Download Grammar Guide Fixed Rules

20 Fixed Rules of English
Craig Wimsett
Fixed Rule One
If the subject of your sentence is
he, she, it or a gerund (‘ing
noun), you add an 's' for the
verb.
Gerund: A word ending in ing.
Example: a) It stink.
It stinks.
b) Playing drums look fun.
Playing drums looks fun.
Note: This rule applies also if your subject is singular
Example: a) The little boy giggle.
b) The little boy giggles.
Fixed Rule Two
If the subject of your sentence is
they, we , I or you, you use the base
form of the verb
Example: a) I takes the bus to school every day.
I take the bus to school every day.
b) You looks like you need a long break.
You look like you need a long break.
Note: This rule applies also if your subject is plural
Example: a) Animals in a farm makes a lot of noise
b) Animals in a farm make a lot of noise.
Fixed Rule Three
You use do not, does not, did not,
don't, doesn't or didn't to form a
negative sentence.
Note: Do not use only not.
a) Mariah not like eating her vegetables
much takes.
b) Mariah does not like eating her
vegetables much.
c) Mariah doesn't like eating her vegetables
much.
Fixed Rule Four
The verb-to-BE (is, isn't, was, wasn't, are,
aren't, were, weren't, be, been, being) is
always followed by either a present
participle (-ing form) or a past participle
(-ed form).
Do not use other verb forms.
a) Anna isn't pays much attention.
Anna isn't paying much attention.
b) Jeanie has been summon to the tribal
meeting.
Jeanie has been summoned to the tribal
meeting.
Fixed Rule Five
Words such as concerned, located,
situated, married, divorced, allowed,
permitted and other forms of adjectives
must have a verb-to-BE connecting
them to their subjects.
a) It is said that the little idyllic hamlet situated
in a valley with a thousand sighs.
It is said that the little idyllic hamlet is
situated in a valley with a thousand sighs.
b) I married to a wonderful caring man.
I am married to a wonderful caring man.
Fixed Rule Six
Adjectives are always connected to their
subjects with a linking verb.
You use the verb-to-BE.
Do not use other auxiliaries.
Auxiliary: Providing supplementary or additional help and support.
A linking verb implies state of being or
condition for the subject, not action. It links
the subject to an equivalent word in the
sentence.
The Verb TO BE is always Linking.
To BE:
I am
You are
He/she/it is We are
You are
They are
Note: was, were are past tense of to BE.
a) Norma does pretty.
Norma is pretty.
b) Babs could cruel when he wants to be.
Babs could be cruel when he wants to be.
Fixed Rule Seven
In a compound verb phrase, the next
verb form always follows the one
previously.
a) Edna wants to sit and contemplates about
her future with Don Mark.
Edna wants to sit and contemplate about
her future with Don Mark.
b) He can only look but not touches.
He can only look but not touch.
c) First, he sneezed and then coughs out the
bitter medicine.
First, he sneezed and then coughed out the
bitter medicine.
Fixed Rule Eight
Use the base form of the verb after the
auxiliary-DO
(do, does, did, don't, doesn't, didn't)
a) Does that gremlin liked munching on
rotten wood?
Does that gremlin like munching on
rotten wood?
b) Morgan did evokes the spirits of the
darkened vale.
Morgan did evoke the spirits of the
darkened vale.
Fixed Rule Nine
Use the base form of verb after modal
auxiliaries:
(can, could, may, might, will, would, shall,
should, must)
Modal Auxiliaries: They are verbs which 'help'
other verbs to express a meaning: it is
important to realize that "modal verbs" have
no meaning by themselves.
a) What should he does when they come
calling?
What should he do when they come
calling?
b) Newter might digging up old skeletons if
he pries further into this affair.
Newter might dig up old skeletons if he
pries further into this affair.
Fixed Rule Ten
Use the base form of the verb after the
infinitive 'to'
Infinitive: the basic form of a verb, without
an inflection binding it to a particular subject
or tense (normally occurring in English with
the word to, as in to see, to ask).
a) The mage went into a meditative state to
exploring the astral world of dreams.
The mage went into a meditative state to
explore the astral world of dreams.
b) To bought or not to buys is a dilemma
most shoppers suffer.
To buy or not to buy is a dilemma most
shoppers suffer.
Fixed Rule Eleven
Use past participle (-ed verb form) after
verb-to-Have
(have, haven't, has, hasn't, had, hadn't)
a) Melina has already ate.
Melina has already eaten her dinner.
b) Have Billy and Ada collect their food?
Have Billy and Ada collected their food?
Fixed Rule Twelve
Use the base form of the verb after
causative verbs (let/make/have)
Causative Verbs: The action of causing something.
a) Our mother used to make us cleaned our
huge basement.
Our mother used to make us clean our
huge basement.
b) Delaney had me prepares a full course
dinner for twenty guests today.
Delaney had me prepare a full course
dinner for twenty guests today.
Fixed Rule Thirteen
After prepositions, use the -ing form of
the verb. This form is called a gerund
Prepositions: A word governing, and usually preceding, a
noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another
word or element, as in ‘she arrived after dinner’ and
‘what did you do it for?’.
a) Petra was grounded for tried to steal
some of her mother's money.
Petra was grounded for trying to steal
some of her mother's money.
b) Before goes to sleep, Ken always says
his prayers.
Before going to sleep, Ken always says
his prayers.
Fixed Rule Fourteen
Do not use:
very, extremely, exceedingly,
extraordinarily, terribly '
right before or after a verb.
a) I very love my little canary.
I love my little canary very much.
b) The still mourning widow terribly misses
her husband.
The still mourning widow misses her
husband terribly.
Fixed Rule Fifteen
In a compound noun, the first noun is
always singular.
Compound noun: Starts with one noun (i.e. room). You
add another noun (i.e. service) to make a compound
noun (room service).
a) The kitchens walls are adorned with
pictures.
The kitchen walls are adorned with
pictures.
b) We are all movies maniacs
We are all movie maniacs.
Fixed Rule Sixteen
When more than 1 nouns are combined
to form an adjective, you put the
hyphen [-] in between the words and
the noun should be singular.
a) There is a three years old toddler
wandering about.
There is a three-year-old toddler
wandering about.
Fixed Rule Seventeen
An adverb gives more information when put together
with a verb.
Do not put an adjective
Adverb: a word or phrase that modifies the meaning of an adjective, verb, or other
adverb, or of a sentence (e.g gently, very, fortunately).
Verb: a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and forming the
main part of the predicate of a sentence, such as hear, become, or happen.
Adjective: a word naming an attribute of a noun, such as sweet, red, or technical.
a) My ever talented sister can play the harp
beautiful.
My ever talented sister can play the harp
beautifully.
b) The fair maiden spun the flaxen thread
careful.
The fair maiden spun the flaxen thread
carefully.
Fixed Rule Eighteen
An adjective gives more information to
the noun when put together.
Note: Do not put an adverb right before a
noun.
One of those slowly creatures seems to be
trapped in a mysteriously freeze.
One of those slow creatures seems to be
trapped in a mysterious freeze.
Fixed Rule Nineteen
An adjective is used after linking verbs.
Do not use an adverb.(appear, be,
become, come, feel, get, go, grow,
keep, look, pass, prove, remain, seem,
smell, sound, stay, taste, turn)
a) The magic of this land kept the settlement
cleanly.
The magic of this land kept the settlement
clean.
b) Her visage became miserably when he
told her the news.
Her visage became miserable when he
told her the news.
Fixed Rule Twenty
Redundancy- 'More' cannot be paired
with comparatives. 'Most' cannot be
paired with superlatives
Redundant: no longer needed or useful; superfluous. (of
words) able to be omitted without loss of meaning or
function.
Comparatives: expressing a higher degree of a quality, but
not the highest possible (e.g. braver; more fiercely
Superlatives: expressing the highest or a very high degree
of a quality (e.g. bravest, most fiercely).
a) Even though they are more younger
compared to the other participants, they
can play the game more better than the
rest.
Even though they are younger compared
to the other participants, they can play the
game better than the rest.
b) She is the most prettiest girl in my class.
She is the prettiest girl in my class
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