English Grammar Structures and Forms Explained for ESL EFL
English grammar structures and forms explainations including reference sheets for beginning, intermediate, upper and advanced level ESL EFL English classes and learners.
Guide to Reported Speech
Guide to learning and teaching reported speech for students and teachers. This guide includes a brief description, links to detailed explanations, quizzes, free lesson plans, related activities and worksheets.
Guide to learning and teaching reported speech for students and teachers. This guide includes a brief description, links to detailed explanations, quizzes, free lesson plans, related activities and worksheets.
Guide to Future with Will and Going to
Guide to learning Future with Will and Going to for students and teachers. This guide includes a brief description, links to detailed explanations, quizzes, free lesson plans, related activities and worksheets.
Guide to learning Future with Will and Going to for students and teachers. This guide includes a brief description, links to detailed explanations, quizzes, free lesson plans, related activities and worksheets.
Guide to Past Perfect and Past Perfect Continuous
Guide to learning past perfect and past perfect continuous for students and teachers. This guide includes a brief description, links to detailed explanations, quizzes, free lesson plans, related activities and worksheets.
Guide to learning past perfect and past perfect continuous for students and teachers. This guide includes a brief description, links to detailed explanations, quizzes, free lesson plans, related activities and worksheets.
Guide to Past Simple and Past Continuous
Guide to learning past simple and past continuous for students and teachers. This guide includes a brief description, links to detailed explanations, quizzes, free lesson plans, related activities and worksheets.
Guide to learning past simple and past continuous for students and teachers. This guide includes a brief description, links to detailed explanations, quizzes, free lesson plans, related activities and worksheets.
Future Continuous
Usage, examples and structure of the future continuous tense in English for ESL learners.
Usage, examples and structure of the future continuous tense in English for ESL learners.
Future Perfect
Usage, examples and structure of the future perfect tense in English for ESL learners.
Usage, examples and structure of the future perfect tense in English for ESL learners.
Future Perfect Continuous
Usage, examples and structure of the future perfect continuous tense in English for ESL learners.
Usage, examples and structure of the future perfect continuous tense in English for ESL learners.
Past Perfect Continuous
Usage, examples and structure of the past perfect continuous tense in English for ESL learners.
Usage, examples and structure of the past perfect continuous tense in English for ESL learners.
Past Perfect
Usage, examples and structure of the past perfect tense in English for ESL learners.
Usage, examples and structure of the past perfect tense in English for ESL learners.
Present Continuous
Usage, examples and structure of the past continuous tense in English for ESL learners.
Usage, examples and structure of the past continuous tense in English for ESL learners.
Guide to Present Tenses
Guide to learning present tenses for students and teachers. This guide includes a brief description, links to detailed explanations, quizzes, free lesson plans, related activities and worksheets.
Guide to learning present tenses for students and teachers. This guide includes a brief description, links to detailed explanations, quizzes, free lesson plans, related activities and worksheets.
Present Continuous
Usage, examples and structure of the present continuous tense in English for ESL learners.
Usage, examples and structure of the present continuous tense in English for ESL learners.
Present Simple
Examples, grammar and usage of the present simple tense in English.
Examples, grammar and usage of the present simple tense in English.
Guide to the Conditional Forms
Guide to learning the conditional forms for students and teachers. This guide includes a brief description, links to detailed explanations, quizzes, free lesson plans, related activities and worksheets.
Guide to learning the conditional forms for students and teachers. This guide includes a brief description, links to detailed explanations, quizzes, free lesson plans, related activities and worksheets.
Guide to the Comparative Form and Superlative Form
Guide to learning the comparative and superlative forms for students and teachers. This guide includes a brief description, links to detailed explanations, quizzes, free lesson plans, related activities and worksheets.
Guide to learning the comparative and superlative forms for students and teachers. This guide includes a brief description, links to detailed explanations, quizzes, free lesson plans, related activities and worksheets.
Telling Stories - Sequencing Your Ideas
One of the most important ways to link ideas is to sequence them. Sequencing refers to the order in which events happened.
One of the most important ways to link ideas is to sequence them. Sequencing refers to the order in which events happened.
English Verb Resources
Here is a guide to the extensive English verb resources at the site. Resources include information on verb conjugation, auxiliary verbs, phrasal verbs, verb patterns and more.
Here is a guide to the extensive English verb resources at the site. Resources include information on verb conjugation, auxiliary verbs, phrasal verbs, verb patterns and more.
Indirect Questions
Guide to forming indirect questions for ESL learners and classes with example situations and questions.
Guide to forming indirect questions for ESL learners and classes with example situations and questions.
English Contractions
List of English contractions with full verb and example sentences for ESL students.
List of English contractions with full verb and example sentences for ESL students.
Causative Verbs
Explanation of the Engilsh causative verbs have and make with examples of structures and usage. For use in ESL and EFL classes.
Explanation of the Engilsh causative verbs have and make with examples of structures and usage. For use in ESL and EFL classes.
English Verbs - Example Sentences in All Tenses
English learning resource providing example sentences of verbs in all tenses including active and passive forms, as well as conditional and modal forms.
English learning resource providing example sentences of verbs in all tenses including active and passive forms, as well as conditional and modal forms.
Adding Emphasis in English - Cleft Sentences, Inversion and More
This article provides an explanation of a number of forms used to emphasize statements when expressing opinions, disagreeing, making strong suggestions, expressing annoyance, etc.
This article provides an explanation of a number of forms used to emphasize statements when expressing opinions, disagreeing, making strong suggestions, expressing annoyance, etc.
Future Tenses Review - Auxiliary Verbs
Concise Review of English tenses focusing on auxiliary verbs to help students learn English - focus on future tenses.
Concise Review of English tenses focusing on auxiliary verbs to help students learn English - focus on future tenses.
English Tenses - Auxiliary Verbs for Past Tenses
Concise Review of English tenses to help students learn English focusing on auxiliary verbs used for past tenses.
Concise Review of English tenses to help students learn English focusing on auxiliary verbs used for past tenses.
Book Recommendations for Advanced English Learning
Recommendations for every advanced level American English or British English learner including course book, grammar books, exercise book, dictionary and vocabulary building resources.
Recommendations for every advanced level American English or British English learner including course book, grammar books, exercise book, dictionary and vocabulary building resources.
English Tenses - Present Tenses Review of Auxiliary Verbs
Concise Review of English tenses focusing on auxiliary verbs to help students learn English - focus on present tenses.
Concise Review of English tenses focusing on auxiliary verbs to help students learn English - focus on present tenses.
'Be' - for beginners
Basic questions and conversations using the verb "to be".
Basic questions and conversations using the verb "to be".
'Some' and 'Any' for beginners
Use of "some" and "any" - and "some" and "any" words such as something, anywhere, somebody, etc.
Use of "some" and "any" - and "some" and "any" words such as something, anywhere, somebody, etc.
'Was'- for beginners
The simple past form of the verb "to be".
The simple past form of the verb "to be".
A, An, The
"A, An, The" definite and indefinite articles in English - Beginners Guide to indefinite articles
"A, An, The" definite and indefinite articles in English - Beginners Guide to indefinite articles
Adjective Order
Guideline to the correct order of adjectives when using more than one adjective to describe a noun (i.e., an interesting old English book).
Guideline to the correct order of adjectives when using more than one adjective to describe a noun (i.e., an interesting old English book).
Adjectives or Adverb?
Sometimes students are not sure when to use an adverb or an adjective. This short guide provides an overview and rules to using both adjectives and adverbs.
Sometimes students are not sure when to use an adverb or an adjective. This short guide provides an overview and rules to using both adjectives and adverbs.
Adjectives
The basic rules for using adjectives in English.
The basic rules for using adjectives in English.
Adverb Clauses Expressing Conditions
How to use adverb clauses such as if, unless, only if, even if, etc. to express conditions for results.
How to use adverb clauses such as if, unless, only if, even if, etc. to express conditions for results.
Adverb Clauses Expressing Opposition
How to use adverb clauses with time expressions such though, even though, whereas, etc. to show clauses in opposition to each other.
How to use adverb clauses with time expressions such though, even though, whereas, etc. to show clauses in opposition to each other.
Adverb Clauses Overview
Introduction to the use of adverb clauses using a chart to show the various types of adverb clauses used (time, opposition, condition and cause/effect).
Introduction to the use of adverb clauses using a chart to show the various types of adverb clauses used (time, opposition, condition and cause/effect).
Adverb Clauses Showing Cause and Effect
How to use adverb clauses such as because, as, since, etc. to express cause and effect.
How to use adverb clauses such as because, as, since, etc. to express cause and effect.
Adverb Clauses with Time Expressions
How to use adverb clauses with time expressions such as when, as soon as, before, etc.
How to use adverb clauses with time expressions such as when, as soon as, before, etc.
Adverbs
The basic rules for using adverbs in English.
The basic rules for using adverbs in English.
Alternate Conditional Forms
There are a number of alternate forms used with the conditional. This features focuses on variations in standard conditional sentences.
There are a number of alternate forms used with the conditional. This features focuses on variations in standard conditional sentences.
Asking for Information
The most common language formulas for asking for information with examples and a construction table.
The most common language formulas for asking for information with examples and a construction table.
Auxiliary Verb Usage in English
Knowing correct auxiliary verb usage is key to tense usage. Every tense takes an auxiliary form of the verb. This guide to auxiliary verb provides an overview and quiz of auxiliary verb usage in English.
Knowing correct auxiliary verb usage is key to tense usage. Every tense takes an auxiliary form of the verb. This guide to auxiliary verb provides an overview and quiz of auxiliary verb usage in English.
Basic English Punctuation Rules
This guide provides instruction on the basic rules of using a period, comma, colon, semicolon, question mark and exclamation point. It is intended for intermediate to advanced level ESL EFL English classes.
This guide provides instruction on the basic rules of using a period, comma, colon, semicolon, question mark and exclamation point. It is intended for intermediate to advanced level ESL EFL English classes.
Business English Reference
Top business English books for English as special purposes learners and teachers. These books can help you improve your English for specific business situations.
Top business English books for English as special purposes learners and teachers. These books can help you improve your English for specific business situations.
Comparative and Superlative Forms
Quiz Review of comparative and superlative forms.
Quiz Review of comparative and superlative forms.
Conditionals
Learn the conditional forms: Conditional 0, 1, 2, and 3 as well as some important exceptions to the rules.
Learn the conditional forms: Conditional 0, 1, 2, and 3 as well as some important exceptions to the rules.
Contractions
When we use contractions (He's, We've etc.) in English including when to use contractions in written English.
When we use contractions (He's, We've etc.) in English including when to use contractions in written English.
Discourse Markers
Formal English is more difficult than informal English. Furthermore, ideas need to flow logically from one another. This is an example of two sentences connected by a discourse marker. Use this guide to help you or your students express their ideas well.
Formal English is more difficult than informal English. Furthermore, ideas need to flow logically from one another. This is an example of two sentences connected by a discourse marker. Use this guide to help you or your students express their ideas well.
Do or Make Explained
Do or Make? One of the most common problems for beginners and intermediate learners. They both have similar meanings, but there are differences. Here is a review sheet explaining the difference between the two verbs, providing key collocations and followed up by a quiz testing your knowledge.
Do or Make? One of the most common problems for beginners and intermediate learners. They both have similar meanings, but there are differences. Here is a review sheet explaining the difference between the two verbs, providing key collocations and followed up by a quiz testing your knowledge.
English Grammar Workbooks
Top grammar workbook recommendations for English as a Second Language students and teachers. These grammar workbooks are used in both the UK and the United States for classes and self-study from beginning to advanced levels.
Top grammar workbook recommendations for English as a Second Language students and teachers. These grammar workbooks are used in both the UK and the United States for classes and self-study from beginning to advanced levels.
Future - for beginners
Using the future with will to predict the weather for beginners.
Using the future with will to predict the weather for beginners.
Future Forms
Learn about the various forms used for the future: will - going to - continuous, including follow up quiz.
Learn about the various forms used for the future: will - going to - continuous, including follow up quiz.
Gerund Or Infinitive Learning Tool
Not sure whether the verb takes the '-ing' form or the infinitive? Use this great interactive tool to check which form is appropriate.
Not sure whether the verb takes the '-ing' form or the infinitive? Use this great interactive tool to check which form is appropriate.
Giving Advice
The most common language formulas for giving advice to other people with examples and a construction table.
The most common language formulas for giving advice to other people with examples and a construction table.
Giving Warnings
The most common language formulas for giving warnings with examples and a construction table.
The most common language formulas for giving warnings with examples and a construction table.
Grammar Lesson: Tense Review
Lesson aimed at inductively reviewing names and structures of basic tenses.
Lesson aimed at inductively reviewing names and structures of basic tenses.
Grammar Terminology Reference
Extract with a follow-up guide giving examples of the most important grammar terminology. Quickly brush-up your or your class' understanding of key grammar terminology, while at the same time reviewing some basic grammar concepts.
Extract with a follow-up guide giving examples of the most important grammar terminology. Quickly brush-up your or your class' understanding of key grammar terminology, while at the same time reviewing some basic grammar concepts.
Grammar Terminology
This feature presents an extract with a follow-up guide giving examples of the most important grammar terminology. By quickly reviewing this reference sheet, you can quickly brush-up your or your class' understanding of key grammar terminology, while at the same time reviewing some basic grammar concepts.
This feature presents an extract with a follow-up guide giving examples of the most important grammar terminology. By quickly reviewing this reference sheet, you can quickly brush-up your or your class' understanding of key grammar terminology, while at the same time reviewing some basic grammar concepts.
Guide to Countable and Uncountable Nouns
A guide to the basics of countable and uncountable nouns in English for ESL EFL classes including a discussion of commonly confused uncountable nouns as well as the most common container or quantity expressions used with uncountable nouns such as cheese, information, etc.
A guide to the basics of countable and uncountable nouns in English for ESL EFL classes including a discussion of commonly confused uncountable nouns as well as the most common container or quantity expressions used with uncountable nouns such as cheese, information, etc.
Impersonal Subjects and Gerunds
When making general statements about an activity we can use two forms in English. Grammar explaination and quiz for upper intermediate to advanced level classes and students.
When making general statements about an activity we can use two forms in English. Grammar explaination and quiz for upper intermediate to advanced level classes and students.
Making Suggestions
The most common language formulas for making suggestions with examples and a construction table.
The most common language formulas for making suggestions with examples and a construction table.
Modal Verbs 'Can' and 'Be Able to'
Learn about the modal verbs 'can' and 'be able to'.
Learn about the modal verbs 'can' and 'be able to'.
Modal Verbs 'Must' and 'Have to'
Learn about these commonly confused modal verbs that seem to mean the same thing, but really don't...
Learn about these commonly confused modal verbs that seem to mean the same thing, but really don't...
Modals - conjugation
Learn about how modals are formed in the various tenses.
Learn about how modals are formed in the various tenses.
Offering Help
The most common language formulas for offering help with examples and a construction table.
The most common language formulas for offering help with examples and a construction table.
Paired Conjunctions - both ... and, not only ... but also, e
Paired conjunctions are especially useful for formal written English. Use this quiz to check your understanding of how these forms are used.
Paired conjunctions are especially useful for formal written English. Use this quiz to check your understanding of how these forms are used.
Passive Voice
Sometimes it's better to use the passive voice. For example: 'Fords are made in Detroit' is much better than 'Somebody makes Fords in Detroit'. Learn about the passive voice.
Sometimes it's better to use the passive voice. For example: 'Fords are made in Detroit' is much better than 'Somebody makes Fords in Detroit'. Learn about the passive voice.
Past and Past Participle Learning Tool
Go - went - gone, come - came -come, sing - sang - ? Having problems memorizing irregular past verbs? Practice the forms with this interactive tool.
Go - went - gone, come - came -come, sing - sang - ? Having problems memorizing irregular past verbs? Practice the forms with this interactive tool.
Past Simple for Beginners
Learn the basics of the simple past including regular and irregular verbs.
Learn the basics of the simple past including regular and irregular verbs.
Past Simple
Learn about the past simple and when to use it. For example: They went to Rio last year.
Learn about the past simple and when to use it. For example: They went to Rio last year.
Plurals
How to form plurals in English.
How to form plurals in English.
Present Continuous
What are you doing right now? You are reading this page. Learn how to use the present continuous.
What are you doing right now? You are reading this page. Learn how to use the present continuous.
Present Perfect
Learn about the present perfect and when to use it. For example: I have lived in New York for a long time.
Learn about the present perfect and when to use it. For example: I have lived in New York for a long time.
Present Simple - Exceptions
There are a number of important exceptions to the use of the present simple. Find out which of these exceptions are important for you.
There are a number of important exceptions to the use of the present simple. Find out which of these exceptions are important for you.
Present Simple - for beginners
Basic questions and conversations using the simple present to talk about what you do every day.
Basic questions and conversations using the simple present to talk about what you do every day.
Present Simple
What do you do every day? Use this grammar chart to learn about the Present Simple.
What do you do every day? Use this grammar chart to learn about the Present Simple.
Quantifiers - much, many, some, few, etc.
Various quantifiers are used based on whether the noun is countable or uncountable, sentence position and negative, positive, or question form. Check your understanding of quantifiers with this quiz.
Various quantifiers are used based on whether the noun is countable or uncountable, sentence position and negative, positive, or question form. Check your understanding of quantifiers with this quiz.
Question Forms - Subject and Object Questions
Quiz testing question forms for both the common object question and the less common subject question.
Quiz testing question forms for both the common object question and the less common subject question.
Question Forms
Overview and short explanation of question forms for subject and object questions.
Overview and short explanation of question forms for subject and object questions.
Question Tag Forms
You know how question tags are formed, don't you? Practice question tag formation with this quiz.
You know how question tags are formed, don't you? Practice question tag formation with this quiz.
Question Words
Beginning level guide to the use of question words in English. Each question word is explained and provides examples. The guide is followed by a quiz checking your understanding.
Beginning level guide to the use of question words in English. Each question word is explained and provides examples. The guide is followed by a quiz checking your understanding.
Recommended Books for Intermediate English Learners
Recommendations for every intermediate level English learner including course book, grammar books, exercise book, dictionary and appropriate software.
Recommendations for every intermediate level English learner including course book, grammar books, exercise book, dictionary and appropriate software.
Reference: Irregular Verbs
Reference list of irregular English verbs
Reference list of irregular English verbs
Relative Clauses
Relative clauses provide extra information. This information can either define something (defining clause), or provide unnecessary, but interesting, added information (non-defining clause).
Relative clauses provide extra information. This information can either define something (defining clause), or provide unnecessary, but interesting, added information (non-defining clause).
Reported Speech
Learn how to use reported speech. For example: "I will go to Paris" becomes "He said he would go to Paris".
Learn how to use reported speech. For example: "I will go to Paris" becomes "He said he would go to Paris".
Saying 'no' nicely
Sometimes you need to say no when someone makes a suggestion, offers something or asks you to do something for them. Of course, saying just 'no' can be rather rude. Here are some of the most common ways to say 'no' nicely - or at least not rudely.
Sometimes you need to say no when someone makes a suggestion, offers something or asks you to do something for them. Of course, saying just 'no' can be rather rude. Here are some of the most common ways to say 'no' nicely - or at least not rudely.
Stating a Preference
Sometimes you need to state a preference when someone makes a suggestion, offers something or asks your opinion about what to do. The most common language formulas for showing a preference with examples and a construction table.
Sometimes you need to state a preference when someone makes a suggestion, offers something or asks your opinion about what to do. The most common language formulas for showing a preference with examples and a construction table.
Tenses
A quick overview chart to 13 tenses in English. This guide gives you a general idea of when to use these tenses.
A quick overview chart to 13 tenses in English. This guide gives you a general idea of when to use these tenses.
Time Expressions
Challenging quiz connecting sentences with the correct time clause (when, since, etc.) and then choosing the correct tense. Great for review.
Challenging quiz connecting sentences with the correct time clause (when, since, etc.) and then choosing the correct tense. Great for review.
Uses of 'Like'
'Like' is used in various forms for VERY different questions. Check your understanding of the usage of 'like' with this quiz.
'Like' is used in various forms for VERY different questions. Check your understanding of the usage of 'like' with this quiz.
Visual Guide to Prepositions of Place
Take note of where Bob is in relationship to the objects in the pictures to help improve your understanding of prepositions of place.
Take note of where Bob is in relationship to the objects in the pictures to help improve your understanding of prepositions of place.
What are Adverbs?
There are five different types of adverbs. This feature explains each of the five adverbs types, adverb spelling and adverb placement, as well as exceptions to the rules.
There are five different types of adverbs. This feature explains each of the five adverbs types, adverb spelling and adverb placement, as well as exceptions to the rules.
What are Phrasal Verbs?
This guide provides a overview of phrasal verbs including a discussion of separable and inseparable phrasal verbs.
This guide provides a overview of phrasal verbs including a discussion of separable and inseparable phrasal verbs.
What are pronouns?
Here is a guide to the four basic types of pronouns: subject, object, possessive and demonstrative. This overview provides a simple introduction for beginners or a quick review for other level students.
Here is a guide to the four basic types of pronouns: subject, object, possessive and demonstrative. This overview provides a simple introduction for beginners or a quick review for other level students.