Why grammar rules matter
Grammar rules are like building blocks. They help kids write clearly, share their ideas, and become confident communicators.
When we follow grammar rules, our sentences make sense and are easier to understand. Here are some of the most important grammar rules, explained in a kid-friendly way!
Every sentence needs a capital letter and punctuation
Begin with a capital letter.
End with a period (.), question mark (?), or exclamation mark (!).
For example:
Correct: The dog is sleeping.
Incorrect: the dog is sleeping
A sentence needs a subject and a verb
Subject = who or what the sentence is about.
Verb = what the subject does.
For example:
The cat (subject) runs (verb).
Without one of these, it’s not a full sentence.
Use proper nouns with capital letters
Names of people, places, days, and months always start with a capital letter.
For example:
I went to Paris with Emma on Monday.
Don’t forget plurals
To show more than one, add -s.
If a word ends in s, x, z, ch, or sh, add -es.
For example:
One bus → two buses
One dog → three dogs
Use apostrophes for contractions
A contraction shortens two words into one. The apostrophe (’) shows missing letters.
For example:
do not - don’t
I am - I’m
Watch subject–verb agreement
The verb must match the subject.
Correct: He runs.
Correct: They run.
Incorrect: He run.
Trick: If the subject is he, she, or it, the verb usually gets an -s.
Use commas in a list
When writing three or more things, separate them with commas.
I like apples, bananas, and grapes.
Pronouns replace nouns
Instead of repeating a noun, use a pronoun.
Sara has a dog. She loves her dog.
Tense matters (past, present, future)
Past: I walked.
Present: I walk.
Future: I will walk.
Time words (yesterday, today, tomorrow) help kids connect tense to meaning.
Adjectives and adverbs make writing engaging
Adjectives describe nouns. (The red balloon.)
Adverbs describe verbs. (She runs quickly.)
