Learning English in 10 Minutes: The Fastest Practical English Guide With Daily Use Words

Are you struggling to Speak English? If you want to learn English fast, do not start with every rule in grammar books. Start with the smallest set of English patterns that people use every day. That is the real secret.

Most daily English is built from just a few things:

• Present Simple Tense
• Past Simple Tense
• Present Continuous Tense
• Modal Verbs like can, will, and would
• High-frequency vocabulary and word families
• A few sentence patterns that work in real life

If you learn these well, you can speak, write, and understand a large part of everyday English much faster. This guide is made for practical English, not theory-heavy English. The goal is simple: help you use English in real life, with confidence, in a short time.

What You Really Need to Learn First

Many learners waste time memorizing rare grammar rules and long word lists. That feels like study, but it does not always create communication.

For most people, the best first step is this:

1. Learn how to talk about now
2. Learn how to talk about habit and fact
3. Learn how to talk about the past
4. Learn how to talk about ability, desire, intention, and polite requests
5. Learn the most useful word families so one word can grow into many useful forms

That is why this article focuses on the most important grammar and vocabulary that show up in daily English again and again.

Present Simple Tense: Your Daily Life Tense

Present Simple is one of the most important tenses in English. It is also called Present Indefinite Tense. Use it for:

• habits
• routines
• facts
• general truths
• permanent situations

Basic formula

• I / You / We / They / Names + base verb
• I / You / We / They / Names + do + not + base verb
• He / She / It / Name + verb + s/es
• He / She / It / Name + does + not + base verb

Examples

• I go to school every day.
• I do not talk to anyone.
• She works from home.
• Ronald does not work for me.
• We live in India.
• Mike and Pike do not enjoy rainy days.
• The sun rises in the east.
• He drinks tea in the morning.

Present Simple for “No Action” or State

Some verbs describe a state, not an action. These are often used in Present Simple. It is the same as above but the only difference is that we do not do anything in it. We just give information. We use Is / Am / Are.

Examples:

• I am your friend.
• It is her new phone.
  • She has a new phone. (Action)
  • She uses her new phone. (Action)
• They are not busy.
• He is a football player.
  • He plays football. (Action)
  • He becomes a football player. (Action)
• There are two books.
  • There is a book.
  • There are my friends.
  • There is my friend.
• I am happy.
  • I am sad.
  • He is angry.
  • She is annoyed.

These are useful in daily English because people often talk about feelings, needs, likes, ownership, and opinions.

Why this tense matters

If you can use Present Simple properly, you can say many common things:

• who you are
• what you do
• what you like
• where you live
• what happens every day

That is a huge part of basic communication. We have just learnt it all quickly if you want to learn it deeply. Click Here – Present Indefinite

Past Simple Tense: Your Yesterday Tense

Past Simple is used when something happened and finished in the past. It is also called Past Indefinite Tense. Use it for:

• finished actions
• finished states
• completed events
• past habits
• In simple word, you can use it in Past where you use Present Indefinite Tense.

Basic formula

• Subject means He, She, It, They, I, We, Name, Names…
• Subject + verb in past form
• Subject + did + not + base verb

Examples

• I visited my friend yesterday.
• She studied English last night.
• I did not invite them.
• They watched a movie.
• He was tired.
• He did not collect money.
• We ate dinner early.

Past Simple for “No Action” or State

It is just like Past Indefinite but the only difference is that we do not do anything, we just give information here. The same way No Action of Present Simple, this is just past version of it.

• I was busy.
• She was happy.
• It was not a bad idea.
• They were at home.
• He had a car.

Why this tense matters

Past Simple helps you tell:

• what happened
• where you went
• what you did
• how you felt
• what changed

If Present Simple is your “daily life tense,” Past Simple is your “story tense.” Learn More About Past Indefinite – Click Here

Present Continuous Tense: Your Now Tense

Present Continuous is used for actions happening now or around now. Another most used in English. Remember, the difference between Present Continuous and Present Simple (No-Action) is “verb-ing.”

Basic formula

• am/is/are + verb-ing

Examples

• I am learning English.
• He is not speaking English.
• She is reading a book.
• They are talking.
• We are not writing a letter.
• He is working today.
• We are waiting for the bus.

When to use it

Use Present Continuous for:

• things happening right now
• temporary situations
• changing situations
• future plans that are already decided

Examples:

• I am living with my cousin this month.
• She is going to Delhi tomorrow.
• They are studying for exams.

Why this tense matters

This tense is one of the first things people hear in real conversation:

• “I am busy.”
• “He is coming.”
• “We are eating.”
• “They are looking for you.”

It is simple, practical, and very common. Learn more about Present Continuous – Click Here

Modal Verbs: Can, Will, Would

Modal verbs are very powerful because they help you express ability, future, politeness, permission, requests, and possibilities. We actually do not do anything in Modals but we express ourselves. Learn the difference between Modals and Tense – Click Here

Rule: Any Modals + base verb

Can

Use can for ability, permission, and possibility (future).

Examples:

• I can speak English.
• She can drive.
• He can not cook food.
• Can I sit here?
• Can I talk to you?
• You can use my mobile.
• Learn more about Can – Click Here

Will

Use will for future, promise, decision, or instant reaction.

Examples:

• I will call you later.
• He will help us.
• He will not cook food.
• It will rain today.
• Will she come with you?
• I will do it now.
• Learn more about Will – Click Here

Would

Use would for politeness, preference, hypothetical situations, and soft requests.

Examples:

• I would like some tea.
• Would you help me?
• What would you like to have?
• I would go if I had time.
• He said he would come.
• Learn more about Would – Click Here

Why modal verbs matter

These small words appear everywhere in daily English.

They help you say:

• what you can do
• what you want
• what you will do
• what you would like
• what you request politely

If you master these three words well, your English becomes much more useful immediately.

The Missing Pieces That Matter a Lot

Many learners focus only on tenses, but practical English also needs a few more essentials:

Subject-Verb Agreement

It means which verb form to use with the subject. The rule.

• He goes… (v1 s/es)
• They go… (v1)
• She has… (v1 s/es)
• We have… (v1)
• Rocky and Locky are
• Rocky or Locky is

This is small, but very important.

Negatives

• I do not know.
• She does not like it.
• They are not ready.
• He did not come.

Questions

• Do you know him?
• Does she work here?
• Are they coming?
• Did he call you?

Articles

A or An shows a noun / name is one.

• a book
• a books
• an apple
• an apples
• the car
• the cars

Prepositions

Tells position of noun / name.

• in the room
• on the table
• at school
• with me
• for you
• Learn Full Preposition – Click Here

Pronouns

Short and better version of noun.

• I, you, he, she, it, we, they
• me, him, her, us, them
• Learn more about Pronoun – Click Here

These are not flashy, but they are essential. A learner who knows these basic building blocks can communicate much better than someone who only memorizes difficult vocabulary.

Common Daily English Word Families, Not One Word

This is one of the smartest ways to grow English vocabulary. Instead of learning one word alone, learn its family:

• verb (all verb forms shown here)
• Related Words (the most important part is to learn all the words that you can create from one word, the best way to remember many words together by connecting.
  • noun (n)
  • adjective (adj)
  • adverb (adv)
  • phrasal verbs (pv)
• Popular Example (the most used examples in the world)

This helps you build more English from one root word. You will learn vocabulary from this chart and I request that you always learn words this way. Here is a starter word bank that is useful for daily English.

Trick: The most important concept most people do not know is to focus on how a word sound more than its spelling. If you want to connect the words together, focus on how it is pronounced.
For example: See and Deceive.
See: to look at
Deceive: to not see (unable to see = hide the truth, when you cannot see the reality, it is deceive.)

Base Verb	Verb s/es	Verb-ing	Verb 2nd	Verb 3rd	Definition	Related Words	Popular Example
Ask	Asks	Asking	Asked	Asked	Ask (to request information or help) Mask (Mmm + ask. Stop asking, cover up.)	(pv): Ask out, ask in… (n): Mask (adj): askable	– Asking out on a date. – He asked a question. – I am asking you. – Mask its scent.
Allow	Allows	Allowing	Allowed	Allowed	Allow (to give permission) Allot (to give a share / part) Hallow (to give something important, holy, & old)	(v): allot, disallow, hallow… (n): allotment…	– Allow me, please. – 3 share allotted to X. – Allow me to join you. – I allow.
Agree	Agrees	Agreeing	Agreed	Agreed	Agree (to say yes or accept) Greed (strong desire to accept / ask for more) Eager (show interest / desire)	(v): disagree (n): agreement (adj): greedy, agreeable, eager…	– sign the agreement. – I agree / disagree… – I am eager to see… – He is greedy.
Break	Breaks	Breaking	Broke	Broken	Break (to damage or separate) Brake (stop moving vehicle) Bear (to accept damage or issues) Break up (damage relationship) Breakthrough (separate problem and find solution)	(pv): break up, break down… (v): bear… (n): break, brake, breakage, bear, breakthrough, breaker… (adj): breakable, bearable, breakthrough…	– My partner left me. I had a terrible break-up but we are together again now, we had a breakthrough. – My super car is a windbreaker. – Heat is too much, please, bear wit us. Sorry, I cannot bear it anymore.
Bring	Brings	Bringing	Brought	Brought	Bring (to carry something to a place) Upbringing (teach / train a child) Bling (bring attraction by jewelry)	(pv): bring on, bring out, bring in… (n): bringer, upbringing, bling… (adj): bling [Attach with any noun “Bringer”: life-bringer, money-bringer, peace-bringer…]	– Bring on. I will accept any problems. – My daughter’s upbringing are finest. It tells her good character.
Build	Builds	Building	Built	Built	Build (to make something) Shield (build to protect) [Attach with any noun “Builder”: body-builder, ship-builder, debt-builder…]	(pv): build up (v): rebuild (n): building, builder, outbuilding…	– I am a house builder. – He builds the structure of my project. – I am rebuilding my relationship. – Shield the weak.
Call	Calls	Calling	Called	Called	Call (to phone or speak to someone) Catcall (make high sound / whistle in crowd) Callow (speak / show low confidence, experience, or judgement)	(pv): call off, call out, call back… (v): recall, catcall… (n): caller, recall, robocall, catcall, cell… (adj): callow	– I catcalled his name in public. – She calls off the wedding because the groom asked dowry. – I called customer service and the phone received by a machine. It was a robocall.
Care	Cares	Caring	Cared	Cared	Care (concern or to look after) Scare (sudden fear, concern, or worry) Cure (make healthy again from sickness) Procure (get / obtain something after effort) Secure (protect something from danger)	(v): Scare, cure, procure, secure… (n): skincare, scare, cure, manicure, pedicure… (adj): careful, carefree, careless, curable, secure…	– This medicine can cure you. – Careful, do not spill the juice. – I am carefree, nothing scares me. – Cancer is curable now. – This beauty parlor is best for skincare, manicure, and pedicure.
Change	Changes	Changing	Changed	Changed	Change (to become different) Exchange (cross change, give and take) Changeling (secretly change baby at birth from another baby)	(v): exchange (n): exchange, changeling (adj): changeless, changeable	– Currency exchange rate is… – I changed my gender. – A mother did changeling of her daughter to their son.
Do	Does	Doing	Did	Done	Do (to perform or take part in action)	(v): undo, redo (n): redo (adj): doable	– Let’s do it. – I do not do it.
Drive	Drives	Driving	Drove	Driven	Drive (to control a vehicle) Derive (get / obtain something from other things) Rive (divide / cut something) Dive (jump into water – head / arms going first)	(v): derive, rive, dive (n): drive, driver, on drive, diver… (adj): driverless	– Tesla made driverless cars. – How can someone be so stupid? This drives me crazy. – A swimmer dives from 10 feet height. – The word derives from Latin.
Decide	Decides	Deciding	Decided	Decided	Decide (to choose) Cede (force others power, control, or right with no choice) Concede (to admit something is true with no choice)	(v): cede, concede (n): decider, decision	– Good decision. – Who decides right or wrong? – You conceded me to say yes.
Eat	Eats	Eating	Ate	Eaten	Eat (to take food) Treat (to celebrate special occasion OR to behave in a particular way) Retreat (move away from danger)	(pv): eat in, eat out, eat away… (v): treat, retreat, excrete, heat… (n): treat, retreat, treatment, eater, eatery, meal, heat… (adj): eatable	– On the highway, there is a famous eatery. – He treats his girlfriend badly. He must be toxic. – We cannot win. Let’s retreat.
End	Ends	Ending	Ended	Ended	End (the final part) Pretend (to fake the end) Contend (end / fight to win) Fend (protect yourself from ending) Extend (add extra to ending part)	(v): pretend, contend, bend, fend, defend, extend, depend, intend, fence… (n): bend, pretense, content, fence, contender, defender, defense… (adj): pretend, content…	– End of an era. – The ending was disaster. – Defend our religion. – Extend an arm of help. – Do not pretend to listen. – Let’s end this!
Explain	Explains	Explaining	Explained	Explained	Explain (to make something clear) Complain (something is wrong, not good enough)	(v): complain (n): explanation, plain… (adj): explanatory, explicatory, plain… (adv): plain	– He explained me everything. – Children always complain eating vegetables.
Find	Finds	Finding	Found	Found	Find (to discover) Refine (find pure by removing & clearing)	(v): refine, co-found… (n): finder, founder, co-founder, refinery… (adj): dumbfounded, profound…	– Oil refinery – Refine sugar. – Find south on map. – Finding Nemo. – Lost and found.
Fix	Fixes	Fixing	Fixed	Fixed	Fix (to repair) Fixate (focus on something, cannot stop)	(v): fixate, mix, affix… (n): prefix, suffix, fixture, mix, mixture, fixation, crucifix…	– Fix the water leakage. – He is fixate on her.
Get	Gets	Getting	Got	Got / Gotten	Get (to receive or become) Beget (be + get, to cause) Forget (not get) Fidget (small movement to get enjoyment) Budget (the amount of money get to spend)	(pv) get on, get up, get down, get back… (v): beget, forget, fidget, budget… (n): getaway, fidget, budget… (adj): budget	– Get together. – I get up early in the morning. – We do not have the budget. – Budget friendly. – Forget it.
Give	Gives	Giving	Gave	Given	Give (to hand over) Forgive (to not give punishment)	(pv): give up, give in, give out… (v): forgive, re-give (n): giver, forgiver, giveaway… (adj): giveaway	– Forgive me, I will not repeat it again. – Give me a few dollars. – Give and take is the norm.
Go	Goes	Going	Went	Gone	Go (to move from one place to another) Forgo (to not go / leave enjoyment) Ago (go back in time) Gore (blood goes out by violence)	(pv): go up, go down, go away, go forth, go back, go on… (v): forgo, gore… (n): goner, goer, gore, wagon… (adj): bygone (adv): ago	– Go forth then take left to reach there. – I go to office. – Gone by the days, those were the days. – 2 years ago.
Know	Knows	Knowing	Knew	Known	Know (to understand or be aware) Know-how (practical knowledge)	(n): unknown, knowledge, know-how, know-all (adj): unknown, knowable	– God is all-knowing. – Learn know-how of this game. – Did you know?
Like	Likes	Liking	Liked	Liked	Like (to enjoy)	(v): unlike, liken, dislike… (n): dislike (adj): unlike, unlikely, likable, likely, alike, warlike, godlike… (adv): likely, likewise, alike… (prep): unlike	– He likes her, so he proposes her. – He is like my friend, very arrogant. – I enjoy sweet food like ice cream, candy, and pudding.
Look	Looks	Looking	Looked	Looked	Look (to see or appear)	(pv): look up, look down, look up to, look ahead, look after… (v): overlook (n): look-alike, outlook, onlooker, relook, overlook, looker… (adj): new-look	– I am looking after my ill parents. – He looks up to his ideal superstar. – She looks exactly like her mother. – You have made another mistake. I’ll overlook it this time only.
Make	Makes	Making	Made	Made	Make (to create) Bake (to make food using oven) Fake (make to look real, but is not real)	(pv): make up (v): bake, fake, remake… (n): maker, makeup, making, bake, makeweight, fake, remake… (adj): makeshift, fake, premade…	– He made me successful. – I made it all up. – She wears wakeup 24/7. – This movie is a remake of that.
Move	Moves	Moving	Moved	Moved	Move (to change position) Remove (to move / take away) Movie (moving picture)	(pv): move on, move out, move in, move to, move around… (v): remove (n): move, movement, mover, removal, remover, movie, countermove… (adj): movable	– Make a move. – She moved all my things. – Move away from that. – I see no movement. – Can you move, please? – Move on and start a new life.
Pay	Pays	Paying	Paid	Paid	Pay (to give money)	(pv): pay up, pay out, pay off… (v): repay (n): payment, pay cut, pay cheque, pay claim, payer, payee, payor, paydirt, paydown, repayment, payday, payback, payload, payphone, payroll… (adj): prepaid, postpaid, underpaid, overpaid, unpaid, payable, repayable…	– He is injured. Pay him a visit. – I hired her on payroll. – Please do prepaid recharge on my phone. – Workers are underpaid. – He broke my car. It is time to pay back. – We earned 100. Your pay cut is 30. – Pay no attention. – You will get payment in installments.
Play	Plays	Playing	Played	Played	Play (to take part in a game or activity) Display (show collection of plays)	(pv): play off, play on… (v): playact, replay, display… (n): player, playability, playboy, playbook, playback, playacting, Play-Doh, playground, playhouse, playlist, playmate, playmaker, playoff, playpen, playschool, PlayStation, plaything, playtime, replay, display, foreplay, playwright, counterplayer, byplay, airplay, splay, screenplay, wordplay… (adj): playable, playful…	– He is the best game-player. – They played with his feelings. – I don’t play around. I am a serious person. – Stop playing and start doing. – Don’t play with me! – I don’t play and tell. – Always play the right game. – Do not play recklessly. – This area is for player only. It’s public off-limit. – He is my plaything. – Let’s see who scores more in Powerplay.
Put	Puts	Putting	Put	Put	Put (to place something) Putrefy (Putrefied is the opposite of Put + Refined. It is expired, decay, & smelly.) Capture (put inside jail) Dispute (put an argument or disagreement)	(pv): put on, put off, put up, put down, put away, put across… (v): putrefy, capture, input, output, dispute, depute, impute… (n): caput, capture, captor, input, output, dispute, repute, reputation, deputy… (adj): putrid, putative, kaput…	– Put it away from my eyes. – Let’s put 100 dollar in it. – I cannot put up the fight. – Let’s put out the fire. – Why not we put our grudge behind. – Put it on my tab. – He is putting me off the game. – I put him down with my move.
Read	Reads	Reading	Read	Read	Read (to understand written words)	(pv): read out, read off… (v): proofread (n): reader, readership, ready, readout… (adj): readily, ready	– I have read enough. – Please read this. – The reader seems well-versed. – My mother reads a story every night.
See	Sees	Seeing	Saw	Seen	See (to look at or understand) Seek (See to find) Seem (see and feel) Deceive (not see the truth)	(pv): see through… (v): seek, seem, unsee, oversee, deceive… (n): seeker (adj): unseen	– See you later. – I can still see you. – She sees through all your lies. – See you around.
Start	Starts	Starting	Started	Started	Start (to begin) Startle (start surprising)	(pv): start over, start up, start down… (v): startle, restart, kick-start… (n): starter, start-up, upstart, kick-start… (adj): startling	– The time starts now. – I have started again. – This is the start line. – What starter would you like to have?
Take	Takes	Taking	Took	Taken	Take (to get or carry) Partake (take part in like food, drink…)	(pv): take off, take on, take back, take down… (v): partake, retake, betake, mistake… (n): taker, takeover, takedown, takeoff, takeback, partake, caretaker, mistake…	– I have taken care of him. – Take a look at it. – Take me there. – I took an oath. – He is taking bribe. – Take my hand and follow me. – Take care.
Tell	Tells	Telling	Told	Told	Tell (to give information) Tele- (tell over a long distance) Intel (tell secret information)	(v): retell, foretell… (n): teller, telecom, telecentre, telebanking, telepathy, intel, storyteller… (adj): untold	– Don’t tell a lie! – Tell me the truth. – Kiss and tell. – I told you that he was not busy. – I am told you are Raven.
Work	Works	Working	Worked	Worked	Work (to do a job)	(n): worker, workday, workbench, workbox, workbook, workaround, workaholic, groundwork, outwork, roadwork, ironwork, woodwork, legwork, firework, bodywork, workmen, workshop, homework, artwork, network… (adj): workaday, workable…	– He is hard worker. – He works day and night. – (Person A) It is broken. I need it for an important task. Please find a way. (Person B) Don’t panic! We can work this out. – How the work is going on? – Have you worked enough? – You should work on your appearance.
Want	Wants	Wanting	Wanted	Wanted	Want (to wish for)	(n): wantaway (adj): wanted, wanton, unwanted… (adv): wantonly	– This criminal is wanted. – I want to help you. – He wants money.

This method is powerful because one root can give you many useful words. These are not just vocabulary words. These are life words. They appear in conversation, writing, messages, school, travel, work, and daily routine.

The Best Sentence Patterns for Daily English

Learn a few sentence patterns and you can make thousands of sentences.

• Pattern 1: I am + adjective
  • I am happy.
  • I am busy.
  • I am ready.
  • Learn Adjectives – Click Here
• Pattern 2: I have + noun
  • I have a book.
  • I have a problem.
  • I have time.
  • More about Noun – Click Here
• Pattern 3: I want + noun / verb
  • I want water.
  • I want to go.
  • I want help.
• Pattern 4: I can + verb
  • I can speak.
  • I can help.
  • I can come.
• Pattern 5: I will + verb
  • I will call you.
  • I will try.
  • I will study today.
• Pattern 6: I do not + verb
  • I do not know.
  • I do not like it.
  • I do not agree.
  • Learn Verbs – Click Here

These patterns are simple, but they cover a huge amount of daily communication.

The Fastest Way to Learn English in 10 Minutes a Day

Here is the practical method:

• Minute 1–2: Read 5 very common sentences out loud.
• Minute 3–4: Change one word in each sentence out of those 5.
  • Example:
    • I am happy.
    • I am tired.
    • I am busy.
• Minute 5–6:
  • Practice one tense.
  • Today: Present Simple.
• Minute 7:
  • Practice one modal.
  • Today: can.
• Minute 8: Learn 5 new word-family words. Use those words in sentences and make real life examples.
• Minute 9: Make 3 true sentences about your own life daily. In simple words, 3 different sentence related to your day-to-day activity.
• Minute 10: Speak those sentences aloud again. Use what you have learnt today after 2 days again.

This is how English becomes real. Not by collecting notes only. Not by memorizing rules only. By using the language every day.

I suggest you to do this additional exercise daily: it will cover all.

What Most Learners Miss

These are the most missed but most useful parts of daily English:

• Question words: what, where, when, why, who, how
• Time words: now, today, yesterday, tomorrow, always, often, sometimes
• Linking words: and, but, so, because, then
• Common verbs: get, make, do, go, come, take, give
• Polite phrases: please, thank you, sorry, excuse me
• Conversation replies: yes, no, okay, sure, maybe, of course

These words are small, but they control real conversation.

Final Thought

If you want to learn English in 10 minutes, do not try to learn everything at once. Start with the words and patterns that people actually use every day.

The best practical English foundation is:

• Present Simple
• Past Simple
• Present Continuous
• can / will / would
• common word families
• question forms
• negatives
• daily sentence patterns

This is enough to begin speaking useful English faster. Learn the structure. Use the structure. Repeat it daily.u

That is how English becomes natural. Learning English in 10 Minutes is possible when you focus on practical grammar, common sentence patterns, and the most useful daily English vocabulary.