Practice
English practice: mixed grammar review
Sign in to saveA familiar word can still make a sentence unclear when its verb form, article, or connector is wrong. This review helps you notice the small choices that hold a sentence together.
Choose grammar that makes a short English sentence clear, accurate, and appropriate for its context.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
Although the route was longer, it was quieter. /ɔːlˈðəʊ ðə ruːt wəz ˈlɒŋɡə, ɪt wəz ˈkwaɪətə/
The short answer
Read the whole sentence before choosing a form. Look for time words, the subject, countable nouns, and links such as because, although, and if. These clues usually narrow the choice.
Mina has already sent the invitation, so we can confirm the room.
Why it works: Already and the present result point to the present perfect: has sent.
5 more examples
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I met Farah at the station yesterday.
Yesterday names a finished past time, so the simple past fits.
Not this:I
have metFarah before. What changes: Before gives experience without naming a finished time, so the present perfect is natural. -
The manager is speaking to a client at the moment.
At the moment shows that the action is in progress now.
Not this:The manager
speaksto clients every morning. What changes: Every morning describes a routine, so the simple present fits. -
We need an umbrella because it is raining.
Umbrella is one singular countable thing, and it begins with a vowel sound.
Not this:We need
the umbrellaby the door. What changes: The points to one particular umbrella that both people can identify. -
Neither of the buses has arrived yet.
Neither is treated as singular in this standard form.
Not this:Both of the buses
have arrived. What changes: Both refers to two buses, so it takes a plural verb. -
Although the route was longer, it was quieter.
Although introduces a contrast between the two ideas.
Not this:The route was longer,
sowe left earlier. What changes: So introduces a result rather than a contrast.
Read the full guide
When you review grammar, work from meaning to form. Identify the main verb and its time reference. Check who or what performs the action. Then read the rest of the sentence for a noun, article, preposition, or connector that must agree with that choice. A short pause for this process is usually faster than guessing from one word.
Find the time before you choose a verb
Time words are strong clues. Yesterday, last week, and in 2024 point to a finished past time. Now and at the moment often show an action in progress. Since, yet, and already can connect a past action to the present. First identify the time meaning, then choose the verb form.
Leo finished the report last night.
Last night is a completed time, so finished is the simple past.
Which form fits: We ___ the final email already?
Use have sent: We have sent the final email already.
Keep the verb aligned with the subject
Find the real subject before you select a verb. Extra words after the subject can distract you. In The list of changes is useful, the subject is list, not changes. In The changes are useful, changes is the plural subject. Pronouns such as each, everyone, and neither often need a singular verb in standard English.
Each participant receives a map.
Each refers to people one by one, so receives is singular.
The participants receive a map.
Participants is plural, so the base-form verb receive is used.
Use articles to show reference
Use a or an when you introduce one nonspecific singular countable item. Use the when the listener can identify the item from the situation or from earlier information. Do not add an article before a plural or uncountable noun when you are speaking generally.
Could you bring a charger?
The speaker wants any suitable charger, so a is appropriate.
Choose the article in: Please put ___ charger on the desk; it belongs to Dana.
Use the: Please put the charger on the desk. It is a known, particular charger.
Watch the form after another verb
Some words control the form that follows. A modal such as can, should, or might is followed by a base verb: should leave, not should leaves. Verbs such as enjoy and avoid are commonly followed by an -ing form. After want or need, use to plus the base verb when you name an action.
You should check the address before you send the parcel.
Should is a modal, so check stays in the base form.
They decided to take the earlier train.
Decided is followed by to plus the base verb take.
Show the relationship between two ideas
Connectors explain why, contrast, condition, and result. Use because to give a reason, although to introduce a contrast, if to state a condition, and so to show a result. Choose one connector that expresses the relationship clearly; do not combine two connectors for the same job.
We took a taxi because the last bus had gone.
Because introduces the reason for taking a taxi.
Which connector fits: ___ you need help, call the reception desk.
Use if: If you need help, call the reception desk.
Check the completed message
After you choose an answer, reread the sentence without focusing on the gap. Ask whether the time, subject, and noun reference still make sense. A final read can catch a missing article, a plural mismatch, or a connector that says the opposite of what you mean.
Maya has not replied yet, so I will send a reminder.
Yet fits the unfinished present situation, and so introduces the planned result.
What should you check after completing a mixed grammar item?
Read the full sentence for meaning, agreement, and a logical link between its ideas.
Before you go
Remember this
Read beyond the gap. Check time, subject, noun reference, and the relationship between ideas. Choose a form that fits those clues, then reread the whole sentence as one message.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "English practice: mixed grammar review"
How should I approach a mixed grammar exercise?
Read the whole sentence first. Identify the time, the subject, and the relationship between any two ideas. Then use the nearby words as clues instead of choosing from a rule you remember in isolation.
I met Farah at the station yesterday.
Which words can help me choose a tense?
Words such as yesterday, last year, and ago normally point to a finished past time. Now and at the moment often point to an action in progress. Already, yet, and since can help you recognise a present connection to an earlier action.
I have met Farah before.
Why do I make subject-verb agreement mistakes?
Long noun phrases can hide the real subject. In the list of names is on the desk, list is the subject, while names is part of a phrase after it. Find the main subject before you choose a singular or plural verb.
The manager is speaking to a client at the moment.
When do I use a, an, and the?
Use a or an for one nonspecific singular countable noun. Use the for a specific noun that the listener can identify from the situation or from earlier information. General plural and uncountable nouns often do not need an article.
The manager speaks to clients every morning.
How can I check my answer after I choose it?
Reread the completed sentence as a normal message. Check that the time expression fits the verb, the subject matches the verb, and any connector gives the intended reason, contrast, condition, or result.
We need an umbrella because it is raining.