6 Must-Know Grammar Rules for Primary School & PSLE

If there is one section in an English paper that gives students the best chance to score full marks, it is Grammar. Unlike Creative Writing or Composition, where style and creativity matter, Grammar is black and white—your answer is either right or wrong.

This makes Grammar the most scorable section. By understanding the rules and spotting key clues in each sentence, students can secure marks quickly and confidently.

Here are 6 must-know grammar rules that frequently trip students up, and how to master them!

1. The “Together With” Trap (Subject–Verb Agreement)

Many students are tricked by phrases like: “together with”, “as well as”, “along with”, and “in addition to”.

These look like they add extra people to the subject, but they do not change the number of the main subject.

The main subject is always the noun before these phrases.

Example 1
The girl, together with her brothers, is attending the event.
Subject: girl (singular) → verb = is

Example 2
The teachers, as well as the principal, were present.
Subject: teachers (plural) → verb = were

2. The “Neither/Nor” & “Either/Or” Rule

The verb always agrees with the noun closest to it.

Even though both nouns are mentioned in the sentence, only the one nearest to the verb determines whether the verb is singular or plural.

Example 1
Neither the students nor the teacher is ready.
Closest noun to verb = teacher → singular verb

Example 2
Either the teacher or the students are performing later.
Closest noun to verb = students → plural verb

3. The TPTP Rule (Tenses – Place – Proximity – Pronouns)

When converting direct speech into indirect speech, several elements in the sentence must shift to match the perspective of the speaker.

T = Tenses
Most tenses shift one step back in time:

• will → would
• is/are → was/were
• has/have → had
• can → could
• want to → wanted to

P = Place Words
Words showing position must be changed:

• here → there
• this → that
• these → those

T = Time/Proximity Words
Words showing how near or soon something is need to be shifted:

• tomorrow → the next day
• next week → the following week
• last night → the previous night

P = Pronouns
Pronouns must match the speaker and listener:

• I → he/she
• my → his/her
• you → him/her/them

Example:
Direct: “I will finish this by tomorrow,” she said.
Indirect: She said that she would finish that by the next day.

4. Question Tags

Question tags are short questions added to the end of a sentence to confirm information or check understanding. The basic rules are simple:

Positive Statement → Negative Tag
When the main statement is positive, the question tag is negative. This helps turn a simple statement into a question that asks for confirmation or agreement.

Examples:

• You’re coming to the party, aren’t you?
• She has finished her homework, hasn’t she?
• They will arrive on time, won’t they?

Negative Statement → Positive Tag
When the main statement is negative, the question tag becomes positive. This invites confirmation while acknowledging the negative form of the original sentence.

Examples:

• She isn’t ready, is she?
• He doesn’t like spicy food, does he?
• You won’t forget, will you?

Match the Subject in the Tag
The subject in the question tag must always match the subject of the main sentence. This ensures the sentence is grammatically correct and clear.

Examples:

• They like ice cream, don’t they?
• John is your brother, isn’t he?
• My friends are coming, aren’t they?
  
  

5. Special Nouns

Certain nouns look like they describe many things, but they are actually uncountable and always treated as singular.

Here are the common ones tested in PSLE:

• equipment
• furniture
• luggage
• homework
• information
• jewellery

These words never take a plural verb. They also never take an “s” at the back. (You cannot say equipments, luggages, or homeworks.)

Examples:

• All the luggage was checked at the counter.
• The furniture has arrived.
• The equipment is expensive.
  
  

6. SAM Rule (Some, All, Most)

Words like “some”, “all”, and “most” may look plural, but they are actually quantity words, not subjects.

The verb does not agree with SAM itself. It agrees with the noun that comes right after these words.

Examples:

• Some of the milk is sour. → milk = singular
• Most of the students are excited. → students = plural
• All of the information was useful. → information = uncountable/singular