Learning English is very useful for many endeavors in various fields. It is best that when you learn English, you should develop your grammar skills so that you will be certified a fluent speaker of the language! Having great grammar skills leaves a better impact on readers and listeners and possessing great grammar skills will help you look professional!

So how are you going to hone your English grammar skills? Aside from constantly learning and using the language and following the basic grammatical rules, you can also improve your grammar skills by using supplemental tools which you can find online!
There are hordes of English language tools that you can find online to help you improve your grammar!

• English grammar worksheets – these language learning tools are available online for free and they can help English language learners like you to practice what you have learned about English grammar. Online resources for English worksheets allow free downloading of the said learning tools and can be accessed whenever you have time to access them. These worksheets are very practical especially if you do not have time to learn English in language schools but can find time to work up your skills online. English worksheets can be very useful for students as well as English language teachers who want to improve their lessons with their students.

• English tutorials – there are many available online tutorials for the English language and some of them are free! Language tutorials sometimes involve online teachers that correspond with learners and share valuable materials for better language learning. There are some types of tutorials that are video-based or article-based that language learners can view or read.

• English language exchange – one way to hone your English grammar skills online is by language exchange with a native English language speaker! Most native English language speakers that are involved in language exchange programs are really good with their skills in English that is why they are involved in such programs in the first place! You will not only learn grammar skills with your language exchange partner but you might also learn English language idioms and slang words that only native speakers will be able to teach you!

So what are you waiting for? Start searching for these online tools to help you sharpen your English grammar skills!

Knowing the basic elements and rules of the English language can pave way for better command of the English language. Articles are important elements in phrases and sentences and they happen to be the most difficult words for English as a Second Language students to master because even native English speakers don’t know how to explain about articles properly.

Majority of English language speakers have constantly used articles and most have used them properly. Most of the time English speakers do not even think of using articles in their own grammar and most instinctively use a, an, and the in their sentences almost accurately.

Native English language speakers can intuit on when are the suitable times to use each article in their own writing and speech, while ESL students do not have the number of years of hearing English spoken that is necessary to develop that perception for grammar. The issue for English language learners is the fact that most native English speakers do not know how to explain article with more profundity.

Articles are some of the most frequently used words in the English language and are composed of “the” “a”, and “an”. Articles are generally used with common nouns to demonstrate whether they are specific or general. “A” and “an” are called the indefinite articles and are employed with nonspecific nouns. “The” is the definite article and is made use of with specific common nouns. However, bear in mind that there are some common nouns that do not need an article at all and there are some proper nouns that do need the use of articles.

The following are a few article tips to bear in mind for native English speakers and English language learners:

* Articles with common nouns. The usage of articles with common nouns depend not only specificity but also on whether the nouns are singular, plural, countable, or uncountable.

• Common nouns that are general and plural never use articles. ex. Dogs bark.

• Common nouns that are general and are singular or countable use indefinite articles. ex. A dog barked at the child.

• A definite article is used any time a common noun refers to a specific entity ex. The dog barked at the child.

• Articles with proper nouns. A lot of proper nouns do not have need of any articles however there are some kinds of proper nouns that do need articles and according to the Thomson Handbook, these proper nouns include historical events. Time periods, physical structures, and bodies of water and they all need the definite article “the”.
  ex. The biggest ocean in the world is the Pacific.

Articles are important elements that should not be taken for granted by English language learners. Everyone learning English should always bear articles in mind.

English grammar is a set of rules that helps us to make use of the language better. The first step while learning English is to learn the grammar and to master it. English is a language spoken in many parts of the world and becoming truly fluent in it as a second language speaker is a challenge.

One of the most common errors in English grammar is the agreement of subjects and verbs in sentences. It is essential for English language learners to identify and find subjects and verbs in order to know how to make them agree. Being able to find the right subject and verb will help language learners to correct errors of agreement.

First let us define what is a subject and a verb:

* A subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the verb
* A verb is a word that shows action or state of being

Being able to identify the subject and the verb correctly will also help learners with using punctuations such as commas and semicolons.

The following are some rules in finding the subject and verb:

1. If a verb follows to, it is called an infinitive phrase and is not the main verb. You will find the main verb either before or after the infinitive phrase.

Ex. I like to run.

The efforts to get him elected succeeded.

2. A subject will come before a phrase beginning with of.

Ex. A bouquet of pink flowers will lend color and fragrance to the room.

3. To find the subject and verb, always find the verb first. In order to find the subject, ask who or what performed the verb.

Ex. The jet engine passed inspection.

Passed is the verb. Who or what passed? The engine, so engine is the subject. Technically, jet is an adjective here and is part of what is known as the complete subject.

4. Any request or command has the understood subject you because if we ask who is to do the command, the answer must be you.

Ex. Please bring my notebook.

Bring is the verb. Who is to bring? The answer is you.

5. Sentences often have more than subject, more than one verb, or pairs of subjects and verbs.

Ex. I like cake and she likes ice cream.

(Two pairs of subjects and verbs)

She and I like cake.

(Two subjects and one verb)

He lifts weights and jogs daily.

(One subject and two verbs)

Knowing how to identify the subject and verb or a sentence matters a lot that is why if you are on your way to becoming fluent in English, better brush up your skills in identifying them!