Start with who or what
Give your listener a clear subject.
- My neighbour…
- The meeting…
- I…
Free cheat sheet 01 · B1 and above
Build a Clear Sentence
Find the main idea before adding the details.
When a sentence gets tangled, return to its centre: who or what, and what happens. Add the useful detail after that.
What to use—and when
Make the choice by meaning.
Add a verb
Say what happens, or what the subject is like.
- My neighbour cooks.
- The meeting finished.
- I feel nervous.
Complete the meaning
Some verbs need an object or description. Then add where, when or why if it helps.
- My neighbour cooks dinner on Sundays.
- The meeting finished early because everyone agreed.
Understand the choice
The sentence core: who + verb + the meaning it needs
A short complete sentence gives you somewhere reliable to start. Not every verb needs an object.
Subject + verb
Some verbs give a complete message on their own.
- The baby laughed.
- The train arrived.
- My phone rang.
Subject + verb + object
An object receives the action. Ask what or who after the verb.
- I booked a lesson.
- She enjoys travelling.
- We need more time.
Subject + linking verb + description
Be, seem, become and feel can link the subject to a description, rather than an object.
- She is a teacher.
- The room feels cold.
- The journey became easier.
Understand the choice
Add information in useful layers
Build one idea, then expand it. This gives your listener a clear route.
| Layer | Sentence | What changed? |
|---|---|---|
| Core | I booked a lesson. | Who + action + what. |
| Time | I booked a lesson yesterday. | When it happened. |
| Reason | I booked a lesson yesterday because I want to speak more confidently. | Why it happened. |
| Relevant detail | I booked a speaking lesson yesterday because I want to feel more confident at work. | A clearer purpose. |
- A useful default is subject → verb → object → place → time: “I met Ana at the café yesterday.” Other orders are possible for emphasis.
- Keep the subject and its main verb easy to connect. Move a long explanation into a second sentence if it separates them too much.
- Place frequency words before most main verbs, but after be: “I usually work from home”; “I am usually at home.”
Understand the choice
Small choices that make a sentence complete
Check these before adding a more complicated connector.
Match the verb to the subject
Use is / has / does and a present-simple -s with he, she and it.
- My brother works nearby.
- My brothers work nearby.
- The information is useful.
Keep a subject in ordinary statements
English usually needs a stated subject, even when the idea feels obvious.
- It is raining.
- There is a café near my house.
- The journey was long, but it was worth it.
Use chunks to reduce the work
A chunk gives you a useful sentence opening, but you still need to finish the meaning.
- One thing I enjoy is cooking.
- The main reason is that I work early.
- What I need is a little more time.
Understand the choice
Know when one sentence is enough
A clause contains a subject and a verb. Some clauses can stand alone; others depend on a main idea.
| Pattern | Example | Remember |
|---|---|---|
| Main idea + because + reason | I left early because I was tired. | Because introduces the reason. |
| Although + contrast, main idea | Although I was tired, I stayed. | The although clause needs the main idea. |
| Main idea. However, new idea. | I was tired. However, I wanted to stay. | However does not join two full sentences with just a comma. |
- In conversation, “Because I was tired” can answer “Why did you leave?” As a standalone written sentence, normally attach it to the main idea.
- Two long ideas may be clearer as two sentences. Clear English does not require one very long sentence.
The quick check
Keep this beside you.
- Can I find who or what?
- Can I find the verb?
- Does the thought feel complete before I add more?
Notice the difference
A small change can change the meaning.
Short, but complete.
The same clear centre, with time and reason added.
Common slips
A useful fix for next time.
Instead ofMy brother in London.
UseMy brother lives in London.
The first version has no verb.Instead ofBecause I was tired.
UseI went home because I was tired.
In a standalone written sentence, the reason needs a main clause. As an answer to a spoken Why question, the shorter version can be natural.