Practice grammar by subject, challenge the full grammar bank, progress level by level, or take a placement test to estimate your current English level.
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A balanced randomized quiz across the available grammar subjects.
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Starts at zero/basic English and samples progressively through C2. At the end you receive an estimated level.
The major English grammar structures not covered by the other learning modules, with rich examples, comparisons and randomized practice.
Cards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
A gerund is an -ing form functioning as a noun, for example as subject or object.
verb-ing as subject/objectpreposition + verb-ingReported questions use statement word order and normally do not use do/does/did.
asked + wh-word + subject + verbasked + if/whether + subject + verbIn existential there structures, the verb commonly agrees with the following notional subject in formal standard English. In relative clauses, agreement depends on the antecedent represented by the relative pronoun.
There is + singularThere are + pluralone of the people who are...Formal conditionals can omit if and invert had, were or should with the subject.
Had I known, ...Were I you, ...Should you need help, ...English often avoids repetition by omitting recoverable words or replacing them with forms such as one, do, so and neither.
I can swim and she can too.the red oneI think so.English can emphasize a statement with do/does/did or focus information with it-clefts and what-clefts.
I do agree.It was X that...What I need is...An independent clause can stand alone; a dependent clause needs another clause to complete the meaning.
Independent clauseSubordinator + dependent clauseEnglish verbs select different complement types: gerund, to-infinitive, bare infinitive, object + infinitive, or that-clause. These patterns must often be learned with the verb.
avoid doingdecide to dolet someone dowant someone to doinsist that + clauseEnglish clauses are built around a subject and a verb, with optional objects, complements and adverbials.
Subject + VerbSubject + Verb + ObjectSubject + Linking Verb + ComplementWith some verbs, gerund and infinitive are both possible but the meaning changes, such as remember, stop and try.
remember doing / remember to dostop doing / stop to dotry doing / try to doThe zero conditional describes general results; the first conditional describes a real future possibility.
If + present, presentIf + present, will + base verbThe passive keeps the tense in the auxiliary be while the main verb stays in the past participle form.
is done / was done / has been done / will be done / is being doneConditional meaning can be expressed with alternatives to if. Unless means if not; provided that and as long as express a necessary condition.
unless + affirmative clauseprovided/providing that + clauseas long as + clauseObjects receive the action, while complements describe or identify the subject or object.
S + V + OS + linking V + subject complementS + V + O + object complementSome verbs take to + infinitive, while modal verbs and certain structures take a bare infinitive.
want to gocan golet/make + object + base verbDifferent reporting verbs take different complements: infinitive, gerund, object + infinitive, or that-clause.
agree to dodeny doingadvise object to dosuggest that + clause / suggest doingWish + past form commonly expresses dissatisfaction with the present; wish + would can express a desired change in behavior or situation.
wish + past simplewish + would + base verbThe passive focuses on the receiver of an action. It is formed with be plus a past participle.
be + past participleObject of active sentence → subject of passiveCollective nouns and expressions of amount can take singular or plural agreement depending on meaning and variety of English.
A team is... / The team are...Ten dollars is...Words such as each, every, either and neither are normally singular when they are the grammatical head of the subject.
Each/Every + singular noun + singular verbEither/Neither + singular verbReported speech retells what someone said, often with tense backshift when the reporting verb is in the past.
said (that) + clausetold + object + clauseA relative pronoun can sometimes be omitted when it is the object of a defining relative clause, but not when it is the subject.
the book (that) I boughtthe man who calledEnglish relies strongly on word order. Frequency adverbs usually go before a lexical verb but after be.
Subject + adverb + lexical verbSubject + be + adverbVerb + object + manner/place/timeA complete sentence needs an independent clause. Two independent clauses need correct coordination or punctuation such as a period, semicolon, or comma plus coordinator.
independent clause. Independent clause.independent clause; independent clauseindependent clause, and/but/so independent clauseWhose expresses possession; where relates to places; when relates to times, though preposition + which is also possible in formal style.
person whose + nounplace where + clausetime when + clauseA noun clause functions like a noun; an adverb clause adds information about time, reason, condition, contrast or purpose.
I know + that-clausewhat/why/how + clausesubordinator + adverb clauseFormal English often reports general beliefs or claims with impersonal passive structures or subject + passive reporting verb + infinitive.
It is said that + clauseSubject + is said/believed/thought + to-infinitiveFormal emphasis can place a negative or restrictive adverbial first and invert the auxiliary and subject.
Never have I...Rarely do they...Not only did she...Writers and speakers can move an element to the front to establish a topic, contrast or emphasis, especially in literary and conversational styles.
Fronted adverbial + clauseObject/topic + clause/commentItems joined in a list or comparison should normally have matching grammatical form.
to read, to write, and to speakreading, writing, and speakingCoordinators link equal units; subordinators make one clause dependent on another.
clause, and/but/so clausebecause/although/when + clauseAs if/as though can introduce comparisons that are real or unreal. A past form can signal an unreal present comparison, and past perfect can signal an unreal past comparison.
as if/as though + presentas if/as though + pastas if/as though + past perfectThird conditionals imagine a different past; mixed conditionals connect an unreal past with a present result or vice versa.
If + past perfect, would have + past participleIf + past perfect, would + base verbIn the present simple, third-person singular subjects normally take a verb ending in -s; plural subjects use the base form.
He/She/It + verb-sI/You/We/They + base verbDefining relatives identify which person or thing; non-defining relatives add extra information and are set off by commas.
noun + defining relativenoun, non-defining relative,Would rather can express preference; with a different subject it often takes a past form. It’s time can also take a past form for desired action now.
would rather + base verbwould rather + subject + pastit is time + subject + pastPresent participles often describe an active or ongoing relation; past participles often describe a completed or passive relation.
verb-ingpast participle (V3)Participle clauses compress information when the understood subject is the same as the subject of the main clause.
Walking home, ...Built in 1900, ...Having finished, ...In formal literary style, so + adjective or such + be can be fronted and followed by inversion for strong emphasis.
So + adjective + auxiliary + subject + that...Such + be + noun phrase + that...In formal style, a preposition may come before whom or which. In less formal English the preposition often stays at the end of the relative clause.
the person to whom I spokethe company for which she worksCommands are commonly reported with tell/ask + object + infinitive; time and place words may change according to viewpoint.
told/asked + object + to-infinitivenow → then; today → that day; here → thereThe second conditional expresses unreal, imaginary or unlikely present and future situations.
If + past simple, would + base verbHaving + past participle shows that one action was completed before the action in the main clause. The passive form is having been + past participle.
Having + past participle, main clauseHaving been + past participle, main clauseSome relative clauses can be reduced to participle phrases when the meaning remains clear.
people who live here → people living hereproducts that were made locally → products made locallyAfter certain verbs and adjectives, especially in formal American English, a that-clause may use the base verb for all subjects.
recommend that + subject + base verbit is essential that + subject + base verbHave/get + object + past participle means that someone arranges for another person to perform a service or action.
have + object + past participleget + object + past participleWish/if only + past perfect expresses regret about a past event that cannot be changed.
wish/if only + had + past participleComplex sentences can express purpose, result and concession with structures such as so that, so/such...that, although and even though.
so that + clauseso + adjective + thatsuch + noun phrase + thatalthough/even though + clauseCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
English clauses are built around a subject and a verb, with optional objects, complements and adverbials.
Subject + VerbSubject + Verb + ObjectSubject + Linking Verb + ComplementObjects receive the action, while complements describe or identify the subject or object.
S + V + OS + linking V + subject complementS + V + O + object complementEnglish relies strongly on word order. Frequency adverbs usually go before a lexical verb but after be.
Subject + adverb + lexical verbSubject + be + adverbVerb + object + manner/place/timeA complete sentence needs an independent clause. Two independent clauses need correct coordination or punctuation such as a period, semicolon, or comma plus coordinator.
independent clause. Independent clause.independent clause; independent clauseindependent clause, and/but/so independent clauseCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
An independent clause can stand alone; a dependent clause needs another clause to complete the meaning.
Independent clauseSubordinator + dependent clauseA noun clause functions like a noun; an adverb clause adds information about time, reason, condition, contrast or purpose.
I know + that-clausewhat/why/how + clausesubordinator + adverb clauseCoordinators link equal units; subordinators make one clause dependent on another.
clause, and/but/so clausebecause/although/when + clauseComplex sentences can express purpose, result and concession with structures such as so that, so/such...that, although and even though.
so that + clauseso + adjective + thatsuch + noun phrase + thatalthough/even though + clauseCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
In existential there structures, the verb commonly agrees with the following notional subject in formal standard English. In relative clauses, agreement depends on the antecedent represented by the relative pronoun.
There is + singularThere are + pluralone of the people who are...Collective nouns and expressions of amount can take singular or plural agreement depending on meaning and variety of English.
A team is... / The team are...Ten dollars is...Words such as each, every, either and neither are normally singular when they are the grammatical head of the subject.
Each/Every + singular noun + singular verbEither/Neither + singular verbIn the present simple, third-person singular subjects normally take a verb ending in -s; plural subjects use the base form.
He/She/It + verb-sI/You/We/They + base verbCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
The zero conditional describes general results; the first conditional describes a real future possibility.
If + present, presentIf + present, will + base verbConditional meaning can be expressed with alternatives to if. Unless means if not; provided that and as long as express a necessary condition.
unless + affirmative clauseprovided/providing that + clauseas long as + clauseThird conditionals imagine a different past; mixed conditionals connect an unreal past with a present result or vice versa.
If + past perfect, would have + past participleIf + past perfect, would + base verbThe second conditional expresses unreal, imaginary or unlikely present and future situations.
If + past simple, would + base verbCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
The passive keeps the tense in the auxiliary be while the main verb stays in the past participle form.
is done / was done / has been done / will be done / is being doneThe passive focuses on the receiver of an action. It is formed with be plus a past participle.
be + past participleObject of active sentence → subject of passiveFormal English often reports general beliefs or claims with impersonal passive structures or subject + passive reporting verb + infinitive.
It is said that + clauseSubject + is said/believed/thought + to-infinitiveHave/get + object + past participle means that someone arranges for another person to perform a service or action.
have + object + past participleget + object + past participleCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
Reported questions use statement word order and normally do not use do/does/did.
asked + wh-word + subject + verbasked + if/whether + subject + verbDifferent reporting verbs take different complements: infinitive, gerund, object + infinitive, or that-clause.
agree to dodeny doingadvise object to dosuggest that + clause / suggest doingReported speech retells what someone said, often with tense backshift when the reporting verb is in the past.
said (that) + clausetold + object + clauseCommands are commonly reported with tell/ask + object + infinitive; time and place words may change according to viewpoint.
told/asked + object + to-infinitivenow → then; today → that day; here → thereCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
A gerund is an -ing form functioning as a noun, for example as subject or object.
verb-ing as subject/objectpreposition + verb-ingEnglish verbs select different complement types: gerund, to-infinitive, bare infinitive, object + infinitive, or that-clause. These patterns must often be learned with the verb.
avoid doingdecide to dolet someone dowant someone to doinsist that + clauseWith some verbs, gerund and infinitive are both possible but the meaning changes, such as remember, stop and try.
remember doing / remember to dostop doing / stop to dotry doing / try to doSome verbs take to + infinitive, while modal verbs and certain structures take a bare infinitive.
want to gocan golet/make + object + base verbCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
Present participles often describe an active or ongoing relation; past participles often describe a completed or passive relation.
verb-ingpast participle (V3)Participle clauses compress information when the understood subject is the same as the subject of the main clause.
Walking home, ...Built in 1900, ...Having finished, ...Having + past participle shows that one action was completed before the action in the main clause. The passive form is having been + past participle.
Having + past participle, main clauseHaving been + past participle, main clauseSome relative clauses can be reduced to participle phrases when the meaning remains clear.
people who live here → people living hereproducts that were made locally → products made locallyCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
A relative pronoun can sometimes be omitted when it is the object of a defining relative clause, but not when it is the subject.
the book (that) I boughtthe man who calledWhose expresses possession; where relates to places; when relates to times, though preposition + which is also possible in formal style.
person whose + nounplace where + clausetime when + clauseDefining relatives identify which person or thing; non-defining relatives add extra information and are set off by commas.
noun + defining relativenoun, non-defining relative,In formal style, a preposition may come before whom or which. In less formal English the preposition often stays at the end of the relative clause.
the person to whom I spokethe company for which she worksCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
Wish + past form commonly expresses dissatisfaction with the present; wish + would can express a desired change in behavior or situation.
wish + past simplewish + would + base verbAs if/as though can introduce comparisons that are real or unreal. A past form can signal an unreal present comparison, and past perfect can signal an unreal past comparison.
as if/as though + presentas if/as though + pastas if/as though + past perfectWould rather can express preference; with a different subject it often takes a past form. It’s time can also take a past form for desired action now.
would rather + base verbwould rather + subject + pastit is time + subject + pastWish/if only + past perfect expresses regret about a past event that cannot be changed.
wish/if only + had + past participleCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
Formal conditionals can omit if and invert had, were or should with the subject.
Had I known, ...Were I you, ...Should you need help, ...English can emphasize a statement with do/does/did or focus information with it-clefts and what-clefts.
I do agree.It was X that...What I need is...Formal emphasis can place a negative or restrictive adverbial first and invert the auxiliary and subject.
Never have I...Rarely do they...Not only did she...In formal literary style, so + adjective or such + be can be fronted and followed by inversion for strong emphasis.
So + adjective + auxiliary + subject + that...Such + be + noun phrase + that...Cards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
English often avoids repetition by omitting recoverable words or replacing them with forms such as one, do, so and neither.
I can swim and she can too.the red oneI think so.Writers and speakers can move an element to the front to establish a topic, contrast or emphasis, especially in literary and conversational styles.
Fronted adverbial + clauseObject/topic + clause/commentItems joined in a list or comparison should normally have matching grammatical form.
to read, to write, and to speakreading, writing, and speakingAfter certain verbs and adjectives, especially in formal American English, a that-clause may use the base verb for all subjects.
recommend that + subject + base verbit is essential that + subject + base verbSide-by-side study cards for grammar distinctions learners commonly mix up.
Reported questions use statement word order and normally do not use do/does/did.
asked + wh-word + subject + verbasked + if/whether + subject + verbEnglish often avoids repetition by omitting recoverable words or replacing them with forms such as one, do, so and neither.
I can swim and she can too.the red oneI think so.An independent clause can stand alone; a dependent clause needs another clause to complete the meaning.
Independent clauseSubordinator + dependent clauseWith some verbs, gerund and infinitive are both possible but the meaning changes, such as remember, stop and try.
remember doing / remember to dostop doing / stop to dotry doing / try to doThe passive keeps the tense in the auxiliary be while the main verb stays in the past participle form.
is done / was done / has been done / will be done / is being doneWords such as each, every, either and neither are normally singular when they are the grammatical head of the subject.
Each/Every + singular noun + singular verbEither/Neither + singular verbEnglish relies strongly on word order. Frequency adverbs usually go before a lexical verb but after be.
Subject + adverb + lexical verbSubject + be + adverbVerb + object + manner/place/timeFormal emphasis can place a negative or restrictive adverbial first and invert the auxiliary and subject.
Never have I...Rarely do they...Not only did she...Third conditionals imagine a different past; mixed conditionals connect an unreal past with a present result or vice versa.
If + past perfect, would have + past participleIf + past perfect, would + base verbDefining relatives identify which person or thing; non-defining relatives add extra information and are set off by commas.
noun + defining relativenoun, non-defining relative,Some relative clauses can be reduced to participle phrases when the meaning remains clear.
people who live here → people living hereproducts that were made locally → products made locallyWish/if only + past perfect expresses regret about a past event that cannot be changed.
wish/if only + had + past participleExamples come from the editable lesson database and change order each load.
Questions and answer choices are randomized for every new attempt.
Correct +10 points · Wrong or no answer -5 points
Only an authorized host can create a room. You can still join an existing room.
No joined rooms yet.
Permanent rooms need only your player name. Regular rooms can still be joined with a room code.
No other rooms are available right now.
Waiting for host approval.
Winner
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Browse, compare, learn usage, and practice with randomized quizzes from one learning card.
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stop resisting and accept defeat or another person’s demand
After hours of debate, he finally give in.
occupy time or space, or keep someone busy
The meeting could tie up most of the morning.
continue resisting or surviving despite pressure
They managed to hold out for another week.
destroy or remove a structure by pulling it apart
They will tear down the old building next year.
support a person, claim, system, or copy of data
Make sure you back up your files.
create, arrange, or establish something
They plan to set up a new office here.
complete missing information in a form, text, or situation
Please fill out the form before you leave.
leave or begin a journey
We plan to go away early tomorrow.
review, inspect, or discuss something carefully
Let’s look over the report one more time.
remain awake instead of going to bed
I cannot stay up very late tonight.
attack and seriously hit or injure someone
The police arrested men accused of trying to beat up a victim.
return a telephone call
I will call back as soon as I am free.
invent an idea, explanation, story, or plan
We need to come up with a better solution.
solve a problem or find a satisfactory answer
We can work out this problem together.
end a session on a computer system or website
Remember to log out on a shared computer.
exercise in order to improve fitness
I try to work out three times a week.
Sense: exercise.
recover from an illness, difficulty, shock, or setback
The doctors believe he will pull through.
start or activate a machine, device, or system
Can you turn on the system?
leave or begin a journey
We plan to set out early tomorrow.
stop or deactivate a machine, device, or system
Please turn off the computer before you leave.