

Subject–Verb Agreement

The verb must match the subject in number and person.

Correct: He plays football. / They play football.
Incorrect: He play football.

Exercises:

1. Choose the correct verb.
   a. She (go / goes) to the gym every morning.
   b. They (like / likes) chocolate.
   c. My brother (watch / watches) TV at night.
   d. I (am / is) a student.
   e. The cats (run / runs) in the garden.

2. Correct the mistakes.
   a. He walk to school.
   b. They likes to dance.
   c. She have a pet dog.
   d. I is hungry.
   e. The teacher teach the students.

Study tip: Circle your subject first. If it’s he, she, or it in present simple, add -s or -es to the verb.

Articles: A, An, The

• a: before a consonant sound (a book, a uniform)
• an: before a vowel sound (an apple, an hour)
• the: for specific nouns or unique things (the sun, the teacher we mentioned)

Exercises:

1. Fill in a, an, or the.
   a. I saw _______ elephant at the zoo.
   b. She wants _______ apple.
   c. _______ sun is bright today.
   d. He bought _______ car yesterday.
   e. We watched _______ movie last night.

2. Decide if no article is needed.
   a. I like _______ music.
   b. She studies at _______ university in town.
   c. _______ Mount Everest is very high.
   d. I drink _______ water every day.
   e. They visited _______ Philippines last year.

Study tip: Think: is this noun known/specific? If yes, consider the.

Prepositions of Place, Time, and Movement

Common prepositions: in, on, at, to, from, with, under, over, between, next to, behind, during, before, after.

Place: in a box, on the table, at the door
Time: in June, on Monday, at 6 p.m.
Movement: to the park, from school, through the tunnel

Exercises:

1. Choose the correct preposition.
   a. The cat is _______ the table. (under / between)
   b. She is sitting _______ her friends. (between / over)
   c. We arrived _______ the airport at 6 p.m. (at / in)
   d. He walked _______ the park. (to / with)
   e. There is a gift _______ the box. (in / from)

2. Complete with in, on, or at for time.
   a. _______ Monday
   b. _______ 7:30 a.m.
   c. _______ the morning
   d. _______ January
   e. _______ night

Study tip: On = specific days/dates; at = clock times/precise points; in = months/years/longer periods.

Adjectives vs. Adverbs

Adjectives describe nouns. Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

Examples:
• She is a careful driver. (adjective)
• She drives carefully. (adverb)

Special note: Good (adjective) vs. well (adverb of manner).
The soup tastes good. She sings well.

Exercises:

1. Choose the correct word.
   a. She dances (graceful / gracefully).
   b. The soup tastes (good / well).
   c. He is a (quick / quickly) runner.
   d. The movie was (excited / exciting).
   e. They spoke (soft / softly).

2. Rewrite with the adverb where possible.
   a. He is a careful worker. → He works _______.
   b. She is a fluent speaker. → She speaks _______.
   c. They are slow walkers. → They walk _______.

Study tip: If the word describes how an action happens, you likely need an adverb.

Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives

Pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, they
Possessive adjectives: my, your, his, her, its, our, their

Exercises:

1. Fill in the blanks.
   a. _______ am happy to see you.
   b. This is _______ book.
   c. _______ loves to play basketball. (he)
   d. We invited _______ friends to the party.
   e. The dog wagged _______ tail.

2. Replace the underlined noun with a pronoun.
   a. Maria said Maria will call.
   b. The students finished the students’ project.
   c. The phone rang, and the phone stopped.

Study tip: Possessive adjectives go before nouns: my pen, her car, our class.

Conjunctions: And, But, Or, Because, So

Conjunctions connect ideas and make writing smoother.

Examples:
• I like coffee but I don’t like tea.
• She stayed home because it was raining.
• He saved money, so he bought a bike.

Exercises:

1. Complete the sentences.
   a. I like coffee _______ I don’t like tea.
   b. She is tired _______ she worked hard.
   c. Do you want pizza _______ pasta?
   d. He plays the guitar _______ sings well.
   e. I stayed home _______ it was raining.

2. Join the pairs with a suitable conjunction.
   a. She studied hard. She passed the exam.
   b. We can go now. We can wait.
   c. I wanted to buy it. It was too expensive.

Study tip: But shows contrast, because gives a reason, so shows result.

Question Forms: Wh- and Yes/No Questions

Wh- words: who, what, where, when, why, how.
Word order usually changes in questions with auxiliaries: Do/Does/Did + subject + base verb.

Examples:
• What is your name?
• Where do you live?
• How did you learn English?

Exercises:

1. Make questions using the prompts.
   a. (you / name / what)
   b. (live / where / you)
   c. (time / it / what)
   d. (old / how / you)
   e. (you / do / what)

2. Turn these statements into yes/no questions.
   a. You are a student.
   b. They like music.
   c. She can drive.
   d. He finished his homework.
   e. We will travel tomorrow.

Study tip: Practice short interviews with a partner. Ask and answer five wh- questions daily.

Short Writing Practice

Now combine grammar points to create meaningful sentences. Keep them simple and clear.

Exercises:

1. Write five short sentences:
   • One in present tense
   • One in past tense
   • One using a preposition
   • One with an adjective and a noun together
   • One using a conjunction to join two ideas

2. Mini-paragraph (4–5 sentences): Describe your morning routine with correct tenses, prepositions of time, and conjunctions. Example structure: First I… Then I… Because… So…

Study tip: After writing, read aloud and check for SVO order, verb endings, and article use.

Daily Practice Plan

• 10 minutes: Review one rule (e.g., articles or present simple).
• 10 minutes: Do five to ten exercises from this guide.
• 5 minutes: Write two original sentences using today’s rule.
• 5 minutes: Read a short text and highlight examples of the rule.

Consistency beats intensity. Short daily sessions build lasting skills.

Final Words

Beginner grammar success comes from clear rules, steady repetition, and lots of simple production: write it, say it, and listen for it. When you make a mistake, treat it as useful information—the path that shows you what to practice next. Use these exercises as a daily foundation. Over time, you’ll notice smoother sentences, fewer errors, and a stronger feeling of control in both speaking and writing.

FAQs

What is the best way for a beginner to start grammar practice?

Begin with the absolute basics: sentence order (Subject–Verb–Object), the present simple tense, and common parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs). Set a short daily routine—10 to 20 minutes is enough. Do three things each day: review one rule, complete five quick exercises, and write two original sentences using that rule. Keep a notebook to log errors and corrections so you can revisit patterns you frequently get wrong.

How many grammar rules should I study at once?

Focus on one rule at a time until you can use it in your own sentences with few mistakes. Beginners often learn faster by sequencing: word order → subject–verb agreement → present/past/future basics → articles → prepositions → adjectives vs. adverbs → pronouns → conjunctions → question forms. Resist the urge to “cram.” Depth beats breadth; mastery of a small set of rules improves clarity more than shallow exposure to many rules.

How can I check if my sentence follows correct English word order?

Use the SVO checklist: Identify the Subject (who/what acts), the Verb (action/state), and the Object (who/what receives the action). Read your sentence aloud: “Someone (S) does (V) something (O).” For statements with complements (be verbs), use “Subject + be + complement” (e.g., “She is happy”). When you add time or place, place them at the end (“I eat breakfast at 7 a.m. at home”) unless you want emphasis.

What are common beginner mistakes with subject–verb agreement?

The big three are: forgetting -s in third-person singular present (“He plays football”), using is instead of am/are (“I am happy,” “They are ready”), and mismatching collective or indefinite subjects (“Everyone is here”). When unsure, find the true subject (ignore prepositional phrases like “of the students”). If the subject is he/she/it, add -s to the verb in simple present; if it’s I/you/we/they, use the base form.

How do I choose between the present, past, and future tenses?

Think timeline: use present simple for habits and facts (“I study every day”), past simple for finished actions at a known time (“I studied yesterday”), and will for decisions and predictions (“I will study tonight”). If you can attach a specific past time, choose past simple. If you’re describing routines or general truths, choose present. For plans, beginners can safely use “will” or “be going to” without worrying about subtle differences at first.

When should I use “a,” “an,” and “the”—or no article at all?

Use a/an when introducing a singular, nonspecific countable noun (“I saw a bird”). Use an before vowel sounds (“an hour,” “an apple”), not just vowel letters. Use the for specific or previously mentioned nouns (“The bird was blue”), or unique items (“The sun”). Use no article with plural/general ideas (“I like birds”) and most uncountable nouns in general statements (“I drink water”). Ask: “Is this specific?” If yes, consider the.

How can I practice prepositions without memorizing long lists?

Group prepositions by function instead of randomness: place (in/on/at/under/next to/between), time (in/on/at/before/after/during), and movement (to/from/into/through/over). Make mini-scenes: draw a box and place things in, on, or under it; sketch a weekly calendar to practice on Monday, at 7 p.m., in June. Write five sentences for each function daily. Practical, visual repetition cements meaning faster than isolated memorization.

What’s the difference between adjectives and adverbs for beginners?

Adjectives describe nouns (“a cold drink”). Adverbs describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs (“She sings beautifully”). A quick test: If you can place the word before a noun, it’s probably an adjective; if it answers “how/when/where/to what degree,” it’s probably an adverb. Remember common traps: “good” is an adjective (“The food is good”), while “well” is the usual adverb (“She plays well”). With be verbs, use adjectives (“The soup smells good”).

How do I form clear questions as a beginner?

Use the auxiliary “do/does/did” for most verbs: “Do you like…?” “Does he play…?” “Did they go…?” For be verbs, invert directly: “Are you ready?” With WH- questions, add the WH- word to the front: “Where do you live?” Keep the order: WH + auxiliary + subject + base verb. Practice by converting your daily statements into questions (e.g., “You study at night” → “Do you study at night?”). Repetition builds fluency quickly.

What daily routine gives the fastest improvement for beginners?

Try a 30-minute template: 10 minutes reviewing yesterday’s errors, 10 minutes doing targeted exercises (five to ten items), and 10 minutes producing language: write three original sentences and read them aloud. Once a week, record yourself reading a short paragraph that uses the week’s grammar points. Compare new recordings with older ones to notice progress. Consistency matters more than session length; short, steady work beats long, irregular marathons.

How can I measure progress without a teacher?

Create a simple “error log.” Each time you notice a mistake, write the incorrect sentence, the corrected version, and the rule that fixes it. Revisit it weekly and rewrite three of your most frequent errors correctly. Also set micro-goals: “No article errors in today’s five sentences” or “Ask five WH- questions correctly.” Track streaks (days practiced in a row). Visible streaks and shrinking error types provide objective motivation and evidence of improvement.

What should I do when two rules seem to conflict?

Prioritize meaning and clarity over minor style preferences. If a choice affects time reference or specificity, choose the rule that preserves your intended meaning (e.g., tense and article choice usually outrank word preference). When unsure, rewrite the sentence more simply. Beginners gain accuracy by favoring clearer, shorter structures instead of forcing advanced patterns. Over time, revisit the same sentence with new grammar you’ve learned and compare the versions.

How many example sentences should I write for each rule?

Start with a minimum of five original sentences for each new rule, then expand to a mini-paragraph (four to five sentences) to test cohesion. Writing reveals gaps that drills can hide. After writing, perform a quick checklist: SVO order? Correct tense? Subject–verb agreement? Article use appropriate? One helpful variation: write three correct examples and two intentional “wrong” ones, then fix them. This “contrast practice” strengthens your internal sense of correctness.

What resources can I use to reinforce grammar outside exercises?

Read short, high-frequency texts: graded readers, news summaries for learners, and simple blog posts. While reading, highlight target patterns (articles, prepositions, tense markers). Listen to slow podcasts or videos for learners and pause to shadow sentences that illustrate your rule of the day. Keep a “pattern bank”—a personal list of accurate sentences you like. Recycle these patterns by replacing nouns, verbs, and time markers to create new, correct sentences quickly.

How do I avoid fossilizing bad habits?

Fossilization happens when errors repeat without feedback. Reduce risk by scheduling regular “quality checks.” Once a week, choose ten sentences you wrote and audit them carefully against a short checklist (SVO, tense, agreement, articles, prepositions). Rewrite any sentence that fails. Keep your error log active; the act of labeling an error (name the rule) and fixing it (rewrite) interrupts habit formation. Celebrate corrected patterns to keep motivation high.

Can I learn grammar through speaking, or must I write?

Do both. Writing slows your thinking and exposes hidden mistakes, which is excellent for accuracy. Speaking builds automaticity and confidence, which you need for fluency. Pair them: write three sentences using today’s rule, then say each sentence aloud three times, varying a word each time. Record yourself once a week to spot recurring grammar slips in natural speech. The loop—write → say → listen → fix—accelerates reliable, real-world control of grammar.

What’s a simple weekly plan built from beginner topics?

Try this sequence: Mon—SVO & be verbs; Tue—present simple & agreement; Wed—past simple basics; Thu—future (will / going to); Fri—articles; Sat—prepositions; Sun—review & short paragraph. Each day, do five targeted items and write a 3–5 sentence mini-paragraph using the day’s focus. On Sundays, rewrite Monday’s paragraph with everything you learned across the week to consolidate and notice growth.

English Grammar Guide: Complete Rules, Examples, and Tips for All Levels