Do or does: make present-simple questions and negatives
Use do with I, you, we, they, and plural nouns. Use does with he, she, it, and other singular nouns; keep the main verb plain.
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Have or has: match the verb to the subject
Use has for he, she, or it; use have for I, you, we, or they. Single noun subjects also take has in positive statements; after does or doesn't, keep have.
Nouns: names, things, ideas, and countability
Nouns name people, places, things, animals, and ideas. Some take a number; for others, use a unit word.
Simple present: habits, facts, questions, and negatives
Use the base verb with I, you, we, and they. Add s or es with he, she, it, a singular name, or another third-person singular subject.
Was or were: choose the past form of be
Use was with I, he, she, and it. Use were with you, we, and they.
10 practical ways to practice speaking English
Practice speaking English in short, repeatable sessions. Speak aloud, listen back, and use the words again in a new situation.
A and an: choose the right indefinite article
Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound. Say a book and an apple. This rule follows pronunciation, so say an hour but a university.
A few and a little: describe quantities accurately
Use a few before plural countable nouns and a little before uncountable nouns. Say a few coins because you can count coins. Say a little milk because milk is an uncountable substance in this sentence.
A or an? Choose by sound
Use a before a consonant sound, such as a book or a university. Use an before a vowel sound, such as an apple or an hour.
A piece of cake: meaning and use in English
Say a piece of cake when a task feels very easy: The form was a piece of cake. You can also reply, 'Piece of cake,' in a relaxed conversation. Use an easy task or quite straightforward when you need a more neutral tone.
A, an, and the: choose an article
Use a or an for one countable thing; the means the listener knows which one. Choose a or an by the next sound; general plural and uncountable nouns often need no article.
About EnglishLeap: our approach to learning English
Use a small, repeatable routine. Choose one useful piece of English, see it in a complete sentence, use it yourself, and review it later.