What grammar is in A1 English?

A1 is be (am, is, are), the present simple (I live, she wears), a/an and the, simple plurals, this/that, in/on/at for place, there is/are, and can for ability and easy requests. A typical A1 sentence is I live near the tram stop or She has a yellow raincoat. Questions at A1 use be and can: Are you a neighbour? Can I sit here?

What grammar is in A2 English?

A2 keeps everything from A1 and adds the present continuous (They are watering the beans), the past simple (They planted beans last April), do/does/did questions, comparatives (bigger, more useful), countable vs. uncountable nouns, in/on/at for time, and must / have to / would like. Going to for plans is often taught here too.

Is the present perfect A2?

No. The present perfect (They have lived near the tram stop for years) is a B1 structure in most CEFR syllabuses, even though some elementary books introduce ever and never early. At A2, finished time takes the past simple: She bought the raincoat last March. If you need since or for with a verb, you have left A2.

What is the difference between A1-A2 grammar and basic English grammar?

A1-A2 is a CEFR label: two bands, grouped by area, with a clear ceiling. Basic English grammar is a teaching path of ten structures in order, without an A1 versus A2 split. You can learn the same forms on both pages: use this one to tick a syllabus, and the other to follow a sequence.

How do I know if a sentence is still A2?

Check the verb system and the clause links. If you only need present simple, present continuous, or past simple, plus can or must, you are inside A2: Did they shut the gate? You must shut it. If you need have you ever, if it rains we will, the woman who owns Plot 14, or she said she was, the sentence has moved to B1.

English grammar · Beginner

A1-A2 Grammar: A CEFR Checklist Grouped by Area

Written by Eleanor Whitfield, Lead English Curriculum Editor · Reviewed September 2026

A1 and A2 are the first two levels of the CEFR, the scale used to describe what a beginner and an elementary learner can do in English. The grammar at these levels is a short, stable syllabus: articles and nouns, the present simple and present continuous, the past simple, questions, basic adjectives, in/on/at, and the modals can and must. This page groups that syllabus by area so you can see what belongs at A1, what A2 adds, and where to read each topic in more detail.

Maren has a yellow raincoat. She wears it on the tram.

a1 building blocks: a/an, present simple, a personal pronoun

What it is

The CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) names six levels from A1 to C2. A1 is the first contact with English: you can give your name, talk about where you live, and use a few present-tense sentences. A2 is elementary: you can handle short past stories, simple questions, and everyday needs (a ticket, a postcard, a neighbour's allotment). The grammar list is not a course in order. It is a map of areas. You meet nouns and articles, then the present, then the past, then questions, then adjectives, prepositions, and a small set of modals. Each area has an A1 core and an A2 extension.

A1: I live near the tram stop. She has a yellow raincoat. A2: She bought the raincoat last March. Can I sit here? You must keep the gate shut.

How to spot it

If a sentence uses am/is/are, a or the, a present simple verb, or can, it is A1 grammar. If it uses a past simple form, going to, a comparative (bigger, more useful), countable vs. uncountable, or must, it is typically A2. Longer tenses (present perfect, conditionals, reported speech) sit above this page.

I am a neighbour on Plot 12. (a1: be plus a noun)
She wears the yellow raincoat on the tram. (a1: present simple, the for a known thing)
They planted beans last April. (a2: past simple of a regular verb)
You must shut the allotment gate. (a2: must for a simple rule)

A1 and A2 describe what a learner can do, not what a native speaker would say. Native English uses the same small structures constantly. The difference is that at A1-A2 they are the whole toolkit.

A1-A2 Grammar Quick Reference

The A1-A2 syllabus by area

Area	A1 core	A2 adds
Nouns and articles	a/an, the, singular and plural, this/that	countable vs. uncountable, some/any, much/many
Present	be (am/is/are), present simple, there is/are	present continuous, like/want/need, have got
Past	was/were, simple past of a few irregulars (went, had)	regular -ed, more irregulars, ago, last, yesterday
Questions	be questions, what/where/who, can you...?	do/does/did, how much/how many, question words in full
Adjectives	common adjectives after be, a big bag	comparatives (bigger, more useful), very, quite
Prepositions	in, on, at for place, to for movement	in/on/at for time, next to, between, from...to
Modals	can for ability and simple requests	must, have to, would like, shall we (suggestions)

Common A1-A2 Grammar Examples in English

The same allotment and tram-stop world, grouped by the CEFR area each sentence belongs to:

Nouns and Articles

Maren has a yellow raincoat.: a for one new countable thing
The raincoat is on the peg by the shed.: the: we now know which raincoat
Beans grow well on Plot 12.: no article: beans in general
There isn't much water in the butt this week.: a2: uncountable water with much

A1 gets a, an, the, and simple plurals. A2 adds the countable/uncountable split and some, any, much, many.

Present Time

I live near the tram stop.: present simple: a fact that stays true
She is a neighbour on Plot 12.: be as the A1 verb of identity
They are watering the beans right now.: a2: present continuous for now
There is a tap next to the shed.: there is: A1 existence

A1 lives in be and the present simple. A2 adds the present continuous for actions in progress.

Past Time and Questions

They planted beans last April.: a2 past simple, regular -ed
Maren went to the tram stop at eight.: a2 irregular past: go, went
Where does she keep the raincoat?: a2: does plus the bare verb
Did they shut the gate?: a2: did for a past yes/no question

A1 can ask with be and can (Are you...?, Can you...?). A2 needs do, does, and did for every other verb.

Adjectives, Prepositions, and Modals

The shed is small but useful.: a1 adjectives after be
Plot 14 is bigger than Plot 12.: a2 comparative with than
The tools are in the shed, on the shelf, at the back.: in, on, at for place
You can use the tap. You must shut the gate.: can for permission; must for a rule

Can belongs at A1. Must and have to, and the comparative of adjectives, are the usual A2 step.

How the A1-A2 Syllabus Fits Together

Seven areas, two levels, and a clear ceiling: if a structure needs the present perfect or a conditional, it is not A2.

Every Noun Needs an Article Decision

At A1 you choose a or an for one new countable noun (a raincoat, an allotment), the when both people know which one (the raincoat, the shed), and no article for a name or a general plural (Maren, beans). A2 adds the idea that some nouns do not take a or many: water, bread, information. That is the countable vs. uncountable split, and it is the first big noun lesson after a/an/the.

She bought a postcard. The postcard is on the table. Water is low in the butt.

a for new, the for known, no article for uncountable water

A1: a/the. A2: some nouns have no a.

Present First, Then One Past

A1 needs be and the present simple (I live, she wears, they have). A2 adds the present continuous for now (They are watering the beans) and the past simple for finished time (They planted beans last April; Maren went at eight). Two past forms are enough at A2: was/were and the -ed / irregular past. Past continuous and present perfect wait until B1.

She wears the raincoat. They are watering the beans. They planted them last April.

present simple, present continuous, past simple: the A2 tense set

A2 tenses: present simple, present continuous, past simple.

Questions Need an Auxiliary

A1 questions are the easy ones: Are you a neighbour? Where is the tap? Can I sit here? A2 adds do, does, and did, because the present simple and past simple have no auxiliary of their own. Does she keep the raincoat in the shed? Did they shut the gate? The main verb goes back to its base form after do/does/did.

Where does she keep the raincoat? Did they shut the gate?

does and did take the tense; keep and shut stay bare

A2 questions: do, does, did plus the bare verb.

Can at A1, Must at A2

The first modal is can: ability (She can carry the watering can) and simple permission or requests (Can I use the tap?). A2 adds must for rules (You must shut the gate) and would like for polite wants (I would like a postcard). Have to appears as a twin of must. Should, might, and present perfect modals are not A2.

She can carry the can. You must shut the gate. I would like a postcard.

can at A1; must and would like at A2

A1 can. A2 must and would like.

Common Mistakes with A1-A2 Grammar

Incorrect: She wear the yellow raincoat on the tram.

Correct: She wears the yellow raincoat on the tram.

The A1 present simple needs -s after he, she, or it. Missing -s is the most common beginner verb error, and it is still marked at A2.

Incorrect: They planted beans last April and they have a big harvest now since then.

Correct: They planted beans last April. They have a lot of beans now.

A2 does not need the present perfect. Last April is a finished time, so the past simple is enough. Since then plus have would pull the sentence into B1.

Incorrect: Where she keeps the raincoat?

Correct: Where does she keep the raincoat?

A2 questions with the present simple need do or does, then the bare verb. Leaving does out is an A1 habit that has to be trained off at A2.

Incorrect: I have a water. I have many waters in the butt.

Correct: I have some water. There is a lot of water in the butt.

Water is uncountable at A2: no a, no plural, and many is the wrong quantifier. Use some, a lot of, or much in a negative or a question.

What A2 Adds to A1

The jump is small in the number of new forms and large in what you can say.

New forms at A2

A2 adds the present continuous, the past simple, do/does/did questions, comparatives, countable vs. uncountable, in/on/at for time, and must / have to / would like.

They are watering the beans.: present continuous, new at A2
She bought the raincoat last March.: past simple, new at A2
How much water is in the butt?: uncountable with how much, new at A2

If a learner can do those three, they have crossed the main A1-to-A2 line.

Still not A2

Present perfect, past continuous, conditionals, reported speech, relative clauses, and most modal shades (might, should have, must be) belong at B1 or above.

They have lived near the tram stop for years.: present perfect: B1, not A2
If it rains, we will stay in the shed.: first conditional: B1
The woman who owns Plot 14 is away.: relative clause: B1

A2 can tell a short past story and ask for things. It cannot yet link two times or two clauses with those tools.

What a learner can do

CEFR levels describe tasks, not only forms. A1: introduce yourself, name everyday objects, follow a slow simple instruction. A2: shop, travel a short route, describe your allotment or your job in the past and present.

My name is Maren. I live near the tram stop.: an A1 self-introduction
I bought this postcard at the kiosk and I'm going to send it to Plot 12.: a2: past plus a going-to plan
Can I use the tap? You must shut the gate after you.: a2: a request and a rule in one exchange

Going to for future plans is often taught at A2 alongside the past simple, because both let you talk about time other than now.

Quick Check: A1-A2 Grammar

Fill each gap with an A1-A2 form. Stay inside this level.

1. Maren ___ a yellow raincoat. (have, present)

Answer: has

present simple, third person -s

2. They ___ watering the beans right now. (be)

Answer: are

A2 present continuous

3. She ___ the raincoat last March. (buy)

Answer: bought

A2 past simple, irregular

4. Where ___ she keep the tools? (question)

Answer: does

A2: does plus the bare verb

5. You ___ shut the allotment gate. (rule)

Answer: must / have to

A2 modal of obligation

6. There isn't ___ water in the butt. (uncountable)

Answer: much / a lot of

A2 uncountable quantifier; many is wrong here

A1-A2 Grammar FAQs

What grammar is in A1 English?: A1 is be (am, is, are), the present simple (I live, she wears), a/an and the, simple plurals, this/that, in/on/at for place, there is/are, and can for ability and easy requests. A typical A1 sentence is I live near the tram stop or She has a yellow raincoat. Questions at A1 use be and can: Are you a neighbour? Can I sit here?
What grammar is in A2 English?: A2 keeps everything from A1 and adds the present continuous (They are watering the beans), the past simple (They planted beans last April), do/does/did questions, comparatives (bigger, more useful), countable vs. uncountable nouns, in/on/at for time, and must / have to / would like. Going to for plans is often taught here too.
Is the present perfect A2?: No. The present perfect (They have lived near the tram stop for years) is a B1 structure in most CEFR syllabuses, even though some elementary books introduce ever and never early. At A2, finished time takes the past simple: She bought the raincoat last March. If you need since or for with a verb, you have left A2.
What is the difference between A1-A2 grammar and basic English grammar?: A1-A2 is a CEFR label: two bands, grouped by area, with a clear ceiling. Basic English grammar is a teaching path of ten structures in order, without an A1 versus A2 split. You can learn the same forms on both pages: use this one to tick a syllabus, and the other to follow a sequence.
How do I know if a sentence is still A2?: Check the verb system and the clause links. If you only need present simple, present continuous, or past simple, plus can or must, you are inside A2: Did they shut the gate? You must shut it. If you need have you ever, if it rains we will, the woman who owns Plot 14, or she said she was, the sentence has moved to B1.