rldEnglish grammar
Notes on common problem areas for English language learners. English Grammar in Use is excellent for extra explanations and exercises.
Word order — sentence structure
English sentences are usually Subject + Verb + Object. Adjectives almost always come before the noun.
Adjective word order
Before the adjectives + noun there is usually a determiner: a, an, the, my, your, these, those, some, etc.
Examples: The funny, little, old lady ate a sweet, bite-sized, chocolate cake. The big, brown, energetic puppy played with the tiny, yellow, lazy cat.
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Opinion | funny, tasty, nice, mean |
| Size / height | big, small, tall, short |
| Shape / weight / length | square, long, round, fat, skinny |
| Condition / state | healthy, sick, rich, poor, hungry |
| Age | old, young, ancient, antique |
| Colour | red, blue, greenish |
| Pattern | checkered, striped, spotted |
| Origin | American, French, English |
| Material | plastic, wooden, metal, gold |
| Purpose | riding, shopping, teaching, gardening |
Do versus make
Search for “DO vs MAKE in English” for explanations and exercises. The distinction is one of the most common stumbling blocks for French speakers.
Used to versus would
Both can describe past habits. Used to also covers past states (I used to live in Lyon). Look for bilingual explanations and online exercises if you want extra practice.
Articles — the, a, an
English Grammar in Use units on articles and nouns (often 69–81) are a solid next step.
Adjectives ending in -ing or -ed
Interesting describes the thing; interested describes how a person feels. The same pattern applies to boring/bored, exciting/excited, tiring/tired.
Phrasal verbs and prepositions
Keep a growing list. English Grammar in Use has dedicated units on prepositions and on adjectives and adverbs.
Family vocabulary
A family-relationship chart helps when in-laws, step-relations, and cousins come up in conversation.