Grammar
English grammar: choose a lesson and practice
You know the words, but which grammar topic will help? Start with what you want your sentence to mean.
Use the topic maps to choose what to study. Then practice word order and forms, including questions.
Try what you have learned
Listen to a recording, type what you hear, and check your answer.
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English grammar ING-glish-GRAM-er
The sh sound at the end of English joins the g sound.
Nouns: names, things, ideas, and countability
A noun names a person, place, thing, animal, or idea. Some nouns are countable; others are uncountable.
Open lessonSimple present: habits, facts, questions, and negatives
The simple present describes daily routines, regular habits, and permanent facts.
Open lessonA and an: choose the right indefinite article
An hour can feel short, but a university course can last for months. Hour and university both start with a vowel letter, yet they take different articles. Let the first sound guide your choice.
Open lessonA, an, and the: choose an article
Use a or an with a singular countable noun. Use the when your listener knows which thing you mean. General statements often need no article.
Open lessonAdjectives: describe people and things clearly
An adjective describes the size, color, age, or quality of a person or thing.
Open lessonAdjectives: position and basic use
Compare a quiet room with The room is quiet. Quiet describes the same noun in both sentences, but its position changes with the sentence pattern.
Open lessonAdverbs of frequency: always, usually, and never
A friend asks about your morning routine. You can say, "I usually make coffee before work." Usually tells the listener how often the routine happens.
Open lessonAdverbs of manner: how actions happen
Your colleague asks how you finished a task so quickly. You can say, I worked carefully and followed the instructions closely. Adverbs of manner add that useful detail to an action.
Open lessonAdverbs: add information about actions and descriptions
An adverb adds information to an action or description and can also comment on a whole sentence.
Open lessonApostrophes: possession and contractions
Look at these two sentences: The students' room is upstairs. The students are upstairs. The apostrophe in the first sentence shows that the room belongs to the students. The second sentence only says where the students are.
Open lessonArticles with jobs, nationalities, and roles
Mina says, I am an architect. Her colleagues say, We are architects. One small word changes when the role changes from one person to a group.
Open lessonCapitalization in English: names, titles, and sentences
maria starts work on monday. Maria starts work on Monday. The words sound the same, but capital letters help readers see a name and a day of the week straight away.
Open lessonComparative adjectives: compare two things clearly
Two buses go to the same station. One is quicker, but the other is more comfortable. Comparative adjectives help you explain the difference.
Open lessonComparatives and superlatives: bigger, biggest, and more useful
A comparative shows how one person or thing differs from another. A superlative shows which person or thing has the highest or lowest degree in a group.
Open lessonConjunctions: connect ideas with and, but, and because
Conjunctions join words, phrases, or clauses. They can show addition, contrast, a choice, a reason, or a time relationship.
Open lessonCountable and uncountable nouns: a practical guide
You can count apples: one apple, two apples. You cannot usually count water in the same way. This difference helps you choose the words before a noun.
Open lessonDeterminers: choose the words before a noun
A determiner helps show which noun you mean or how much there is. It comes before the noun and any describing words.
Open lessonDynamic and stative verbs: actions or states?
Two sentences can describe the present, but they may need different verb forms. Compare She is eating lunch with She likes chocolate. Eating is an action in progress. Like describes a feeling.
Open lessonEnglish word order: build clear sentences
Compare Mia reads the notice and Reads Mia the notice. English usually starts a statement with the person or thing, then gives the action. That familiar order helps a listener understand the sentence quickly.
Open lessonFuture with will: decisions, predictions, and offers
The phone is ringing. I'll answer it. It is very cloudy. I think it will rain. In both sentences, will helps the speaker talk about the future.
Open lessonGoing to: plans and evidence-based predictions
Your friend has bought train tickets for Saturday. You can say, She is going to visit her sister. The plan already exists before you speak.
Open lessonGrammar rules: make clear choices in everyday English
A clear sentence often needs only a subject, a verb, and the right detail in the right place. Small checks can prevent many common mistakes.
Open lessonImperatives: instructions, requests, and warnings
Open the window. Please wait here. Do not step on the grass. Each sentence tells someone what to do or what not to do.
Open lessonIrregular verbs: a useful past-tense reference and practice method
Yesterday, I went to the market and bought fruit. Both verbs describe finished actions, but neither ends in -ed. English calls forms like went and bought irregular verbs.
Open lesson
The short answer
Start with the choice you need to make. Use the maps for time, word forms or sentence structure.
She drinks hot coffee every morning before work.
Why it works: For word order, put the object hot coffee after drinks. The time details follow.
3 more examples
-
Talking about morning routines
I don't eat breakfast at home every day.
Keep the action verb and its object together.
Not this:I don't eat
at home breakfastevery day. What changes: The place phrase separates eat from its object breakfast. -
Describing a coworker
He doesn't speak very quietly in meetings.
Use quietly to describe an action.
Not this:He doesn't
speak very quietin meetings. What changes: Quiet is an adjective; this pattern needs the form quietly. -
Asking why your friend dislikes morning tea
Why don't you like tea in the morning?
Like takes do in this present-simple question.
Not this:Why
aren't you liketea in the morning? What changes: Aren't cannot be the helper for like in this question.
Quick check
Which sentence keeps speak and English together, followed by very well?
Talking about language skills
Answer: I don't speak English very well.
Show the answer
Answer: I don't speak English very well.
In this pattern, English follows speak. The words very well come after the object.
Read the full guide
Try the listening exerciseA question about time needs a different rule from a question about word order. Use the maps to find the part you need. The later sections practice three starting patterns.
Choose by your sentence problem
The problem: I do not know which grammar topic to study.
Find the choice you need to make. Each row names a topic and shows one example. The labels help you choose what to study.
| Topic | Choose it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nouns and plurals | One thing or several | Two chairs are empty. |
| Articles and determiners | Which thing you mean | I bought a coat. |
| Quantity words | How much or how many | We need some rice. |
| Pronouns (name replacements) and ownership | Replacing names or showing whose | I gave her my key. |
| Adjectives; manner adverbs (how words) | A quality or how something happens | The dog walked slowly. |
| Comparisons | Comparing people or things | This route is shorter. |
| Prepositions (relationship words) | Place, time or other relationships | The cup is beside the sink. |
| Word order | Where words go | Lena reads magazines at night. |
| Linking words | Connecting ideas | I stayed because it rained. |
Choose by time and meaning
The problem: I know my meaning but cannot choose a sentence form.
Match your meaning to a starting pattern.
| Topic | Choose it for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present simple | Habits, states or facts | Omar likes chess. |
| Present continuous | Actions in progress; temporary situations | I'm painting the gate. |
| Past forms | Finished events; past actions in progress | It was raining when she called. |
| Present perfect | Past connected to now | I've lost my glasses. |
| Future forms | Plans or predictions | We're going to paint tomorrow. |
| Questions and negatives | Asking or saying not | Do you need a pen? |
| Modal verbs | Ability, advice or possibility | You should rest. |
| Conditionals | A condition and its result | If it rains, we'll stay. |
| Relative clauses | Extra detail with who or that | The bus that stops here is late. |
| Passive forms | What happens to something | The window was repaired. |
| Reported speech | Telling what someone said | Ana said she was tired. |
| Verb patterns | Choosing to or -ing | I enjoy drawing. |
With you, present-simple questions using drink start with do.
Your turn
Type the present-simple helper for this question with you and drink.
Meeting a new neighbor
Answer: Do you drink coffee when you're tired?
Show the answer
Answer: Do
Drink is the main verb. Use do before you in this present-simple question.
Put your words in order
The problem: I can name the words but cannot decide where they go.
A simple statement usually starts with its subject: who or what it is about. The verb follows. With an object, keep that object after the verb in this pattern.
-
Not this:
She doesn't drink every day black coffee.Say: She doesn't drink black coffee every day.
Keep drink and black coffee together here. Put every day after the object.
-
We didn't buy the tickets yesterday.
Why it works: The object tickets comes right after the verb.
-
They didn't watch a movie at home last night.
Why it works: At home comes before last night, the usual end-position order.
-
The baby sleeps.
Why it works: This statement needs no object.
Your turn
Start with I. Put the drink after the verb and the time phrase last.
Arranging a daily habit
Answer: I don't drink green tea every morning.
Show the answer
Answer: I don't drink green tea every morning.
The object green tea follows drink here. Every morning gives the time at the end.
Pick the right word type
The problem: I am choosing between careful and carefully.
Adjectives describe qualities of people or things. Manner adverbs (words that tell us how) describe actions. Many take -ly, but some have other forms.
Be links the subject to a description. This use of be is called a linking verb.
The train isn't quick today.
Quickly describes how the train moves. Here the -ly form goes with move.
The train doesn't move quickly today.
-
Not this:
He doesn't drive careful on wet roads.Say: He doesn't drive carefully on wet roads.
Carefully tells us how someone drives. Careful describes a person or thing.
-
She didn't finish the test easily.
Why it works: The -ly ending tells us how she finished.
-
Leila cooks well.
Why it works: The manner adverb (how word) for good is well.
-
That horse runs fast.
Why it works: Fast keeps the same form when it describes running.
Your turn
Which word finishes the sentence correctly?
Talking about someone's driving
My brother doesn't drive ___ when the road's wet.
Answer: carefully
Show the answer
Answer: carefully
Carefully says how your brother drives. The stem uses drive after doesn't.
Ask questions with the right helper
The problem: I cannot decide whether a question needs do or be.
Find the verb in the statement. With be, move am, is or are before the subject. Other present-simple main verbs, including like and know, take do or does.
Put the helper before the subject. Keep the main verb in its base form.
Does Maya know the way?
Ready describes Maya. Move is before her name.
Is Maya ready?
-
Are the children playing outside?
Why it works: Are is the helper for playing.
-
Who lives above the bakery?
Why it works: Who is the subject. No do is needed here.
-
Don't you live in London?
Why it works: Negative yes-no questions often check a belief. You thought this person lived in London.
Before you go
Question 1 of 2
Choose the question with the helper before you and know in its base form.
You expected your coworker to know the time
Answer: Don't you know what time the meeting starts?
Show the answer
Answer: Don't you know what time the meeting starts?
Don't comes before you. The third option is also a spoken question, but keeps statement order.
Question 2 of 2 · One new sentence
Choose the taught order: verb + object + method (online) + time (every morning).
At a station cafe with a coworker
Answer: I order my coffee online every morning because it's faster.
Show the answer
Answer: I order my coffee online every morning because it's faster.
The method online precedes the time phrase. The third option is grammatical but uses a different order.
Remember this
Choose a topic by what your sentence needs. For the short checks, match the stated pattern before choosing an answer.
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
She doesn't drink coffee before work in the morning.
The contraction doesn't links she to the base verb drink.
Listening 2 of 3
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
0:00
Read the transcript
They don't live in this city anymore.
Use don't with they to form a simple negative statement.
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
We didn't take the early train to the office this morning. It's always crowded, so we caught the bus and arrived on time.
Past events use didn't and simple past forms like caught.
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.
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Listening 1 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
Looking for tickets at the platform
0:00
Read the transcript
We can't find our train tickets anywhere today.
Can't means unable to here. It comes before the base form find.
Listening 2 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
Describing how someone speaks
0:00
Read the transcript
He doesn't speak very loudly during meetings.
Loudly is an adverb (a how word). Very adds degree.
Listening 3 of 4
Listen, then type what you hear. Replay as often as you need.
Talking about a family member's new job
0:00
Read the transcript
My sister doesn't work at the local health clinic anymore. She's very happy at the main hospital because her new team is great.
Doesn't takes work in its base form. She's means she is before happy.
Listening 4 of 4
Listen, then type the missing words. The rest of the text is already there.
Grabbing a quick lunch near the workplace
0:00
Read the transcript
I didn't have much time for lunch at work today. I quickly walked to the small sandwich shop down the street. They don't make warm meals after two o'clock in the afternoon. Luckily, there was still one fresh chicken salad left on the shelf. It didn't cost very much, so I'm completely satisfied with my quick lunch.
Quickly describes walking. Luckily comments on the situation. Both are adverbs (words adding detail).
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Save my progressQuestions about "English grammar: choose a lesson and practice"
What is the usual word order in an English sentence?
A simple statement usually starts with its subject, followed by the verb. If that verb has an object, the object normally follows it. Place or time details often come later. Some statements need no object.
My colleague reads the report after lunch.
We booked a table near the window.
When do I use an adjective and when do I use an adverb?
An adjective describes a quality of a person or thing. A manner adverb says how an action happens. Many manner adverbs end in -ly, but well and fast do not. Be can link a person or thing to an adjective description.
The room is quiet.
Please speak quietly.
How do I choose between do and be in a question?
Check the verb in the statement. For present-simple questions with be, move am, is or are before the subject. Other main verbs, including like and know, use do or does with the base form. In a continuous form such as is working, move the existing be. Questions with who as the subject usually keep statement order.
Do you work from home on Fridays?
Are you busy this afternoon?
What is a helper verb?
A helper works with a main verb to make forms such as questions or negatives. It can also help show time or how an event unfolds. Do is the helper in the first example. Are helps form the continuous action in the second.
Does Omar enjoy cooking?
They are waiting outside.
How can I practice English grammar without memorizing every rule?
Choose one sentence you need and find its topic in the maps. Study an example, then write your own message using that pattern. Compare the two forms and check the part you changed. Work at a pace that suits you.
I usually take the bus after work.
Do they need any help today?
Questions & comments
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