Grammar Power Pack: 5 Rules to Fix Common Mistakes Fast

If you keep making “small” grammar mistakes (articles, modals, questions, comparisons), it’s usually because the pattern is missing in your memory—not because you’re bad at English. This post turns each rule into a quick pattern you can repeat and practise.

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Rule #1: Confusing patterns (Accuse/Charge, Over/Above, Twice, Linking Verbs, Comparisons)

1) Accused of vs Charged with

Use these two patterns exactly:

• Accuse + person + of + V-ing
  
  They accused him of robbery / of stealing.

  Rule 1

• Be charged + with + V-ing
  
  He was charged with committing many offences.

  Rule 1

✅ Memory trick: accused OF, charged WITH.

2) Over vs Above (when something is moving)

When something is moving above something else (plane, helicopter, kite, drone), use over (not above).

Rule 1

3) “Twice…” comparisons

Common mistake: “twice more than” (avoid).

Correct patterns:

• twice as much as → uncountable (e.g., cost)

  Rule 1

• twice as many as → countable plural (friends, books)

  Rule 1

4) Linking verbs that take adjectives, not adverbs

These “sense/feeling” verbs often behave like be:

• feel, taste, look, smell, sound → adjective (happy, good, fresh, upset)

  Rule 1

But if feel means “touch/action” (e.g., pulse), then use an adverb:

I felt the patient’s pulse carefully.

Rule 1

5) Comparison must be between similar things

Use:

• those of for plural things (cities → those of India)

  Rule 1

• that of for singular/uncountable (rice → that of China)

  Rule 1

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Rule #2: Must/Might/Should (certainty, possibility, regret, advice)

1) must have vs might have (past)

• must have + V3 = you’re sure (strong inference)

  Rule 2

• might have + V3 = you’re not sure, but it’s possible

  Rule 2

2) must be vs might be (present)

• must be = sure

  Rule 2

• might be = possible

  Rule 2

3) should have / shouldn’t have / should be

• should have + V3 = better past action (regret/criticism)

  Rule 2

• shouldn’t have + V3 = you did it, but it was wrong

  Rule 2

• should be + adjective = advice now

  Rule 2

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Rule #3: W-H words & question structure (direct vs indirect questions)

Your sheet shows two key patterns:

1) Direct questions (question word at the beginning)

WH + Auxiliary + Subject + Verb

Example: When are you coming?

Rule 3

2) Indirect questions (question word in the middle)

WH + Subject + Auxiliary + Verb (NO inversion!)

Example: I would like to know what your name is.

Rule 3

Also: I don’t know where I can find a bank.

Rule 3

✅ Memory trick: Indirect = statement order.

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Rule #4: Articles (A/AN/THE) that actually matter in exams

1) Indefinite articles: a / an

Use a/an with a singular countable noun when it’s not specific or it’s the first mention.

Rule 4

A comes with consonant sounds, AN with vowel sounds.

Rule 4

Important: sound, not spelling decides.

Rule 4

Example from your sheet: a unique experience (y-sound), a unicorn, but an idiot.

Rule 4

Silent “h” words take an: heir, heiress, honest, honour, hour.

Rule 4

Also: professions use a/an (a dentist, a teacher).

Rule 4

2) Definite article: the

Use the when something is:

• already mentioned (an apple… the apple)

  Rule 4

• defined by a phrase/clause

  Rule 4

• unique or “one of a kind”

  Rule 4

• known in the situation (There’s the man I was telling you about!)

  Rule 4

3) Special “THE” uses you should memorise

• the + singular animal/plant = whole species (the elephant…)

  Rule 4

• the + nationality adjective = people group (the Dutch)

  Rule 4

• Geography sets: rivers/seas/oceans/mountain ranges → the

  Rule 4

• Institutions/newspapers/magazines often take the (examples listed)

  Rule 4

• Body parts in an impersonal way: on the hand / on the head

  Rule 4

• Titles usually don’t take the, but if it’s the name of a thing (ship), it can: The Queen Elizabeth II…

  Rule 4

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Rule #10: Future tense in 3 easy formulas

Your future tense section gives 3 key structures:

1. Simple Future: will + root verb

   Rule #0

2. Future Perfect: will have + past participle (V3)

   Rule #0

3. Future Continuous: will be + V-ing

   Rule #0

✅ Memory trick:

• will + base (simple)

• will have + V3 (perfect)

• will be + V-ing (continuous)