Stop Memorizing SQL Part 1: Understanding the core SQL commands and how to map English actions to SQL operations

 Guide to write SQL using English meanings

Many beginners find SQL difficult because they try to memorize syntax instead of understanding the meaning of database operations. In reality, SQL is very close to everyday English instructions. Words like show, add, remove, or change directly map to SQL commands such as SELECT, INSERT, DELETE, and UPDATE. In this article, we will learn how to identify action words in a question and translate them into the correct SQL command. This simple approach helps students write SQL queries even without remembering complex syntax.

 

English Meaning	SQL Keyword	What it does
Show / Display	SELECT	Read data
Add / Insert / Enter	INSERT	Add new row
Change / Increase / Modify	UPDATE	Modify data
Remove / Delete / Strike off	DELETE	Remove row

 

 4 step method to Create SQL query,  first identify the action word in the question.

 1️⃣ Identify the Action Word

 2️⃣ Identify the Table Name

 3️⃣ Identify the Condition (Which record?)

4️⃣ Write SQL using minimum syntax

Always end final SQL  with “;” ( semicolon)

Example:

Question 1

Strike off the record of student Rahul with student_id 100.

Step 1 – Identify Action

Strike off → DELETE

Step 2 – Table

student

Step 3 – Condition

student_id = 100

Step 4 – SQL using minimum syntax

DELETE FROM student

WHERE stud_id = 100;

 

SQL Part	Meaning
DELETE	remove
FROM student	from student table
WHERE	which record
stud_id = 100	student id 100

 

Question 2

 Add another student who has been admitted with the following details :

 Stud_id – 123

Name – Rajeev

Class – 12

Stream – Science

 

Step 1 – Identify Action

Add → INSERT

Step 2 – Table

student

Step 3 – VALUES

(123,'Rajeev',12,'Science')

Step 4 – SQL using minimum syntax

INSERT INTO student

VALUES (123,'Rajeev',12,'Science');

  

SQL	Meaning
INSERT INTO	add data
student	table
VALUES	New data

 

Question 3

 Increase English marks by 10% of student 123

Step 1 – Identify Action

Increase → UPDATE

Step 2 – Table

student

Step 3 – Condition

student_id = 123

Step 4 – SQL using minimum syntax

UPDATE student

SET English = English * 1.10

Where student_id = 123;

 

SQL	Meaning
UPDATE	change data
SET	modify column
English * 1.10	increase 10%

 

English → SQL Dictionary

 

English Phrase	SQL
show all records	SELECT *
show specific columns	SELECT column
add record	INSERT
remove record	DELETE
modify record	UPDATE
where student id =	WHERE

 

English commands ->  SQL Keyword

 

English	SQL Keyword
Show student data	SELECT
Add new student	INSERT
Remove student	DELETE
Change marks	UPDATE

  

 

Word in Question	SQL
display / show	SELECT
add / enter	INSERT
increase / change	UPDATE
remove / strike off	DELETE

 

Part 2: Creating Tables and Choosing the Right Data Types

Stop Memorizing SQL: Learn to Translate English Sentences into SQL