English grammar: choose a lesson and practice

Subjects, verbs, and objects: build clear English sentences

In The chef prepared dinner, the chef does the action, prepared names the action, and dinner receives it. Finding those parts makes a long sentence easier to understand.

Superlative adjectives: describe the highest degree

You are choosing a café from five options. You can say, "This is the cheapest café on this street." Cheapest tells us that no other café in that group costs less.

The: when to use the definite article

I bought a lamp yesterday. The lamp is beside the sofa. The second sentence tells us which lamp the speaker means.

There is and there are: introduce people and things

You arrive at a new office and want to describe what you can see. Start with there is for one thing and there are for more than one. These short forms help your listener picture the place.

This, that, these, and those: choose by distance and number

When you point to something, English gives you two quick choices: is it one thing or more than one, and is it near or farther away? This, that, these, and those answer both questions.

Used to: past habits and states

You see an old photo of your street. You can say, "We used to live there." Used to connects a past situation with the different situation now.

GRAMMAR A2 13 min

Verbs: actions, states, and sentence patterns

A verb can name an action, event, or state. A main verb carries the central meaning of its group.

Wh questions: ask for precise information

You need one detail, not a yes-or-no answer. Choose a wh word that asks for that detail, then build the rest of the question around it.

Yes no questions: form and intonation

You are waiting outside a room and need to know if anyone is inside. Ask, "Is anyone in there?" The answer can begin with yes or no.

Adjective and preposition combinations

Asha is good at planning events and proud of the final result. Each small word belongs with the adjective before it, so the whole phrase is easier to remember together.

Adverb order in English sentences

Compare these sentences: The team worked carefully in the studio yesterday. The team worked in the studio yesterday. The first sentence adds how the work happened before it adds place and time.

Adverb placement: where to put often, already, and carefully

You may know every word in a sentence and still make it sound unusual by moving one small word. Compare I often check my calendar with I check often my calendar. The first sentence follows the usual pattern in English.

Adverb position: put adverbs in natural places

Compare these sentences: I usually take the train. I am usually on the train by eight. Usually moves because the verb structure changes.

Adverbs of degree: very, quite, too, and enough

The café was very busy, but not too busy to find a table. These small words change how strong your description is and whether a situation becomes a problem.

All, both, either, and neither

Four lamps are on in a hallway. All the lamps are on. In a smaller room, there are two lamps: both lamps are on, either lamp can light the desk, but neither lamp works when its bulb is removed.

All, every, and whole

All the lights in the building are off. Every room is empty. The whole building is quiet. Each sentence describes completeness, but it looks at the situation in a different way.

Another and other: add or distinguish

You have finished one cup of tea, but you would like one more. You say, "Can I have another cup?" Later, you choose a different drink and say, "I will try the other drink." The words are close in meaning, but the noun after them tells you which one to choose.

Articles for general and specific meaning

Compare these two notices: Bikes are not allowed in the hall. The bikes outside the hall belong to the staff. The first sentence gives a rule about bikes as a class. The second points to one visible group.

Articles with geographical names

You can travel to Spain, sail on the Mediterranean, and hike in the Pyrenees. All three are place names, but they do not use the same article pattern. The useful first step is to notice what kind of name you are using.

Articles with institutions and places

Compare these two messages: Maya is at school. Maya's father is at the school. The first can describe Maya as a student. The second tells us where her father is, at a particular school building.

Articles with transport and media

You can go to work by bus, wait for the bus at your stop, listen to the radio, and watch television. The nouns are familiar, but each phrase follows its own article pattern.

GRAMMAR B1 13 min

Auxiliary verbs: use be, do, and have

Be, do, and have are primary auxiliary verbs, often called helping verbs. They help form questions, negatives, tenses, and passives. Modal verbs such as can and should are auxiliaries too.

Be used to and get used to

Rosa is used to working late on Thursdays. Her new colleague is still getting used to the same schedule. The work is familiar for Rosa, while her colleague is in the process of adapting.

Both, either, and neither

Two colleagues are choosing a train. Both trains stop near the office. Either train will get them there before nine, but neither train has a quiet carriage.