Grammar 101: insider tips and tricks to instantly improve your writing (part 1)

Hannah Lawrence
Hannah Lawrence
woman uses highlighter on book
Reading time: 4 minutes

I've always been fascinated by language and writing: as a child, I wrote newsletters for my classmates and books about my imaginary friends' adventures. That love of words eventually led me into a career as a writer, editor and proofreader. Over my career, I've checked thousands of reports, articles and blogs – and I see the same grammatical mistakes time and time again.

In this blog series, I'll share my favourite tips and tricks to help you remember those tricky grammar rules; whether you're writing for work, to learn or just for fun, these posts will help you improve your English and write with more confidence. Here are the top three grammar rules that people ask me to explain:

1) "Which" or "that"?

2) "Less" or "fewer"? 

3) "Me" or "I"?

Grammar 101
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree Pearson can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

"Which" or "that"?

We use "that" to introduce a phrase that is essential for fully understanding a sentence. For example, if a colleague asks you to "Join me in the meeting room that has a red door", then this tells us that there is more than one meeting room, but only one has a red door. Without this piece of information, you won't know where to meet your colleague. Phrases like this that hold essential information are called "restrictive clauses".

In comparison, “which” introduces additional information that isn’t essential for understanding the sentence’s meaning. At a different office, if your colleague asks you to "Join me in the meeting room, which has a red door", then this tells us that there is only one meeting room and it happens to have a red door. You don't need to know the colour of the door to understand where to meet. These are called "non-restrictive clauses" and are separated with commas, unlike restrictive clauses.

Also compare: 
"Simon brought his dog that has three legs." (This tells us that Simon has more than one dog and only one of those dogs has three legs.)

"Jada brought her dog, which has three legs." (This tells us that Jada only has one dog. The dog also happens to have three legs.)

"Less" or "fewer"?

"Fewer" is for items that you can count: it means "not as many". 

"Less" is for mass concepts: it means "not as much". 

For example: "I'm trying to have less sugar in my diet. As part of this, I'm going to have fewer spoons of sugar in my coffee."

Another example: "I had less time to work this week, so I did fewer hours on the assignment."

"Time" is uncountable but "hours" are countable. 

"Me" or "I"?

Should you say “Jane, Carlos and I went to the movies?” or “Jane, Carlos and me went to the movies?”

Use "I" when you're doing something – when you are the "subject" of the sentence.

Use "me" when something is being done to you – when you are the "object" of the sentence. 

So, "I" is correct here. Here's the easiest way to know which one to use: remove the other people from the sentence and see if it still makes sense.

Incorrect: “Me went to the movies.”

Correct: “I went to the movies.”

Therefore, it's correct to say: “Jane, Carlos and I went to the movies.” 

That's when you're the subject of the sentence, now compare it to a case when you're the object. 

Incorrect: "Jane invited I to the movies." 

Correct: "Jane invited me to the movies."

Bonus tip: remember to always put other people first. So, in our first example, it is always "Jane, Carlos and I", rather than "I, Jane and Carlos". 

Grammar can be tricky, but it gets easier with practice – and a few insider secrets. Look out for the next post in this series, where we’ll explore more common grammar mistakes and how to avoid them.

Read our blog posts "11 fascinating facts about English" and "Commonly misspelled English words".

Explore language learning with Mondly by Pearson

More blogs from Pearson

  • A woman and man working together on laptop in library
    AI in Language Education: What educators should use (and what to avoid)
    By Charlotte Guest
    Reading time: 5 minutes

    AI is changing language classrooms fast, but not every tool adds value. The best teachers use AI as a partner, supporting planning, feedback and differentiation, while keeping key moments of teaching human.

    Here’s what works, what to avoid, and how to use AI responsibly in ESL classrooms.

    How AI is transforming language teaching

    AI is transforming how teachers work, but it doesn't replace them.

    At its best, AI enhances three core areas:

    • Planning efficiency: Generate lesson outlines, activities and scaffolding in minutes
    • Differentiation at scale: Adapt materials for mixed-level classrooms instantly
    • Feedback loops: Provide faster, more frequent feedback on writing and practice tasks

    But the key shift is pedagogical. AI aligns naturally with:

    • Learner-centered methods: Students engage more actively with adaptive content
    • Teaching like a coach: Teachers guide, refine and personalize rather than deliver everything directly
    • Modern teaching methodology: Blended, flexible and responsive instruction

    When used effectively, AI allows teachers to concentrate on the most important aspects of language learning: interaction, communication and human connection.

  • A woman smiling working on a laptop
    Studying in the USA? A fast at-home English test is now an option
    By Abi Fordham
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    If you’re a student planning to study in the USA, life probably feels a bit like having too many tabs open at once. University sites. Visa info. Messages from friends already abroad. And a growing list of things that all feel important.

    Somewhere in the middle of that is your English test.

    A test people trust for good reason

    For years, students have chosen PTE because it’s built to be trusted, backed by real expertise, research and quality. That’s why it’s become a familiar name for students planning to study abroad, and why institutions trust it too. That foundation hasn’t changed. What has changed is how students live, learn, and prepare today.

    Same roots, for different routes

    PTE Express originates from the same principles. Same values. Same attention. It’s simply tailored for a different kind of test taker at a specific point in their journey. If you’re aiming to study in the USA and need a quick, at-home English test, PTE Express is made to fit into your life rather than forcing you to reshape everything around a test date. And let’s address test anxiety because it’s a real concern.

    Many students worry about English tests. Not because they don’t know English, but because test situations can make things feel harder than they should be. Speaking to an examiner face‑to‑face can feel intimidating. Worrying about being misunderstood because of your accent is a real concern. Travelling to a test centre adds pressure before you even start. Sitting in an unfamiliar room can make nerves worse.

    That’s not a lack of ability. That’s just being human. While PTE Academic already addresses lots of these worries, we have gone a step further with PTE Express.

    Why at‑home testing can feel different

    One of the quiet benefits of an at‑home test is how much calmer it can feel. You’re in a familiar space. You control your environment. There’s no examiner in front of you, just you and the screen. For many students, that makes it easier to focus and show their real English, without the extra stress that comes from unfamiliar settings or face‑to‑face pressure. PTE Express was designed with this in mind: calm, considered, and supportive, while still being secure and trusted by institutions.

    When the USA is the plan

    If you already know the USA is your destination, things can start to feel more time‑sensitive. Deadlines get closer. Decisions feel heavier. You’re no longer exploring, you’re preparing your next move. PTE Express fits naturally here. It’s a fast, at‑home option for US study, built on the foundations of Pearson that students already trust, and delivered in a way that works for when life is busy and timelines are tight.

    A choice that actually reduces pressure

    The good news is, you don’t have to overthink this. If you want to keep your options open across different countries, there’s a trusted path in PTE Academic that supports that. If you’re focused on studying in the USA and want something fast, familiar and at home, there’s now an option designed for exactly that. No trade‑offs. No feeling like you’re cutting corners. Just choices that match different moments.

    Focus on what really matters

    Studying in the USA is a big step. It’s about independence, growth and starting something new. Your English test should feel like something that supports you quietly in the background, not something that adds more stress to an already intense moment. With PTE Express now live in most countries, including India, students heading to the USA have a calm, trusted at‑home option, built on foundations that have been relied on for years. And sometimes, feeling calm and confident is exactly what helps you do your best.  

  • Man sat outdoors holding a tablet smiling
    Understanding and managing technostress
    By Amy Malloy
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    What is technostress?

    If you find yourself constantly checking social media or feeling pressure to keep up with the latest technology, you may be experiencing technostress. It can show up in different ways, including difficulty focusing on everyday tasks, low motivation or mood, and anxiety around using technology. It even causes some people to avoid digital tools altogether.

    Technostress affects people differently, but at its core is a shared experience, as Chiapetta (2017) defines it: “Technostress is a syndrome that occurs when a person, subjected to information overload and continuous contact with digital devices, develops a state of stress.” This constant exposure to technology has only got more extreme since Chiapetta since defined the syndrome. As a result, technostress is something that more and more people are likely to experience.