ESLGorilla Grammar Guide
A Comprehensive ESL Grammar Reference for Teachers & Learners
By ESLGorilla.com
What's Inside This Guide
Part 1: Beginner Level (Grades 1-3) 1. Imperatives (Commands & Instructions) 2. Simple Present Tense 3. Present Continuous (Progressive) 4. Basic Nouns & Pronouns 5. Articles (A / An / The) 6. Basic Adjectives 7. Sentence Types
Part 2: Elementary Level (Grades 4-5) 8. Past Simple Tense 9. Past Continuous 10. Countable vs Uncountable Nouns 11. Comparatives & Superlatives 12. Prepositions of Time & Place 13. Basic Modal Verbs (Can, Could, May) 14. Subject-Verb Agreement
Part 3: Intermediate Level (Grades 6-8) 15. Present Perfect 16. Present Perfect Continuous 17. Future Forms (Will, Going To, Present Continuous) 18. Advanced Modal Verbs 19. Zero & First Conditionals 20. Adverbs & Adverb Placement 21. Gerunds & Infinitives
Part 4: Upper-Intermediate Level (Grades 9-10) 22. Past Perfect 23. Past Perfect Continuous 24. Second & Third Conditionals 25. Passive Voice 26. Reported Speech 27. Relative Clauses 28. Phrasal Verbs
Part 5: Advanced Level (Grades 11-12+) 29. Mixed Conditionals 30. Inversion & Emphasis 31. Advanced Passive Constructions 32. Subjunctive Mood 33. Cleft Sentences 34. Discourse Markers & Cohesion 35. Common Grammar Pitfalls
Appendices
- Irregular Verbs Master List
- Punctuation Guide
- Teaching Tips for Every Level
Part 1: Beginner Level (Grades 1-3)
1. Imperatives (Commands & Instructions)
Imperatives tell people what to do. The subject "you" is understood but not spoken.
Uses: Giving commands, instructions, suggestions, advice, warnings, requests, directions.
Structure:
Positive — Base verb + rest of sentence → Run to the finish line!
Negative — Don't + base verb → Don't feed the gorillas!
Polite — Please + base verb → Please sit down.
Emphatic — Do + base verb → Do listen carefully!
Let's — Let's + base verb → Let's go to the zoo!
Common Mistakes:
- ❌ "You sit down." → ✅ "Sit down."
- ❌ "Don't to run." → ✅ "Don't run."
2. Simple Present Tense
Describes habits, facts, and routines.
Uses: Habits, general truths, permanent situations, schedules, instructions.
Structure:
Positive — Subject + base verb (+ s/es for he/she/it) → She plays piano.
Negative — Subject + do/does not + base verb → He doesn't like spinach.
Question — Do/Does + subject + base verb? → Do you speak Korean?
Third Person -S Rules:
- Most verbs: add -s → play → plays
- Ends in -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -o: add -es → watch → watches
- Consonant + y: change to -ies → study → studies
3. Present Continuous (Progressive)
Actions happening right now or temporary situations.
Uses: Current actions, temporary situations, future arrangements, changing situations.
Structure:
Positive — Subject + am/is/are + verb-ing → They are dancing.
Negative — Subject + am/is/are + not + verb-ing → I'm not sleeping.
Question — Am/Is/Are + subject + verb-ing? → Are you listening?
Spelling Rules:
- Most verbs: add -ing → play → playing
- Ends in -e: drop e, add -ing → make → making
- Short vowel + consonant: double consonant → run → running
4. Basic Nouns & Pronouns
Noun Types:
- Common — general things: teacher, city, book
- Proper — specific names (capitalize): Mr. Kim, Seoul
- Concrete — touchable: table, apple
- Abstract — ideas: love, happiness
- Most nouns: add -s → cats, books
- -s, -sh, -ch, -x, -z: add -es → buses, boxes
- Consonant + y: change to -ies → babies, cities
- Irregular: child → children, mouse → mice
- Subject: I, you, he, she, it, we, they
- Object: me, you, him, her, it, us, them
- Possessive: my/mine, your/yours, his, her/hers, its, our/ours, their/theirs
5. Articles (A / An / The)
A/An (Indefinite) — used with singular countable nouns, first mention
- a before consonant sounds: a book, a university
- an before vowel sounds: an apple, an hour
- The sun rises in the east. (unique)
- I saw a cat. The cat was black. (second mention)
6. Basic Adjectives
Adjectives describe nouns. They come before nouns or after linking verbs.
Position: Before noun → The tall building Position: After be → The building is tall
Order (before noun): Opinion → Size → Age → Shape → Color → Origin → Material → Purpose
7. Sentence Types
Statement — gives information → The sky is blue.
Question — asks for information → Is the sky blue?
Imperative — gives commands → Close the door.
Exclamation — expresses strong emotion → What a beautiful day!
Part 2: Elementary Level (Grades 4-5)
8. Past Simple Tense
Completed actions in the past.
Structure:
Positive — Subject + past form → She played tennis.
Negative — Subject + did not + base verb → He didn't go.
Question — Did + subject + base verb? → Did you see it?
Regular Verbs: add -ed → walked, played, wanted
Spelling Rules:
- Ends in -e: add -d → lived, loved
- Consonant + y: change to -ied → studied, carried
- Short vowel + consonant: double + -ed → stopped, planned
- go → went, see → saw, do → did
- have → had, make → made, take → took
- come → came, give → gave, know → knew
9. Past Continuous
Actions in progress at a specific past time.
Structure:
Positive — Subject + was/were + verb-ing → *I w