How to best learn English Grammar? Sorry, there’s no easy way! The only secret is studying English grammar rules and doing lots of practice exercises.

Our 9 top grammar tips for elementary learners of English might help you to understand some simple but essential basics. All these tips have been taken from Work on your Grammar – Elementary (A1), a grammar book with simple explanations and lots of grammar exercises.

Work on your Grammar is a series of short easy-to-use self-study practice books at 5 levels, from Elementary (A1) up to Advanced (C1) level. The books can either be used by students on their own, or to supplement classroom learning.

9 Top Grammar Tips on Elementary Level

1. Greetings and introductions: 'How do you do?' means Hello. It is not a question. You use 'How do you do?' in formal situations, for example, in a business meeting.
2. Using the verb be in questions: In the negative questions for 'I', you use Aren’t I? NOT Amn‘t I?
3. Link words: You don’t need to repeat the subject after and and or.
   I love reading and drawing. (NOT I love reading and I love drawing.)
   I don’t like Pedro or Sally. (NOT I don’t like Pedro or I don’t like Sally.)
4. Like, love, hate: Love is stronger than like and enjoy. Hate is stronger than not like.
5. Would like / ‘d like: You use would like to be polite, for example, in a shop: I’d like some bananas, please. (NOT I want some bananas.)
6. He/she/it + -s: For he, she and it, add -s to the verb:
   I work, you work, he/she/it works, we work, they work.
   You use does/doesn’t in negatives, questions and short answers.
   The verb have: I have, you have, he/she/it has, we have, they have.
7. Much and many: A little is more positive than not much, and a few is more positive than not many.
   There are a few shops in the town. = There are 5 or 6 shops. I think this is enough.
   There aren’t many shops in the town. = There are 5 or 6 shops. I don’t think this is enough!
   There is a little lemonade left in the fridge. = I think this is enough.
   There isn’t much lemonade left in the fridge. = I don’t think this is enough!
8. Times: Midnight is 12.00 a.m. and midday is 12.00 p.m.
9. Questions: You use negative questions to confirm positive and negative beliefs.
   Isn’t Thailand in Asia? = I think Thailand is in Asia.
   Don‘t you like it? = I think you don’t like it.