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.
Much, many, and a lot of
One shop has many apples. Another shop has a lot of fruit. At home, there is not much milk left. The amount may be similar, but the noun and the sentence shape change the words we use.
Open lessonObject pronouns: me, you, him, her, us, and them
Maya knows Leo. She knows him. The word him replaces Leo after the verb knows.
Open lessonPast continuous: actions in progress in the past
Use it for an activity around a past time. It can form the background to a short event. It can show two activities happening at the same time.
Open lessonPast simple: uses, form, and examples
A message arrived yesterday, a train left at six, and you visited a friend last weekend. The past simple helps you tell these completed parts of a story.
Open lessonPlural nouns: regular forms and common exceptions
One bag, two bags. Often, an extra letter is enough. Some everyday nouns need a different plural word, so learn the pattern and the word together.
Open lessonPossessive determiners: my, your, his, her, its, our, and their
You pick up a phone after class. Is it my phone, her phone, or their phone? One small word before phone tells the listener whose phone you mean.
Open lessonPossessive pronouns: mine, yours, ours, and theirs
Two coats are on a chair. You can say This coat is my coat, but English usually says This coat is mine. Mine tells us who owns the coat without saying coat again.
Open lessonPrepositions of place: describe position clearly in English
A phone can be on a table, in a bag, under a chair, or next to a notebook. The object is the same, but each preposition gives the reader a different picture.
Open lessonPrepositions of time: at, on, in, since, and by
A meeting can start at 9:30, happen on Tuesday, and take place in October. The time expressions look similar, but each preposition gives a different amount of detail. Once you sort the expression by type, the choice becomes easier.
Open lessonPresent continuous: actions happening now and temporary situations
The present continuous describes an action in progress right now, a temporary situation around the present time, or a planned arrangement.
Open lessonPresent continuous: uses, form, and examples
Your colleague calls while you are leaving the office. You can say, "I am walking to the station." The present continuous shows what is happening in that period of time.
Open lessonPresent simple: uses, form, and examples
I take the bus to work. My sister takes the train. These sentences describe usual actions, so they use the present simple.
Open lessonPronouns: choose the right form in a sentence
Pronouns replace names or nouns. One form can name an actor or receiver. Another can show ownership.
Open lessonProper and common nouns: capitalization and use
A teacher can be any teacher. Mr. Rivera is one particular teacher. Both words are nouns, but the name needs capital letters because it identifies a specific person.
Open lessonQuestion word order: form clear English questions
You need to ask a colleague about a meeting. You can say The meeting starts at nine. To ask for the time, move the helping verb: Does the meeting start at nine? Add a question word when you need more information: When does the meeting start?
Open lessonRegular and irregular verbs: how past forms change
Regular verbs use the -ed pattern for the past simple and past participle. Irregular verbs have at least one form outside that pattern.
Open lessonRegular verbs list: base form, past, and past participle
Regular verbs use the -ed ending for two past forms. Their spelling matches, but their jobs differ.
Open lessonRequests and permission: can, could, may, and would
You are at a library and need a seat near a power outlet. Can I sit here? asks permission. Could you help me find a seat? asks another person to do something.
Open lessonShort answers: agree, disagree, and respond naturally
Do you work on Saturdays? Yes, I do. The answer is short, but do carries the meaning of work. Listen for the first verb in the question, then use it again in your answer.
Open lessonSimple future tense: predictions, decisions, and promises
Your friend drops a bag of oranges. You decide at once: I will help you. Later, you say, I think the weather will improve tomorrow. Both sentences look to the future, but one is an immediate decision and the other is a prediction.
Open lessonSimple past: finished actions and past states
The simple past places an action or state before now. It can describe a single event or a past habit. Your listener may already know when it happened.
Open lessonSimple sentences: subjects, verbs, and complete ideas
You want to send a quick message: My train is late. It is short, but the person, the verb, and the message are clear.
Open lessonSome and any: make clear choices
At a picnic, Leo says, "I brought some sandwiches." Later, Priya asks, "Do we have any napkins?" Both speakers talk about an unknown quantity, but their sentences have different jobs.
Open lessonSubject pronouns: I, you, he, she, it, we, and they
Ravi starts the meeting. He starts the meeting. The name and the pronoun point to the same person, but the pronoun saves you from repeating the name.
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
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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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