I get it. English can be very confusing sometimes, and the grammar rules can seem crazy and random. Sometimes they are.
But a lot of the time, there’s a system happening underneath the madness.
After teaching for 12 years, I’ve discovered some of these English grammar tricks that most English textbooks don’t mention.
They work about 80% of the time and I call them the “80 percenters”.
English Grammar Trick #1 — Make or do?
Make a exam? OR Do an exam?
Make a promise? OR Do a promise?
Here’s the rule:
● Does it feel like work? Does it take effort? Then use do.
● If not, use make.
As I said before, this works about 80% of the time.
So the answers are:
and
Got it?
OK. Let’s practise this.
Do the housework? OR Make the housework?
● Is it fun? No!
● Does it feel like work? Yes.
So, we say:
Do friends? OR Make friends?
● Is it fun? Hopefully!
● Does it feel like work? No.
So, we say:
Easy, right?
English Grammar Trick #2 — Verb + -ing or to?
She’s good at to throw cats? OR She’s good at throwing cats?
She apologized for to crash the tank? OR She apologized for crashing the tank?
Here’s the rule:
… about 80% of the time. Hey, nothing’s perfect.
Don't know what a preposition is? Click here for some examples.in
on
at
by
for
before
over
from
about
with
So the answers are:
and
Once you know this shortcut, you won’t have to think about it at all.
6 thoughts on “English Grammar Tricks That Work (Part 1)”
I always find Clark n Mİller both imformative and Fun
Thanks Flasy! Glad you enjoy it!
It’s great. Thank you.
Hi Saruhan – Thanks for reading it! I hope it helps you out 😀
Sir, I bow before you. I have never thought that learning English grammar can be so fun! You have made it so easy.
Thank you so much for your kind words! Best regards!