10 Advanced Grammar Rules That Show Your English Is Amazing | Essential Grammar Constructions Every Learner Should Master

Mastering grammar is what separates an average English speaker from someone with truly exceptional language skills. Whether you’re a native speaker or learning English as a second language, these 10 important grammar rules will help elevate your English to an impressive level. Many native speakers struggle with these rules too, so knowing them will put you ahead of the curve!

1. Inverted Conditionals

When we want to make a conditional sentence sound more formal, instead of using a standard second conditional with “if,” we can use an inverted structure.

Standard form: “If Molly resigned, who would replace her?”

Inverted form: “Were Molly to resign, who’d replace her?”

This construction uses the structure “were + subject + to infinitive” and sounds much more elegant and formal.

Additional examples:

Example 1: Standard form: “If I had more time, I would learn Chinese.” Inverted form: “Had I more time, I would learn Chinese.”

Example 2: Standard form: “If she knew the truth, she would be shocked.” Inverted form: “Were she to know the truth, she would be shocked.”

Example 3: Standard form: “If the weather improved, we would go hiking.” Inverted form: “Were the weather to improve, we would go hiking.”

Important: The inverted structure with “were” is used not only with second person, but also with first and third persons. It’s a fixed form “were” for all persons, not “was.”

2. Correct Use of Reflexive Pronouns

One of the most common mistakes even native speakers make is the incorrect use of reflexive pronouns (myself, yourself, himself, etc.).

Incorrect: “Tim or myself will lead the meeting today.”

Correct: “Tim or I will lead the meeting today.”

Reflexive pronouns are only used when the subject and object refer to the same person or thing. In the example above, we need the subject pronoun “I” instead.

Additional examples of correct reflexive pronoun usage:

Example 1 — correct usage: “I hurt myself while cooking.” Explanation: Here “myself” is correctly used because “I” is both performing and receiving the action—the subject and object are the same.

Example 2 — correct usage: “She bought herself a new car.” Explanation: “Herself” is used correctly since “she” is both the purchaser and the recipient.

Examples of incorrect usage and corrections:

Incorrect: “John and myself went to the cinema.” Correct: “John and I went to the cinema.” Explanation: Here we need the subject pronoun “I,” not the reflexive “myself,” as the pronoun is acting as a subject.

Incorrect: “Please contact myself with any questions.” Correct: “Please contact me with any questions.” Explanation: In this case, the pronoun is a direct object, so we use “me,” not “myself.”

3. Inversion with Negative Adverbials

When we use expressions like “not only… but also…,” we can apply inversion to make our speech more expressive.

Separate sentences: “He didn’t only wear mismatched socks.” “He also forgot to brush his teeth.”

Combined sentence with inversion: “Not only did he wear mismatched socks, but he also forgot to brush his teeth.”

Notice the change in the normal order of subject and auxiliary verb after “not only.”

Additional examples of inversion with negative adverbials:

Example 1: Normal sentence: “I had never seen such a beautiful sunset before.” With inversion: “Never had I seen such a beautiful sunset before.” Explanation: When the negative adverb “never” moves to the beginning of the sentence, inversion occurs between the subject “I” and the auxiliary verb “had.”

Example 2: Normal sentence: “She rarely visits her hometown.” With inversion: “Rarely does she visit her hometown.” Explanation: With “rarely” at the beginning, we need to add the auxiliary verb “does” before the subject.

Example 3: Normal sentence: “They had hardly finished dinner when the guests arrived.” With inversion: “Hardly had they finished dinner when the guests arrived.” Explanation: “Hardly” at the beginning of the sentence requires inversion of the auxiliary verb “had” and the subject “they.”

Important: Inversion with negative adverbials adds emphasis and formality to statements. Besides “not only,” inversion is also triggered by expressions such as never, nowhere, rarely, seldom, hardly, little, only then, not until, under no circumstances, and others.

4. Collective Nouns

Collective nouns refer to a group of people or things as a single unit. In British and American English, they are used differently.

Example: “The crowd is/are getting restless.”

In British English, both versions are correct—you can use either singular or plural. In American English, collective nouns are usually treated as singular, so “is” would be more common.

Additional examples of collective nouns:

Example 1 — team: British English: “The team are celebrating their victory.” American English: “The team is celebrating its victory.” Explanation: In British English, we consider the team as a group of individuals, so we use the plural “are” and “their.” In American English, the team is perceived as a single entity, so “is” and “its” are used.

Example 2 — family: British English: “My family have arrived for Christmas.” American English: “My family has arrived for Christmas.” Explanation: Again, Brits may view family as a group of people (plural), while Americans tend to see it as a unit (singular).

Example 3 — government: British English: “The government are planning new economic reforms.” American English: “The government is planning new economic reforms.” Explanation: The government consists of many people, so in British English, plural is often used. In American English, singular is preferred.

Other common collective nouns: class, committee, jury, audience, staff, orchestra, flock, group.

5. The Difference Between “Lay” and “Lie”

These two verbs often confuse not only English learners but also native speakers.

“Lie” means to be in or get yourself into a horizontal position. It doesn’t need an object. “Every evening, I like to lie in my hammock and look at the stars.”

“Lay” means to put something down, often gently. It requires an object. “Please lay the dress on the bed.”

Table of forms for “lie” and “lay”:

Verb	Infinitive	Simple Present	Simple Past	Past Participle
Lie (to recline)	to lie	lie/lies	lay	lain
Lay (to put down)	to lay	lay/lays	laid	laid

Additional examples:

Example 1 — lie (to recline): Present tense: “I lie down when I feel tired.” Past tense: “Yesterday, I lay on the beach for hours.” Perfect tense: “I have lain awake all night thinking about the problem.” Explanation: “Lie” doesn’t take a direct object—you simply lie somewhere.

Example 2 — lay (to put down): Present tense: “She lays her books on the desk every morning.” Past tense: “He laid the foundation for the building last year.” Perfect tense: “They have laid the tablecloth for dinner.” Explanation: “Lay” always needs a direct object—you always lay something.

Common mistake: Incorrect: “I need to lay down for a bit.” (no object specified) Correct: “I need to lie down for a bit.”

6. Using Articles “A” and “An” Before Words Beginning with “H”

The general rule states that “a” is used before consonant sounds and “an” before vowel sounds. But what about words beginning with “h”?

Example: “It was a/an historic day for the country.”

Both options are acceptable! Although “historic” begins with the consonant sound “h,” and most people would say “a historic,” many also say “an historic,” especially if their pronunciation weakens or drops the initial “h” sound. In writing, it’s recommended to use “a historic.”

Additional examples of words beginning with “h”:

Example 1 — words with clear “h”: “A house” — here “h” is clearly pronounced, so we use “a.” “A happy ending” — “h” is pronounced, so “a.” “A hand” — similarly with a clear “h,” so “a.”

Example 2 — words where “h” may be silent (mainly in British English): “An hour” — “h” is not pronounced, it’s a silent letter, so we use “an.” “An honour” — “h” is not pronounced, so “an.” “An honest person” — “h” is not pronounced, so “an.”

Example 3 — words with historical use of both forms: “A/an historical novel” “A/an hotel” “A/an hypothesis”

Explanation: In some dialects of English, especially in certain British accents, the “h” at the beginning of these words may be weakened or not pronounced at all. This has historically led to the use of “an” before these words. In modern standard pronunciation, however, “h” is usually clearly sounded, so “a” has become the more common option.

Conclusion: Choose the article based on how the word sounds, not how it’s spelled. If the “h” sound is pronounced, use “a.” If the “h” is silent or very weak, use “an.”

7. Formal vs. Informal Use of “Whom”

Technically, when a preposition is present in a relative clause (for example, “to”), we should use “whom” at the beginning of the clause.

Formal (more correct): “To whom does this jacket belong?”

Informal (more common): “Who does this jacket belong to?”

Although the first version is technically more correct, it sounds very formal and is rarely used in modern spoken English.

Additional examples of “who” and “whom” usage:

Example 1 — formal use of “whom” with prepositions: Formal: “With whom did you go to the concert?” Informal: “Who did you go to the concert with?” Explanation: In the formal version, the preposition “with” precedes “whom.” In the informal version, we use “who” and move the preposition to the end of the sentence.

Example 2 — “whom” as a direct object: Formal: “Whom did you invite to the party?” Informal: “Who did you invite to the party?” Explanation: Technically, when the pronoun is a direct object (the recipient of the action), “whom” should be used. However, in modern English, especially in spoken language, “who” is very commonly used.

Example 3 — “who” as a subject: “Who sent this letter?” Explanation: When the pronoun is the subject (the doer of the action), always use “who,” not “whom.”

Helpful tip for distinguishing “who” and “whom”: Substitute with “he/she” or “him/her.” If “he/she” fits, use “who.” If “him/her” fits, use “whom.”

Example: “__ sent the email?” — Answer: “He sent the email,” so use “Who sent the email?” “To __ did you send the email?” — Answer: “I sent the email to him,” so use “To whom did you send the email?”

8. Using “Will” to Indicate Habits

“Will” is not only used for the future tense but also to talk about habits or regular actions.

Example: “Our neighbour will play heavy metal all night long.”

If you emphasize “will,” it can express an annoying habit.

Additional examples of using “will” for habits:

Example 1 — typical behavior: “My father will always check all the doors before going to bed.” Explanation: Here “will” describes a repeated regular action, not the future. It refers to a habit or typical behavior of the person.

Example 2 — characteristic traits: “She will spend hours talking on the phone.” Explanation: Here “will” indicates typical behavior of a person that occurs frequently and is a characteristic trait.

Example 3 — annoying habit (with emphasis on “will”): “He WILL leave his dirty clothes on the floor!” Explanation: When “will” is emphasized, it often expresses irritation about repeated unwanted behavior.

Example 4 — predictable behavior: “If you give him chocolate, he will eat the whole bar.” Explanation: Here “will” indicates a predictable reaction or behavior based on past experience.

Comparison with other ways to express habits:

• “Will” for habits: “She will always help people in need.”
• Present Simple for habits: “She always helps people in need.”
• “Used to” for past habits: “She used to help people in need.”

Explanation of difference: “Will” for habits often emphasizes predictability or typicality of behavior, and sometimes irritation with it.

9. Non-separable Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs consist of a verb and a particle. Some of them are non-separable, meaning the object cannot be placed between the verb and the particle.

Incorrect: “It took me a long time to get the flu over.”

Correct: “It took me a long time to get over the flu.”

“Get over” in the sense of “recover from” is a non-separable phrasal verb.

Additional examples of non-separable phrasal verbs:

Example 1 — look after (take care of): Correct: “She looks after her grandmother every weekend.” Incorrect: “She looks her grandmother after every weekend.” Explanation: “Look after” is non-separable, so the object “her grandmother” cannot stand between “look” and “after.”

Example 2 — run into (meet by chance): Correct: “I ran into my old teacher at the supermarket.” Incorrect: “I ran my old teacher into at the supermarket.” Explanation: “Run into” is a non-separable phrasal verb.

Example 3 — look forward to (anticipate with pleasure): Correct: “We are looking forward to your visit.” Incorrect: “We are looking your visit forward to.” Explanation: “Look forward to” is a non-separable phrasal verb with a preposition.

Comparison with separable phrasal verbs:

Separable phrasal verb — turn on (switch on): You can say: “Turn on the light.” Or: “Turn the light on.” Explanation: In separable phrasal verbs, the object can stand either after the entire phrasal verb or between the verb and the particle.

Separable phrasal verb — pick up (collect): You can say: “I’ll pick up the children from school.” Or: “I’ll pick the children up from school.” Explanation: “Pick up” is separable, so both versions are correct.

Important: If you use a pronoun (him, her, them, etc.) instead of a noun, separable phrasal verbs MUST be separated: “Pick them up” (NOT “Pick up them”).

10. The Oxford Comma

The Oxford comma is a comma before “and” in a list.

Without the Oxford comma: “At the fair, I ate a toffee apple, brandy snap and candy floss.”

With the Oxford comma: “At the fair, I ate a toffee apple, brandy snap, and candy floss.”

In American English, a comma is often used before the final “and” in a list. In British English, especially between short elements, it’s usually not used. You can choose whether to use the Oxford comma or not, but it’s important to be consistent.

Additional examples of Oxford comma usage:

Example 1 — simple list: Without Oxford comma: “I need to buy milk, bread and eggs.” With Oxford comma: “I need to buy milk, bread, and eggs.” Explanation: In a simple list, both versions convey the same meaning, and the choice often depends on style or regional preferences.

Example 2 — when the Oxford comma helps avoid ambiguity: Ambiguous without Oxford comma: “I dedicate this book to my parents, Beyoncé and God.” Clear with Oxford comma: “I dedicate this book to my parents, Beyoncé, and God.” Explanation: Without the Oxford comma, the sentence could be interpreted as if the author’s parents are Beyoncé and God. With the Oxford comma, it’s clear that we’re talking about three different subjects: parents, Beyoncé, and God.

Example 3 — complex list: Without Oxford comma: “The menu includes fish and chips, macaroni and cheese and ham and eggs.” With Oxford comma: “The menu includes fish and chips, macaroni and cheese, and ham and eggs.” Explanation: In complex lists where the items themselves contain the conjunction “and,” the Oxford comma is particularly useful for avoiding confusion.

Different style guides:

• AP Style: doesn’t use the Oxford comma except when needed to avoid ambiguity.
• Chicago Manual of Style: recommends using the Oxford comma.
• Oxford Style: prefers the Oxford comma, hence its name.

Tip: If you’re writing for a specific publication or organization, check their style guide. Otherwise, choose one style and stick to it consistently.

Conclusion

Mastering these 10 grammar rules will significantly improve your level of English. Even if you didn’t grasp everything on the first try, practice will make your language more natural and correct. Remember: grammar is not just a set of rules, but a tool for precise and elegant expression of thoughts.

How to Check Your Grammar Level

Try watching English-language films or series without subtitles and pay attention to the use of these grammatical constructions. Formal dialogues in British dramas or legal series are particularly useful, as they often feature constructions such as inverted conditionals or formal use of “whom.”

Exercise for Practice

Try creating one sentence with each of these 10 grammar rules:

1. Write an inverted conditional sentence
2. Use a reflexive pronoun correctly
3. Create a sentence with inversion using “not only… but also…”
4. Compose a sentence with a collective noun
5. Write two sentences with “lie” and “lay” in different tense forms
6. Use a word beginning with “h” with the appropriate article
7. Write a formal question with “whom”
8. Compose a sentence with “will” to express a habit
9. Use a non-separable phrasal verb
10. Write a list of three elements using the Oxford comma

By regularly practicing these rules and paying attention to them in everyday communication, you’ll soon notice how your English becomes more sophisticated and professional. Remember that even native speakers sometimes make mistakes with these nuances, so don’t be afraid to experiment and learn from your own mistakes.

Final Tips

• Read quality English literature, paying attention to grammatical constructions
• Practice writing, using these rules in your own texts
• Don’t be afraid to correct mistakes—it’s part of the learning process
• Gradually integrate these rules into your speech, starting with the simplest ones