Practice
English exercises: choose what to practice
Not sure which English exercises to do? Pick one error pattern and work on it.
You sit down to study and need a place to start. Pick one error you often make, then choose practice for that error.
Try what you have learned
Listen to a recording, type what you hear, and check your answer.
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English exercises ING-glish-EK-ser-sy-ziz
Hear the soft sh sound link smoothly to the first beat of English exercises.
English practice: places, movement, and prepositions
Meet me at the station, walk through the main entrance, and wait by the information desk. One short word changes the picture a listener makes.
Open lessonEnglish practice: prepositions of time
Your bus leaves at 7:15, your appointment is on Thursday, and your holiday begins in August. The time word after the blank gives you a useful clue.
Open lessonEnglish practice: present simple and present continuous
Sam catches the number 18 bus every weekday, but today he is walking to work. The verb changes because the meaning changes: one sentence describes a routine and the other describes a situation for today.
Open lessonEnglish practice: present simple questions and short answers
Does your first question use do or does? Check the subject first, then keep the main verb in its base form.
Open lessonEnglish practice: question forms
You want to ask about a bus. Where does it stop? is clear because where comes first, does comes before the subject, and stop stays in its base form.
Open lessonEnglish practice: subject and object pronouns
Maya calls Daniel. She calls him. The people stay the same, but each pronoun has a different job.
Open lessonEnglish practice: travel English
You are at a hotel reception desk and the room is not ready. A simple sentence such as Can I leave my bag here? helps you explain what you need.
Open lessonNouns exercise: identify countable and uncountable nouns
At a shop, you can count three apples, but you cannot usually count three milks. English treats apples and milk differently, and that difference changes the words before them.
Open lessonPrepositions of place: a guided English exercise
A mug can be on the table, a bag can be under the table, and a cat can be beside it. The objects may be close together, but each preposition gives a different picture.
Open lessonPresent continuous exercise 2: form questions and negatives
You want to ask about a meeting that is happening now, but the verb comes first in the question. This exercise gives you a simple order to follow.
Open lessonPresent continuous exercise 3: choose the natural form
If now, today, or this week changes the meaning, check whether you need am, is, or are plus an -ing form.
Open lessonPresent continuous exercise: describe actions happening now
The phone is ringing, so you say, "I am answering it." The action is in progress now.
Open lessonPronouns exercise 1: choose clear subject and object pronouns
A friend says, “Can you call I later?” The meaning is clear, but the pronoun is in the wrong job. This lesson helps you spot the place where a pronoun belongs.
Open lessonPronouns exercise 2: use possessive and reflexive pronouns
This notebook is mine, but the blue one is yours. The nouns are already understood, so possessive pronouns let us name the owner without repeating notebook.
Open lessonPronouns exercise 3: avoid common pronoun mistakes
In the sentence Mina and I finished the report, I is part of the subject. In the sentence The manager thanked Mina and me, me is part of the object. The people are the same, but the pronoun changes with its job.
Open lessonRegular and irregular verbs exercise 2: choose the past form
On Saturday, Mia arrived early, but her friends came late. Arrived follows the usual -ed pattern. Came is a form that learners need to remember.
Open lessonRegular and irregular verbs exercise: choose the past form
Yesterday I walked to the shop, but my neighbour went by bus. Both sentences describe the past. One verb adds -ed, while the other changes completely.
Open lessonSimple present tense exercise 1: describe routines and facts
Maya takes the train to work every weekday. That routine needs the simple present, even when she is not on the train now.
Open lessonSimple present tense exercise 2: use routines and facts correctly
Sam works at home on Mondays, but he does not work there every day. The same tense can describe his usual routine and say when the routine does not happen.
Open lessonSimple present tense exercise 3: choose the correct verb form
I have a break at noon, but Maya has hers at one. One small change in the subject can change the verb you need.
Open lessonSpelling practice: choose and check common forms
Exercise can mean physical activity or a study task.
Open lessonVerbs exercises: find the verb and choose the right form
A verb tells the reader what happens, what someone does, or what a person or thing is. Find that word first, then use the subject and time words to choose its form.
Open lessonAdjectives exercise: choose natural descriptions in context
At a market, you might ask for a small ripe mango, then describe a basket as heavy. The adjectives do different jobs, but each one needs a natural place in the sentence.
Open lessonAdverbs exercise: describe actions clearly in English
A colleague says, "Please speak slowly; I am taking notes." The adverb slowly changes the action, and its position makes the request easy to follow. In this exercise, you will use adverbs to add useful detail without making a sentence hard to read.
Open lesson
The short answer
Pick exercises for one clear error, such as spelling or a group noun. Then write a few answers that use the same rule.
I'm doing English exercises to practice dropping the silent e.
Why it works: Choose practice for one rule you want to use more easily.
3 more examples
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At the library study desk
She’s coming home after her spelling exercises.
Coming has one m after you drop the e in come.
Not this:She’s
comminghome after her spelling exercises. What changes: An extra m makes a spelling error. -
In a morning meeting room
The police are waiting outside the building.
Police is plural, so use are.
Not this:The
police iswaiting outside the building. What changes: Police is plural, so is does not fit. -
In the shared office space
They're putting their books over there on the desk.
Check each lookalike word by its job in the sentence.
Not this:
Theirputting there books over they're on the desk. What changes: The wrong lookalike word makes the sentence hard to read.
Quick check
What is a useful way to start English practice today?
Answer: Pick one specific error pattern to fix.
Show the answer
Answer: Pick one specific error pattern to fix.
Start with one error you often make. Then choose practice for that error.
Read the full guide
Try the listening exerciseStart with the error you see most often. Then choose a short exercise that uses that same rule.
Spot the spelling changes
The problem: I know a spelling rule but still write double letters in the wrong words, such as comming.
When you add -ing to many verbs ending in e, drop the e: write becomes writing. Keep the e in a few words, such as see and dye.
-
Not this:
I'm comming to the office now.Say: I'm coming to the office now.
Come ends in e, so drop e before -ing. Do not add a second m.
-
Not this:
We planed the project yesterday.Say: We planned the project yesterday.
Plan has one short vowel before n, so double n before -ed.
Your turn
Which sentence has the correct verb spelling?
Answer: She's coming to the meeting today.
Show the answer
Answer: She's coming to the meeting today.
Coming has one m: drop e, then add -ing.
Match verbs with group nouns
The problem: I am not sure if a group noun needs a singular or plural verb.
Use a singular verb when you think of a group as one unit. You can say my family is big when you mean the whole family.
-
Not this:
The police is checking the car.Say: The police are checking the car.
Police is plural, so it needs are.
Your turn
Choose the correct sentence for the noun police.
Answer: The police are helping the drivers.
Show the answer
Answer: The police are helping the drivers.
Police is plural. In this sentence, use are.
Separate words that look alike
The problem: I mix up their, there, and they’re in writing.
Before you send an email, match each word to its job. Use they’re for they are, their for belonging, and there for a place.
Its has no apostrophe when it means belonging to it.
The dog wagged its tail.
It’s means it is or it has.
It's a sunny day.
Your turn
Which sentence uses the correct spelling for place?
Answer: Put the box over there by the window.
Show the answer
Answer: Put the box over there by the window.
There names a place. Their means belonging to them. They’re means they are.
Pick your daily exercise focus
The problem: I do not know which exercise will help with the error I keep making.
You have ten minutes before your shift. Pick one topic for this study time. One clear task helps you see the rule and use it.
| The error you see | A useful exercise | A short task |
|---|---|---|
| Double letters in verbs | Spelling quiz | Write five -ing forms |
| Team: is or are | Group noun drill | Match nouns to is or are |
| There, their, or they’re | Lookalike word check | Match place, belonging, or they are |
Your turn
You often write comming instead of coming. What should you practice today?
Answer: Silent e spelling rules with -ing endings.
Show the answer
Answer: Silent e spelling rules with -ing endings.
Coming has one m. Practice silent e and -ing forms.
Before you go
Question 1 of 2
Fill in the blank. Use the correct -ing form of write.
Answer: She's writing a detailed email to her manager right now.
Show the answer
Answer: writing
Write becomes writing: drop e, then add -ing.
Remember this
Pick one pattern. Practice it, then write a sentence with it.
Listen first
Listen and write
Listen, type what you hear, then choose Check my answer. Use a hint when you get stuck.
0 of 3 done
Listening 1 of 3
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
Our team's planning a special dinner for Friday night.
Plan doubles its final n before adding the -ing ending.
Listening 2 of 3
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
I'm writing a long letter to my family today.
Write drops its silent e before adding the -ing ending.
Try a longer clip. Listen once, then replay the part you missed.
Listening 3 of 3
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
Our teacher's explaining a new spelling rule to the class. We're writing down each word carefully so we don't make any errors.
Drop the silent e from write before you add -ing.
Practice complete
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Test yourself
Listen to a new clip and write what you hear. You can replay it, but hints stay off and the transcript opens after you check your answer.
0 of 4 done
Listening 1 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
Watching city traffic
0:00
Read the transcript
The police aren't stopping drivers on the busy street.
Police is always a plural noun and takes a plural verb.
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
Arriving at a workshop
0:00
Read the transcript
They're leaving their bags over there by the door.
Use they're for they are, their for bags, and there for location.
Listening 3 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
In a busy corporate department
0:00
Read the transcript
My staff's working on the final project report this week. They're checking every paragraph together before they send it to the manager.
Staff is a group noun here. They’re refers to the people.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
Organizing weekly study tasks at home
0:00
Read the transcript
I'm setting up my weekly study routine this morning. My family's helping me organize the grammar cards on the kitchen table. We're picking three quick spelling quizzes and two noun drills for each day. It's easy to stay motivated when you follow a clear study plan every afternoon. Our small group's ready to start practice right after lunch.
Group nouns take singular verbs when viewed as a single team or unit.
Practice complete
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Save my progressQuestions about "English exercises: choose what to practice"
How should I choose English exercises?
Start with one error you often make. Choose a short exercise that uses that same rule, then write a few answers of your own. This helps you see what to practice next.
I often write there for their, so I will practice that word pair today.
Why does write become writing?
Many verbs ending in e drop the e before -ing. Write becomes writing. Some forms keep e, so check a learner’s dictionary when you are unsure.
She is writing a note for her teacher.
When do I double the last letter before -ed or -ing?
Some short verbs with one vowel and one last consonant double that consonant before a vowel suffix: plan becomes planned. In longer verbs, this happens when the last beat is strong, as in preferred. Visit becomes visited, with one t.
We planned the trip last night.
Does a group noun take is or are?
It depends on the meaning and the variety of English. Use a singular verb when you mean the group as one unit. In British English, a plural verb can refer to the members.
The team is ready for the match.
What is the difference between there, their, and they’re?
There points to a place. Their means belonging to them. They’re is short for they are. Read the sentence with they are when you are not sure about they’re.
Their bags are over there because they’re leaving soon.
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