basic grammar
Sentence structure rules
Basic grammar refers to the fundamental rules governing how words combine into sentences—subject-verb agreement, verb tenses, pronoun usage, and sentence structure.
The phrase often appears in educational contexts or criticism: The résumé was full of basic grammar errors.
What counts as "basic" varies; for native speakers it usually means rules learned in elementary school.
- adjectiveNoun-describing word type
- adverbVerb or adjective modifier
- proper nounNamed person or place
- verb tenseTime form of action words
- nounWord naming something
clause · subject · independent clause · dependent clause · period · comma · comma splice · sentence · sentence structure · simple sentence · root · phrase · direct object · subject verb agreement · conjugation · prefix · modifier · predicate
- remedial coursesremedial math, remedial reading, catch-up classes, summer bridge, prep courses
- elementary schoolclassroom, student, first grade teacher, reading skills, teacher
- plain languageplain language, plain English, plain text, plain talk, plain speech
- language primersalphabet book, phonics book, first reader, vocabulary builder, phrase book
- language learningvocabulary lists, lessons, acquisition, basic vocabulary, TEFL
- phrasebooksphrasebook, basic phrases, common phrases, greetings, farewells
basic grammarstylistics
Study of expressive language
literary style · eloquence · oratory · poetic language · figurative language
basic grammarbroken English
Imperfect foreign language use
grammatical errors · colloquial speech · slang · vernacular · street language