grammar rule

Meaning

This is a guideline or principle that dictates how words are combined, structured, and used to create meaning in a language. While some rules are strict (like subject-verb agreement), others can be more flexible depending on the context, but academic writing generally requires strict adherence to formal grammar rules.

Examples

• Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental grammar rule that every learner must master.

  Subject-verb agreement is a fundamental grammar rule that every learner must master.

• Some writers believe that breaking a grammar rule is acceptable if it improves the flow of the text.

  Some writers believe that breaking a grammar rule is acceptable if it improves the flow of the text.

• Our teacher gave us a handout summarizing the most important grammar rules for the exam.

  Our teacher gave us a handout summarizing the most important grammar rules for the exam.

• English is famous for having a grammar rule and then immediately having five exceptions to it.

  English is famous for having a grammar rule and then immediately having five exceptions to it.

• If you don't follow this specific grammar rule, your sentence will sound very unnatural.

  If you don't follow this specific grammar rule, your sentence will sound very unnatural.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ You must respect the grammar rules of English.

  ✓ You must follow the grammar rules of English.

  We 'follow', 'obey', or 'adhere to' grammar rules; 'respect' sounds unnatural in this context.

• ✗ She explained me the grammar rule.

  ✓ She explained the grammar rule to me.

  The verb 'explain' cannot take an indirect object directly without the preposition 'to'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• The most basic ___ in English is that a singular subject takes a singular verb.

  💡 A principle of sentence structure.

  Show answer

  grammar rule

• You don't need to memorize every single ___ to speak fluently.

  💡 A formal guideline for language use.

  Show answer

  grammar rule