es, you read that right! Math can help your grammar.
I know what you’re thinking: “How can math help with English?” Believe it or not, it can.
Why listen to me?
I’ve taught English for over 20 years, speak 5 languages, and have a Masters in Linguistics. I’ve studied how people learn languages and how the brain stores language. I also know English grammar very well.
Language is like math
Language works with rules, just like math. Sentences are like equations. If you understand the rules (algorithms), you can create sentences correctly every time.
Sentence Basics
Every sentence in English has:
- A subject (S) – who or what the sentence is about
- A verb (V) – the action
Some verbs also need an object (O). For example:
“I told you.” – You need “you.” “I told” alone is incomplete.
4 Types of Sentences
- Simple Sentences
Equations:
- S + V (+O) → “I love ice cream.”
- S + S + V (+O) → “My brother and I love ice cream.”
- S + V + V (+O) → “I love and buy ice cream.”
You can also add a conjunctive adverb (X) like in addition, however, therefore:
“In addition, I love ice cream.”
Common mistake: Don’t put a comma between subject and verb.
- Compound Sentences
Combine two simple sentences with a semicolon or FANBOYS (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so).
Equations:
- S + V (+O); S + V (+O) → “I like dogs; I like cats.”
- S + V (+O), FANBOYS + S + V (+O) → “I like dogs, and I like cats.”
You can also use a conjunctive adverb (X):
“In addition, I like dogs, and I like cats.”
Common mistake: Don’t start a sentence with FANBOYS. (Some writers do it jokingly.)
- Complex Sentences
Complex sentences have adverb, noun, or adjective clauses.
- Adverb clauses (Y) – describe how, when, or if something happens.
Equations:
S + V (+O) + Y + S + V (+O) → “I will finish my degree before I get a job.”
Y + S + V (+O), S + V (+O) → “Before I get a job, I will finish my degree.”
Note: If the adverb clause is at the start, use a comma. At the end, no comma.
- Noun clauses (Z) – often use verbs like know, tell, suggest, claim + “that”:
S + V (+O) + Z + that + S + V (+O) → “The reporter claimed that writing is popular.”
- Adjective clauses (W) – describe a person, place, or thing using which, who, where, that:
S + V (+O) + W + V (+O) → “I live in Toronto, which is a multicultural city.”
Back to Our Example
Original sentence from a student:
“It can seriously affect the young person’s judgment of his future careers, be specific, they give up trying because of the fierce competition for a position, it leads their original talent not being flaunted.”
In “math” terms:
S + V + O, + X, + S + V + O, + S + V + O
This is wrong. You cannot connect many subjects and verbs with only commas.
Corrected using our equations:
S + V + O. X, S + V + O, W + V + O
Result:
“It can seriously affect the young person’s judgment of his future careers. To be specific, they give up trying because of the fierce competition for a position, which leads their original talent not being flaunted.”
Much easier to read!
Conclusion
Learning English sentence structure is easier than you think. Treat sentences like equations, plug in the right parts, and your grammar will improve. One day, you might even feel like you solved E = MC² of English grammar!
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