There are a lot of grammar rules that native English speakers don’t know. From capitalizing words such as Julia Child and the Maple Leafs to differentiating between spot’ and ‘pot’ (just imagine that puff of air you get in the former) there are a number of rules that most English speakers do not realize they follow.
1. The Order of Adjectives
English speakers use adjectives in different ways depending on the context, but they follow a general rule of order when using them before a noun. This is a rule that comes naturally to natives but can be tricky for non-natives learning English. The first position is reserved for opinions about a noun (like pretty, ugly, wonderful, terrible). Next come size adjectives: huge, big, small, tiny, long, short, minuscule. Finally, you have color adjectives: gray, purple, deep blue, black.
The BBC’s Matthew Anderson tweeted this tidbit over the weekend, and it spread like Cersei flames across the internet. Many people were surprised to learn that there is a rule of adjective order that almost no one knows about. Luckily, this rule is easy to understand with a little practice.
2. The Order of Nouns
Many of the rules that English speakers know but don’t realize are binding, in other words, they can’t be broken without affecting the meaning. These include rules like adverbs going before adjectives and using the suffix -er or -est to form comparative and superlative forms (like faster and fastest) from the verb ‘to be’.
Also, there are noun-particle order restrictions, which means the definite article always comes before the noun it refers to. Of course, all of these rules aren’t universally followed in informal settings — native speakers relax their language in informal conversation and often break grammar rules. But these rules are still important to understand, especially if you want to learn another language or write well. They’ll help you avoid common mistakes and create more natural-sounding phrases.
3. The Order of Prepositions
A little like parallel parking on a busy road, English grammar rules can feel daunting at first. But as you learn, the patterns and logic start to reveal themselves. Prepositions are short words that link nouns, pronouns and gerund verbs in sentences. The unblocked games 76 are also used to learn the applications. They are typically placed directly in front of nouns and in some cases, they are also used in front of gerund verbs.
When it comes to the order of prepositions, there are a few key rules that should be followed. One important rule is to avoid using prepositions like when a subject and verb are involved. For example, don’t say “you look like your mother.” Instead, use “you resemble your mother.” This will help to avoid confusion.
4. The Order of Adverbs
Adverbs are words or phrases that modify or qualify a verb, an adjective, a noun, a clause or another adverb. They typically provide information on how, where, when and to what extent something is done or happens. As a general rule, they should come close to the words that they modify or, if there is no object, after the verb. But they can also be placed in front of a verb to change the emphasis that is being given.
For English learners, these exceptions to grammar rules can be a real pain. But if you play games like scrabble word finder, they’re a little like magic. They’re things that just roll off the tongue and are so natural, it can be hard to remember that they are actually exceptions to rules that are taught in classrooms all over the world.
5. The Order of Sentences
English grammar is a complicated subject. Its rules were established by experts in the 18th and 19th centuries and they are based on a combination of Latin and other languages. Even native speakers don’t always use these rules correctly, and many of them have no idea that they do! For example, one of the grammar rules says that if you are describing an object, you should mention its size, color, and shape before you mention its age and material. This rule comes naturally to native speakers, but it can confuse non-natives who are learning the language.
If you want to improve your English grammar, you need to practice with an experienced teacher. To get started, check out our English classes in Toronto. They are fun and supportive, and we offer small group sizes and private lessons.