English Grammar Rules for CUET Language Test 2026

Overview: In the CUET English exam 2025 and 2024, more than 10 questions from 50 were asked from the Grammar section. As NTA keeps experimenting with the exam, you must thoroughly know the English grammar rules for CUET Language Test to answer all the questions correctly.

Since the NTA keeps experimenting with question weightage from reading comprehension, vocabulary, and grammar, knowing the basic rules of grammar helps you save time and solve questions quickly with 100% accuracy.

Read below to learn the top English grammar rules for CUET language test and be a 100%iler.

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7 Best English Grammar Rules for CUET Language Test 2026

The English language exam is an important test paper mapped with many courses at top universities like DU, JNU, BHU, etc. that participate in the CUET exam. One of the most important parts of the test is English grammar, which assesses how well you understand and use the language.

Here’s a simple guide to some best grammar rules for CUET 2026:

1. Important Grammar Rules for CUET English for Figures of Speech 2026

Figures of speech are ways to express ideas creatively. These make writing more interesting. Here are some of the most common figures of speech mentioned in the English grammar rules for CUET Language Test that you must prepare for CUET English question paper:

Figures of Speech	Definition	Example
Simile	A simile compares two different things using "like" or "as."	She is as busy as a bee.
Metaphor	A metaphor is a direct comparison without using "like" or "as."	Time is a thief.
Personification	Personification gives human qualities to non-human things.	The wind whispered through the trees.
Alliteration	The repetition of the same letter or sound at the beginning of closely put words.	She sells seashells on the seashore.
Hyperbole	Hyperbole is an exaggeration for emphasis or effect.	I have a million things to do today!
Onomatopoeia	Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates a sound.	The clock ticked loudly.
Oxymoron	An oxymoron is when two opposite words are used together.	Jumbo shrimp
Irony	Irony is when something happens that’s the opposite of what you expect.	The police station gets robbed.

Read: Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid in CUET English Language 2026

Based on the CUET exam analysis for previous years, the English grammar rules for CUET Language Test for Active & Passive Voice, and Conditionals that you must know to attempt the questions quickly are:

2. CUET English Grammar Rules 2026: Active and Passive Voice

In English, sentences are written in either active or passive voice.

• Active Voice: The subject of the sentence does the action. Example: The dog bit the man.
• Passive Voice: The subject of the sentence is one acted upon by the action or verb in the sentence. Example: The man was bitten by the dog.

3. English grammar rules for CUET Language Test 2026: Conditionals

Conditionals are sentences that show a cause-and-effect relationship, often beginning with "if."

• 1st Conditional: For real and possible situations in the future. Example: If it rains, we will stay indoors.
• 2nd Conditional: For unreal or hypothetical situations. Example: If I were rich, I would travel the world.
• 3rd Conditional: For situations that didn’t happen in the past. Example: If I had studied harder, I would have passed the test.

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4. CUET English Grammar Rules 2026: Parts of Speech

The foundation of English grammar is built on parts of speech. There are 8 main parts according to the best grammar rules for CUET:

• Nouns: These are words that name things, people, places, or ideas. Example: dog, school, happiness.
• Pronouns: These are the words that replace nouns. Example: he, she, they, it.
• Verbs: These are action words. Example: run, jump, read, write.
• Adjectives: These are words that describe nouns. Example: beautiful, tall, exciting.
• Adverbs: These are words that describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. Example: quickly, very, easily.
• Prepositions: These words show a relationship between a noun and other words. Example: on, in, under.
• Conjunctions: These are words that connect words, phrases, or clauses. Example: and, but, because.
• Interjections: These words or phrases show strong feelings. Example: wow, ouch, hey.

Read: How to Improve Vocabulary for CUET English in 30 Days

5. Using "Few" vs "A Few" and "Little" vs "A Little" and "Since” vs “For”

The English grammar rules for CUET Language Test for similar words like for, since, few etc are:

Few	Few means a small number, but it often has a negative tone (not many). For example, There are few people in the room.
A Few	A few means some, with a positive tone. For example, I have a few friends in the city.
Little	Little means not much, often with a negative tone. Example: I have little time to study.
A little	A Little means some, with a positive tone. Example: I have a little time to study.
Since	It is used when referring to a specific point in time (a starting point). For example, I’ve lived here since 2010.
For	It refers to the length of time (how long something has happened). For example, I’ve lived here for 10 years.

Read: How to Prepare for CUET English Language 2026

6. English Grammar for CUET 2026: Articles: A, An, and The

Another topic in important grammar rules for CUET is articles. These are small words like a, an, and the, that help define nouns in a sentence. Here’s how to use them:

• A: Used before words that begin with a consonant sound. Example: a cat, a book.
• An: Used before words that begin with a vowel sound (a,e,i,o,u). Example: an apple, an umbrella.
• The: Used when referring to something specific or already mentioned. Example: The car is parked outside.

Check the List of Best Books for CUET English 

7. Subject-Verb Agreement

One of the most important English Grammar rules for CUET Language Test is Subject-Verb agreement.

This means that the subject and verb in a sentence must agree in number. If the subject is singular (one), the verb should also be singular. If the subject is plural (more than one), the verb should be plural too.

Examples:

• Correct: She runs fast. (Singular subject "she" and singular verb "runs")
• Correct: They run fast. (Plural subject "they" and plural verb "run")
• Incorrect: She run fast. (The verb "run" should be "runs" to agree with the singular subject)

CUET English Grammar Tips 2026

During your CUET preparation for English Grammar for CUET, you must remember these common errors to avoid in the exam:

• Don’t use two negative words in a sentence. Example: I don’t need no help. (Incorrect) Correct: I don’t need any help.
• Make sure descriptive words are next to what they describe. Example: She almost drove the car for an hour. (Incorrect) Correct: She drove the car for almost an hour.
• Make sure to use the correct form of a pronoun depending on its role in a sentence.
• Avoid using two comparative forms together (double comparisons). Example: She is more smarter than her sister.

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Key Takeaways

According to the best English grammar rules for CUET language test, remember:

• There are more than 50 rules in English grammar. Don't rush to learn them in a single day. Try to learn 1-2 rules in a week and then solve questions for that rule.
• Understand the subtle differences between commonly confused words through practice tests and questions.
• Make sure to review the rules regularly to improve accuracy and confidence.
• Take regular CUET mock tests and sample papers to balance your preparation.