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English Grammar Structures: All-in-One learning card

English Grammar Structures

The major English grammar structures not covered by the other learning modules, with rich examples, comparisons and randomized practice.

12 areas

All topics Sentence Structure Clauses & Conjunctions Subject–Verb Agreement Conditionals Passive & Causative Reported Speech Gerunds & Infinitives Participles & Reduced Clauses Relative Clauses Wishes & Hypotheticals Inversion & Emphasis Advanced Structures Compare Examples Quiz

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ConditionalIntermediate

Unless, provided that and as long as

Conditional meaning can be expressed with alternatives to if. Unless means if not; provided that and as long as express a necessary condition.

Patternsunless + affirmative clauseprovided/providing that + clauseas long as + clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use unless instead of if...not when the meaning is truly negative.
Use provided/as long as for conditions that must be satisfied.

Examples

I will go unless it rains.
You can borrow it as long as you return it tomorrow.

Common mistake: Avoid double negatives such as unless you do not... when you mean if you do not.

PassiveIntermediate

Passive across tenses

The passive keeps the tense in the auxiliary be while the main verb stays in the past participle form.

Patternsis done / was done / has been done / will be done / is being done

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Match the auxiliary to the intended tense.
Keep the lexical verb in past participle form.

Examples

The road is being repaired.
The report has been finished.

Common mistake: Do not build the passive by changing only the main verb.

ClauseIntermediate

Coordinating vs subordinating conjunctions

Coordinators link equal units; subordinators make one clause dependent on another.

Patternsclause, and/but/so clausebecause/although/when + clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use a comma before a coordinator joining two full clauses.
Choose the conjunction for the logical relationship.

Examples

I called him, but he did not answer.
We left early because traffic was heavy.

Common mistake: Do not use because and so together for the same cause-result link.

ParticipleIntermediate

Participle clauses

Participle clauses compress information when the understood subject is the same as the subject of the main clause.

PatternsWalking home, ...Built in 1900, ...Having finished, ...

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use them to express time, reason or accompanying action.
Make sure the understood subject is clear.

Examples

Walking home, I saw an old friend.
Built in 1900, the house needs repairs.

Common mistake: Avoid dangling participles whose implied subject does not match the main clause.

PassiveAdvanced

Reporting passives: It is said / He is believed

Formal English often reports general beliefs or claims with impersonal passive structures or subject + passive reporting verb + infinitive.

PatternsIt is said that + clauseSubject + is said/believed/thought + to-infinitive

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use these forms when the source is general or unimportant.
Choose a perfect infinitive for an earlier event when needed.

Examples

It is believed that the painting is authentic.
He is said to live in Canada.

Common mistake: Do not mix the active and passive reporting patterns in one structure.

AgreementBeginner

Basic subject–verb agreement

In the present simple, third-person singular subjects normally take a verb ending in -s; plural subjects use the base form.

PatternsHe/She/It + verb-sI/You/We/They + base verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Find the true grammatical subject.
Ignore nearby nouns that are not the subject.

Examples

The teacher works here.
The teachers work here.

Common mistake: Do not make the verb agree with the nearest noun if that noun is not the subject.

SentenceIntermediate

Objects and complements

Objects receive the action, while complements describe or identify the subject or object.

PatternsS + V + OS + linking V + subject complementS + V + O + object complement

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Distinguish action verbs from linking verbs.
Check whether the final phrase renames or describes something.

Examples

They elected Sara president.
The soup smells wonderful.

Common mistake: Do not treat every noun after a verb as a direct object.

RelativeAdvanced

Whose, where and when in relative clauses

Whose expresses possession; where relates to places; when relates to times, though preposition + which is also possible in formal style.

Patternsperson whose + nounplace where + clausetime when + clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Choose the connector by its function.
Use whose for people and also for things when natural.

Examples

I met a writer whose books I admire.
That is the house where I grew up.

Common mistake: Do not confuse whose with who’s.

ParticipleBeginner

Present and past participles

Present participles often describe an active or ongoing relation; past participles often describe a completed or passive relation.

Patternsverb-ingpast participle (V3)

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Distinguish bored from boring-type contrasts.
Recognize participles in verb forms and adjective-like uses.

Examples

The movie was boring.
We were bored.

Common mistake: Do not confuse the -ed experiencer with the -ing cause in common adjective pairs.

ReportedBeginner

Reported statements

Reported speech retells what someone said, often with tense backshift when the reporting verb is in the past.

Patternssaid (that) + clausetold + object + clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Backshift tense when the context calls for it.
Use tell with an object.

Examples

She said that she was tired.
He told me that he needed help.

Common mistake: Do not say told that without specifying who was told.

InversionAdvanced

So and such for fronted emphasis

In formal literary style, so + adjective or such + be can be fronted and followed by inversion for strong emphasis.

PatternsSo + adjective + auxiliary + subject + that...Such + be + noun phrase + that...

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Recognize this mainly in formal or literary writing.
Do not confuse it with ordinary so/such result clauses.

Examples

So difficult was the test that many students left early.
Such was the noise that we could not sleep.

Common mistake: Do not apply inversion after every occurrence of so or such.

PassiveBeginner

Passive voice basics

The passive focuses on the receiver of an action. It is formed with be plus a past participle.

Patternsbe + past participleObject of active sentence → subject of passive

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use the passive when the doer is unknown, obvious or less important.
Add by + agent only when the agent matters.

Examples

The door was opened at nine.
English is spoken in many countries.

Common mistake: Do not forget to change the form of be for tense and agreement.

AdvancedAdvanced

Fronting and topic–comment structure

Writers and speakers can move an element to the front to establish a topic, contrast or emphasis, especially in literary and conversational styles.

PatternsFronted adverbial + clauseObject/topic + clause/comment

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use fronting deliberately for information structure.
Keep the grammatical relationships clear after moving an element.

Examples

Into the room walked the manager.
This book, I really enjoyed.

Common mistake: Do not front elements so heavily that the sentence becomes ambiguous or unnatural.

ClauseAdvanced

Noun clauses and adverb clauses

A noun clause functions like a noun; an adverb clause adds information about time, reason, condition, contrast or purpose.

PatternsI know + that-clausewhat/why/how + clausesubordinator + adverb clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use statement word order inside most noun clauses.
Use adverb clauses to show logical relationships.

Examples

I know that she is ready.
Call me when you arrive.

Common mistake: Do not use question word order inside an embedded noun clause.

HypotheticalBeginner

Wish for present and future situations

Wish + past form commonly expresses dissatisfaction with the present; wish + would can express a desired change in behavior or situation.

Patternswish + past simplewish + would + base verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use a past form for an unreal present wish.
Use would for a desired change, not usually for your own controllable action.

Examples

I wish I knew the answer.
I wish the bus would come.

Common mistake: Do not interpret the past form after wish as past time automatically.

AgreementIntermediate

Tricky agreement: each, every, either, neither

Words such as each, every, either and neither are normally singular when they are the grammatical head of the subject.

PatternsEach/Every + singular noun + singular verbEither/Neither + singular verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Check the head word of the subject phrase.
Use singular agreement with each/every in standard usage.

Examples

Each of the students has a locker.
Neither answer is correct.

Common mistake: Do not let a plural noun inside an of-phrase control the verb.

AdvancedAdvanced

Ellipsis and substitution

English often avoids repetition by omitting recoverable words or replacing them with forms such as one, do, so and neither.

PatternsI can swim and she can too.the red oneI think so.

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use ellipsis only when the missing meaning is clear.
Use one/ones to substitute for countable nouns.

Examples

I ordered the blue shirt, not the red one.
She can drive, and I can too.

Common mistake: Do not omit information if the result becomes ambiguous.

InversionAdvanced

Conditional inversion

Formal conditionals can omit if and invert had, were or should with the subject.

PatternsHad I known, ...Were I you, ...Should you need help, ...

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use this mainly in formal style.
Keep the meaning equivalent to an if-clause.

Examples

Had I known, I would have called.
Should you need help, call me.

Common mistake: Do not invert any past verb; the pattern is limited to had, were and should structures.

GerundBeginner

Gerunds as nouns

A gerund is an -ing form functioning as a noun, for example as subject or object.

Patternsverb-ing as subject/objectpreposition + verb-ing

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use gerunds after prepositions.
Gerunds can be subjects of sentences.

Examples

Swimming is good exercise.
She is interested in learning Arabic.

Common mistake: Do not use a bare infinitive after an ordinary preposition.

ReportedAdvanced

Reporting verbs and their patterns

Different reporting verbs take different complements: infinitive, gerund, object + infinitive, or that-clause.

Patternsagree to dodeny doingadvise object to dosuggest that + clause / suggest doing

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Learn the complement pattern together with each reporting verb.
Use the pattern that matches the verb, not a single rule for all reporting verbs.

Examples

She admitted taking the money.
He advised me to wait.

Common mistake: Do not use suggest + object + to-infinitive in standard English.

HypotheticalIntermediate

Wish and if only for past regrets

Wish/if only + past perfect expresses regret about a past event that cannot be changed.

Patternswish/if only + had + past participle

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Express past regrets and imagined alternatives.
Use past perfect to move one step back from the past.

Examples

I wish I had studied harder.
If only we had left earlier.

Common mistake: Do not use simple past when the intended meaning is an unreal past regret.

SentenceBeginner

Basic sentence elements

English clauses are built around a subject and a verb, with optional objects, complements and adverbials.

PatternsSubject + VerbSubject + Verb + ObjectSubject + Linking Verb + Complement

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Identify the subject and main verb first.
Add objects or complements only when the verb requires them.

Examples

The child laughed.
Maya opened the window.

Common mistake: Do not omit the subject in ordinary English statements.

GerundAdvanced

Gerund vs infinitive: change of meaning

With some verbs, gerund and infinitive are both possible but the meaning changes, such as remember, stop and try.

Patternsremember doing / remember to dostop doing / stop to dotry doing / try to do

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Learn the meaning pair, not just the form.
Use context to decide which complement is intended.

Examples

I stopped smoking last year.
I stopped to answer the phone.

Common mistake: Do not assume gerund and infinitive are interchangeable after every verb.

InversionAdvanced

Inversion after negative adverbials

Formal emphasis can place a negative or restrictive adverbial first and invert the auxiliary and subject.

PatternsNever have I...Rarely do they...Not only did she...

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use an auxiliary before the subject after fronted negative adverbials.
Use do-support when no auxiliary is otherwise present.

Examples

Never have I seen such a view.
Rarely do they arrive late.

Common mistake: Do not invert ordinary sentences unless the trigger requires it.

GerundIntermediate

To-infinitives and bare infinitives

Some verbs take to + infinitive, while modal verbs and certain structures take a bare infinitive.

Patternswant to gocan golet/make + object + base verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Learn verb complementation patterns.
Use bare infinitive after modal auxiliaries.

Examples

I want to leave early.
They made us wait.

Common mistake: Do not add to after a modal verb.

RelativeBeginner

Defining vs non-defining relative clauses

Defining relatives identify which person or thing; non-defining relatives add extra information and are set off by commas.

Patternsnoun + defining relativenoun, non-defining relative,

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use commas around non-defining relatives.
Do not normally use that in a non-defining relative clause.

Examples

The students who studied passed.
My brother, who lives in Boston, is visiting.

Common mistake: Punctuation changes whether the information is essential or additional.

ReportedIntermediate

Reported questions

Reported questions use statement word order and normally do not use do/does/did.

Patternsasked + wh-word + subject + verbasked + if/whether + subject + verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use if/whether for yes-no questions.
Keep statement word order after the question word.

Examples

She asked where I lived.
He asked if I was ready.

Common mistake: Do not keep direct-question inversion in a reported question.

RelativeAdvanced

Formal relatives with prepositions

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.

Patternsthe person to whom I spokethe company for which she works

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use whom after a fronted preposition for people in formal style.
Use which after a fronted preposition for things.

Examples

The person to whom I spoke was helpful.
This is the company for which she works.

Common mistake: Do not use that immediately after a fronted preposition.

RelativeIntermediate

Relative pronouns and omission

A relative pronoun can sometimes be omitted when it is the object of a defining relative clause, but not when it is the subject.

Patternsthe book (that) I boughtthe man who called

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Identify whether the relative pronoun is subject or object.
Omit object pronouns only where grammar allows.

Examples

The book I bought is useful.
The woman who called left a message.

Common mistake: Do not omit the relative pronoun when it is the subject of the relative clause.

PassiveAdvanced

Causative have and get

Have/get + object + past participle means that someone arranges for another person to perform a service or action.

Patternshave + object + past participleget + object + past participle

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use it for services and arranged actions.
Get is often less formal than have.

Examples

I had my car repaired yesterday.
She got her phone fixed.

Common mistake: Do not confuse I cut my hair with I had my hair cut.

AdvancedAdvanced

The subjunctive in formal English

After certain verbs and adjectives, especially in formal American English, a that-clause may use the base verb for all subjects.

Patternsrecommend that + subject + base verbit is essential that + subject + base verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use it after verbs such as recommend, insist and suggest in formal style.
Recognize alternative should-structures in British English.

Examples

They recommended that he apply early.
It is essential that she be informed.

Common mistake: Do not add third-person -s to the subjunctive base form.

ReportedAdvanced

Reported commands and time/place shifts

Commands are commonly reported with tell/ask + object + infinitive; time and place words may change according to viewpoint.

Patternstold/asked + object + to-infinitivenow → then; today → that day; here → there

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use a negative infinitive for negative commands.
Shift time/place references only when the viewpoint changes.

Examples

The doctor told me to rest.
She asked us not to be late.

Common mistake: Do not backshift mechanically when the original information is still current.

ClauseAdvanced

Purpose, result and concession clauses

Complex sentences can express purpose, result and concession with structures such as so that, so/such...that, although and even though.

Patternsso that + clauseso + adjective + thatsuch + noun phrase + thatalthough/even though + clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Choose the connector that matches the logical relation.
Distinguish purpose from result.

Examples

She whispered so that nobody could hear.
It was so cold that the lake froze.

Common mistake: Do not use although and but together in the same contrast structure.

AgreementAdvanced

Agreement with there and relative clauses

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.

PatternsThere is + singularThere are + pluralone of the people who are...

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Look beyond there to the following noun phrase.
Find the antecedent of the relative pronoun.

Examples

There are two messages for you.
She is one of the people who work here.

Common mistake: Do not make the relative-clause verb agree with an unrelated nearby noun.

ClauseBeginner

Independent and dependent clauses

An independent clause can stand alone; a dependent clause needs another clause to complete the meaning.

PatternsIndependent clauseSubordinator + dependent clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Recognize subordinators such as because, although, if and when.
Join clauses without creating fragments.

Examples

I stayed home because it was raining.
Although she was tired, she continued working.

Common mistake: A dependent clause by itself is usually a sentence fragment.

ParticipleAdvanced

Perfect participle clauses

Having + past participle shows that one action was completed before the action in the main clause. The passive form is having been + past participle.

PatternsHaving + past participle, main clauseHaving been + past participle, main clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use it when the earlier-before-later relationship matters.
Keep the understood subject the same as the main-clause subject.

Examples

Having finished the report, she went home.
Having been warned, they acted carefully.

Common mistake: Avoid a perfect participle if its implied subject does not match the main clause.

AdvancedIntermediate

Parallel structure

Items joined in a list or comparison should normally have matching grammatical form.

Patternsto read, to write, and to speakreading, writing, and speaking

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Keep coordinated items in the same grammatical pattern.
Use parallel structure in lists and paired constructions.

Examples

She likes reading, writing, and painting.
The job requires patience, accuracy, and speed.

Common mistake: Avoid mixing an infinitive, gerund and full clause in one coordinated list without reason.

HypotheticalAdvanced

As if and as though

As 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.

Patternsas if/as though + presentas if/as though + pastas if/as though + past perfect

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Choose tense according to reality and time.
Use unreal past forms when the comparison is not true.

Examples

He talks as if he knew everything.
She looked as though she had seen a ghost.

Common mistake: Do not treat the past form after as if as automatically referring to past time.

ParticipleAdvanced

Reduced relative clauses

Some relative clauses can be reduced to participle phrases when the meaning remains clear.

Patternspeople who live here → people living hereproducts that were made locally → products made locally

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Reduce active relatives with -ing when appropriate.
Reduce passive relatives with a past participle.

Examples

The people waiting outside are students.
The books written by her are popular.

Common mistake: Do not reduce a relative clause if the time or subject relationship becomes unclear.

ConditionalIntermediate

Second conditional

The second conditional expresses unreal, imaginary or unlikely present and future situations.

PatternsIf + past simple, would + base verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Talk about imaginary situations.
Give advice with If I were you.

Examples

If I had more time, I would travel more.
If I were you, I would wait.

Common mistake: Do not normally use would in the if-clause.

AgreementAdvanced

Collective nouns and quantities

Collective nouns and expressions of amount can take singular or plural agreement depending on meaning and variety of English.

PatternsA team is... / The team are...Ten dollars is...

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Treat a measurement as one amount when appropriate.
Be consistent with your variety of English for collective nouns.

Examples

Ten dollars is enough.
The committee has reached a decision.

Common mistake: Do not assume every grammatically plural expression requires a plural verb.

ConditionalBeginner

Zero and first conditionals

The zero conditional describes general results; the first conditional describes a real future possibility.

PatternsIf + present, presentIf + present, will + base verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use zero conditional for facts and routines.
Use first conditional for realistic future possibilities.

Examples

If you heat ice, it melts.
If it rains, we will stay home.

Common mistake: Do not normally put will in the if-clause of a first conditional.

GerundAdvanced

Verb complementation patterns

English verbs select different complement types: gerund, to-infinitive, bare infinitive, object + infinitive, or that-clause. These patterns must often be learned with the verb.

Patternsavoid doingdecide to dolet someone dowant someone to doinsist that + clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Record the pattern whenever you learn a new verb.
Notice whether an object is required before the infinitive.

Examples

They avoided discussing the problem.
I want you to come early.

Common mistake: Do not assume two near-synonymous verbs take the same complement pattern.

InversionIntermediate

Emphatic do and cleft sentences

English can emphasize a statement with do/does/did or focus information with it-clefts and what-clefts.

PatternsI do agree.It was X that...What I need is...

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use emphatic do in affirmative statements for contrast or insistence.
Use clefts to focus one element.

Examples

I do understand your concern.
What I need is a quiet room.

Common mistake: Do not use emphatic do together with another finite auxiliary.

ConditionalAdvanced

Third and mixed conditionals

Third conditionals imagine a different past; mixed conditionals connect an unreal past with a present result or vice versa.

PatternsIf + past perfect, would have + past participleIf + past perfect, would + base verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Express past regret or imagined past results.
Connect past causes with present consequences in mixed conditionals.

Examples

If we had left earlier, we would have caught the train.
If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.

Common mistake: Keep the time reference consistent with the meaning you want.

SentenceIntermediate

Word order and adverb placement

English relies strongly on word order. Frequency adverbs usually go before a lexical verb but after be.

PatternsSubject + adverb + lexical verbSubject + be + adverbVerb + object + manner/place/time

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Keep the object close to the verb.
Place frequency adverbs carefully.

Examples

She usually takes the bus.
They finished the work quickly.

Common mistake: Avoid separating a verb from its direct object with a long adverbial.

HypotheticalAdvanced

Would rather and it’s time

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.

Patternswould rather + base verbwould rather + subject + pastit is time + subject + past

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Express preferences directly.
Use the past form for unreal or desired present behavior after these expressions.

Examples

I would rather stay home.
It is time we went home.

Common mistake: The past form here may refer to present or future preference, not past time.

SentenceIntermediate

Fragments, run-ons and core punctuation

A complete sentence needs an independent clause. Two independent clauses need correct coordination or punctuation such as a period, semicolon, or comma plus coordinator.

Patternsindependent clause. Independent clause.independent clause; independent clauseindependent clause, and/but/so independent clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Recognize sentence fragments and comma splices.
Use punctuation to show clause boundaries.

Examples

The shop was closed, so we went home.
The rain stopped; we continued walking.

Common mistake: Do not join two independent clauses with only a comma.

Sentence Structure

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SentenceIntermediate

Objects and complements

Objects receive the action, while complements describe or identify the subject or object.

PatternsS + V + OS + linking V + subject complementS + V + O + object complement

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Distinguish action verbs from linking verbs.
Check whether the final phrase renames or describes something.

Examples

They elected Sara president.
The soup smells wonderful.

Common mistake: Do not treat every noun after a verb as a direct object.

SentenceBeginner

Basic sentence elements

English clauses are built around a subject and a verb, with optional objects, complements and adverbials.

PatternsSubject + VerbSubject + Verb + ObjectSubject + Linking Verb + Complement

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Identify the subject and main verb first.
Add objects or complements only when the verb requires them.

Examples

The child laughed.
Maya opened the window.

Common mistake: Do not omit the subject in ordinary English statements.

SentenceIntermediate

Word order and adverb placement

English relies strongly on word order. Frequency adverbs usually go before a lexical verb but after be.

PatternsSubject + adverb + lexical verbSubject + be + adverbVerb + object + manner/place/time

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Keep the object close to the verb.
Place frequency adverbs carefully.

Examples

She usually takes the bus.
They finished the work quickly.

Common mistake: Avoid separating a verb from its direct object with a long adverbial.

SentenceIntermediate

Fragments, run-ons and core punctuation

A complete sentence needs an independent clause. Two independent clauses need correct coordination or punctuation such as a period, semicolon, or comma plus coordinator.

Patternsindependent clause. Independent clause.independent clause; independent clauseindependent clause, and/but/so independent clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Recognize sentence fragments and comma splices.
Use punctuation to show clause boundaries.

Examples

The shop was closed, so we went home.
The rain stopped; we continued walking.

Common mistake: Do not join two independent clauses with only a comma.

Clauses & Conjunctions

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ClauseIntermediate

Coordinating vs subordinating conjunctions

Coordinators link equal units; subordinators make one clause dependent on another.

Patternsclause, and/but/so clausebecause/although/when + clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use a comma before a coordinator joining two full clauses.
Choose the conjunction for the logical relationship.

Examples

I called him, but he did not answer.
We left early because traffic was heavy.

Common mistake: Do not use because and so together for the same cause-result link.

ClauseAdvanced

Noun clauses and adverb clauses

A noun clause functions like a noun; an adverb clause adds information about time, reason, condition, contrast or purpose.

PatternsI know + that-clausewhat/why/how + clausesubordinator + adverb clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use statement word order inside most noun clauses.
Use adverb clauses to show logical relationships.

Examples

I know that she is ready.
Call me when you arrive.

Common mistake: Do not use question word order inside an embedded noun clause.

ClauseAdvanced

Purpose, result and concession clauses

Complex sentences can express purpose, result and concession with structures such as so that, so/such...that, although and even though.

Patternsso that + clauseso + adjective + thatsuch + noun phrase + thatalthough/even though + clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Choose the connector that matches the logical relation.
Distinguish purpose from result.

Examples

She whispered so that nobody could hear.
It was so cold that the lake froze.

Common mistake: Do not use although and but together in the same contrast structure.

ClauseBeginner

Independent and dependent clauses

An independent clause can stand alone; a dependent clause needs another clause to complete the meaning.

PatternsIndependent clauseSubordinator + dependent clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Recognize subordinators such as because, although, if and when.
Join clauses without creating fragments.

Examples

I stayed home because it was raining.
Although she was tired, she continued working.

Common mistake: A dependent clause by itself is usually a sentence fragment.

Subject–Verb Agreement

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Level Show

AgreementBeginner

Basic subject–verb agreement

In the present simple, third-person singular subjects normally take a verb ending in -s; plural subjects use the base form.

PatternsHe/She/It + verb-sI/You/We/They + base verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Find the true grammatical subject.
Ignore nearby nouns that are not the subject.

Examples

The teacher works here.
The teachers work here.

Common mistake: Do not make the verb agree with the nearest noun if that noun is not the subject.

AgreementIntermediate

Tricky agreement: each, every, either, neither

Words such as each, every, either and neither are normally singular when they are the grammatical head of the subject.

PatternsEach/Every + singular noun + singular verbEither/Neither + singular verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Check the head word of the subject phrase.
Use singular agreement with each/every in standard usage.

Examples

Each of the students has a locker.
Neither answer is correct.

Common mistake: Do not let a plural noun inside an of-phrase control the verb.

AgreementAdvanced

Agreement with there and relative clauses

PatternsThere is + singularThere are + pluralone of the people who are...

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Look beyond there to the following noun phrase.
Find the antecedent of the relative pronoun.

Examples

There are two messages for you.
She is one of the people who work here.

Common mistake: Do not make the relative-clause verb agree with an unrelated nearby noun.

AgreementAdvanced

Collective nouns and quantities

Collective nouns and expressions of amount can take singular or plural agreement depending on meaning and variety of English.

PatternsA team is... / The team are...Ten dollars is...

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Treat a measurement as one amount when appropriate.
Be consistent with your variety of English for collective nouns.

Examples

Ten dollars is enough.
The committee has reached a decision.

Common mistake: Do not assume every grammatically plural expression requires a plural verb.

Conditionals

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ConditionalIntermediate

Unless, provided that and as long as

Conditional meaning can be expressed with alternatives to if. Unless means if not; provided that and as long as express a necessary condition.

Patternsunless + affirmative clauseprovided/providing that + clauseas long as + clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use unless instead of if...not when the meaning is truly negative.
Use provided/as long as for conditions that must be satisfied.

Examples

I will go unless it rains.
You can borrow it as long as you return it tomorrow.

Common mistake: Avoid double negatives such as unless you do not... when you mean if you do not.

ConditionalIntermediate

Second conditional

The second conditional expresses unreal, imaginary or unlikely present and future situations.

PatternsIf + past simple, would + base verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Talk about imaginary situations.
Give advice with If I were you.

Examples

If I had more time, I would travel more.
If I were you, I would wait.

Common mistake: Do not normally use would in the if-clause.

ConditionalBeginner

Zero and first conditionals

The zero conditional describes general results; the first conditional describes a real future possibility.

PatternsIf + present, presentIf + present, will + base verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use zero conditional for facts and routines.
Use first conditional for realistic future possibilities.

Examples

If you heat ice, it melts.
If it rains, we will stay home.

Common mistake: Do not normally put will in the if-clause of a first conditional.

ConditionalAdvanced

Third and mixed conditionals

Third conditionals imagine a different past; mixed conditionals connect an unreal past with a present result or vice versa.

PatternsIf + past perfect, would have + past participleIf + past perfect, would + base verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Express past regret or imagined past results.
Connect past causes with present consequences in mixed conditionals.

Examples

If we had left earlier, we would have caught the train.
If I had studied medicine, I would be a doctor now.

Common mistake: Keep the time reference consistent with the meaning you want.

Passive & Causative

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PassiveIntermediate

Passive across tenses

The passive keeps the tense in the auxiliary be while the main verb stays in the past participle form.

Patternsis done / was done / has been done / will be done / is being done

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Match the auxiliary to the intended tense.
Keep the lexical verb in past participle form.

Examples

The road is being repaired.
The report has been finished.

Common mistake: Do not build the passive by changing only the main verb.

PassiveAdvanced

Reporting passives: It is said / He is believed

Formal English often reports general beliefs or claims with impersonal passive structures or subject + passive reporting verb + infinitive.

PatternsIt is said that + clauseSubject + is said/believed/thought + to-infinitive

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use these forms when the source is general or unimportant.
Choose a perfect infinitive for an earlier event when needed.

Examples

It is believed that the painting is authentic.
He is said to live in Canada.

Common mistake: Do not mix the active and passive reporting patterns in one structure.

PassiveBeginner

Passive voice basics

The passive focuses on the receiver of an action. It is formed with be plus a past participle.

Patternsbe + past participleObject of active sentence → subject of passive

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use the passive when the doer is unknown, obvious or less important.
Add by + agent only when the agent matters.

Examples

The door was opened at nine.
English is spoken in many countries.

Common mistake: Do not forget to change the form of be for tense and agreement.

PassiveAdvanced

Causative have and get

Have/get + object + past participle means that someone arranges for another person to perform a service or action.

Patternshave + object + past participleget + object + past participle

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use it for services and arranged actions.
Get is often less formal than have.

Examples

I had my car repaired yesterday.
She got her phone fixed.

Common mistake: Do not confuse I cut my hair with I had my hair cut.

Reported Speech

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ReportedBeginner

Reported statements

Reported speech retells what someone said, often with tense backshift when the reporting verb is in the past.

Patternssaid (that) + clausetold + object + clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Backshift tense when the context calls for it.
Use tell with an object.

Examples

She said that she was tired.
He told me that he needed help.

Common mistake: Do not say told that without specifying who was told.

ReportedAdvanced

Reporting verbs and their patterns

Different reporting verbs take different complements: infinitive, gerund, object + infinitive, or that-clause.

Patternsagree to dodeny doingadvise object to dosuggest that + clause / suggest doing

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Learn the complement pattern together with each reporting verb.
Use the pattern that matches the verb, not a single rule for all reporting verbs.

Examples

She admitted taking the money.
He advised me to wait.

Common mistake: Do not use suggest + object + to-infinitive in standard English.

ReportedIntermediate

Reported questions

Reported questions use statement word order and normally do not use do/does/did.

Patternsasked + wh-word + subject + verbasked + if/whether + subject + verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use if/whether for yes-no questions.
Keep statement word order after the question word.

Examples

She asked where I lived.
He asked if I was ready.

Common mistake: Do not keep direct-question inversion in a reported question.

ReportedAdvanced

Reported commands and time/place shifts

Commands are commonly reported with tell/ask + object + infinitive; time and place words may change according to viewpoint.

Patternstold/asked + object + to-infinitivenow → then; today → that day; here → there

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use a negative infinitive for negative commands.
Shift time/place references only when the viewpoint changes.

Examples

The doctor told me to rest.
She asked us not to be late.

Common mistake: Do not backshift mechanically when the original information is still current.

Gerunds & Infinitives

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GerundBeginner

Gerunds as nouns

A gerund is an -ing form functioning as a noun, for example as subject or object.

Patternsverb-ing as subject/objectpreposition + verb-ing

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use gerunds after prepositions.
Gerunds can be subjects of sentences.

Examples

Swimming is good exercise.
She is interested in learning Arabic.

Common mistake: Do not use a bare infinitive after an ordinary preposition.

GerundAdvanced

Gerund vs infinitive: change of meaning

With some verbs, gerund and infinitive are both possible but the meaning changes, such as remember, stop and try.

Patternsremember doing / remember to dostop doing / stop to dotry doing / try to do

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Learn the meaning pair, not just the form.
Use context to decide which complement is intended.

Examples

I stopped smoking last year.
I stopped to answer the phone.

Common mistake: Do not assume gerund and infinitive are interchangeable after every verb.

GerundIntermediate

To-infinitives and bare infinitives

Some verbs take to + infinitive, while modal verbs and certain structures take a bare infinitive.

Patternswant to gocan golet/make + object + base verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Learn verb complementation patterns.
Use bare infinitive after modal auxiliaries.

Examples

I want to leave early.
They made us wait.

Common mistake: Do not add to after a modal verb.

GerundAdvanced

Verb complementation patterns

English verbs select different complement types: gerund, to-infinitive, bare infinitive, object + infinitive, or that-clause. These patterns must often be learned with the verb.

Patternsavoid doingdecide to dolet someone dowant someone to doinsist that + clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Record the pattern whenever you learn a new verb.
Notice whether an object is required before the infinitive.

Examples

They avoided discussing the problem.
I want you to come early.

Common mistake: Do not assume two near-synonymous verbs take the same complement pattern.

Participles & Reduced Clauses

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ParticipleIntermediate

Participle clauses

Participle clauses compress information when the understood subject is the same as the subject of the main clause.

PatternsWalking home, ...Built in 1900, ...Having finished, ...

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use them to express time, reason or accompanying action.
Make sure the understood subject is clear.

Examples

Walking home, I saw an old friend.
Built in 1900, the house needs repairs.

Common mistake: Avoid dangling participles whose implied subject does not match the main clause.

ParticipleBeginner

Present and past participles

Present participles often describe an active or ongoing relation; past participles often describe a completed or passive relation.

Patternsverb-ingpast participle (V3)

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Distinguish bored from boring-type contrasts.
Recognize participles in verb forms and adjective-like uses.

Examples

The movie was boring.
We were bored.

Common mistake: Do not confuse the -ed experiencer with the -ing cause in common adjective pairs.

ParticipleAdvanced

Perfect participle clauses

Having + past participle shows that one action was completed before the action in the main clause. The passive form is having been + past participle.

PatternsHaving + past participle, main clauseHaving been + past participle, main clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use it when the earlier-before-later relationship matters.
Keep the understood subject the same as the main-clause subject.

Examples

Having finished the report, she went home.
Having been warned, they acted carefully.

Common mistake: Avoid a perfect participle if its implied subject does not match the main clause.

ParticipleAdvanced

Reduced relative clauses

Some relative clauses can be reduced to participle phrases when the meaning remains clear.

Patternspeople who live here → people living hereproducts that were made locally → products made locally

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Reduce active relatives with -ing when appropriate.
Reduce passive relatives with a past participle.

Examples

The people waiting outside are students.
The books written by her are popular.

Common mistake: Do not reduce a relative clause if the time or subject relationship becomes unclear.

Relative Clauses

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RelativeAdvanced

Whose, where and when in relative clauses

Whose expresses possession; where relates to places; when relates to times, though preposition + which is also possible in formal style.

Patternsperson whose + nounplace where + clausetime when + clause

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Choose the connector by its function.
Use whose for people and also for things when natural.

Examples

I met a writer whose books I admire.
That is the house where I grew up.

Common mistake: Do not confuse whose with who’s.

RelativeBeginner

Defining vs non-defining relative clauses

Defining relatives identify which person or thing; non-defining relatives add extra information and are set off by commas.

Patternsnoun + defining relativenoun, non-defining relative,

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use commas around non-defining relatives.
Do not normally use that in a non-defining relative clause.

Examples

The students who studied passed.
My brother, who lives in Boston, is visiting.

Common mistake: Punctuation changes whether the information is essential or additional.

RelativeAdvanced

Formal relatives with prepositions

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.

Patternsthe person to whom I spokethe company for which she works

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use whom after a fronted preposition for people in formal style.
Use which after a fronted preposition for things.

Examples

The person to whom I spoke was helpful.
This is the company for which she works.

Common mistake: Do not use that immediately after a fronted preposition.

RelativeIntermediate

Relative pronouns and omission

A relative pronoun can sometimes be omitted when it is the object of a defining relative clause, but not when it is the subject.

Patternsthe book (that) I boughtthe man who called

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Identify whether the relative pronoun is subject or object.
Omit object pronouns only where grammar allows.

Examples

The book I bought is useful.
The woman who called left a message.

Common mistake: Do not omit the relative pronoun when it is the subject of the relative clause.

Wishes & Hypotheticals

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HypotheticalBeginner

Wish for present and future situations

Wish + past form commonly expresses dissatisfaction with the present; wish + would can express a desired change in behavior or situation.

Patternswish + past simplewish + would + base verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use a past form for an unreal present wish.
Use would for a desired change, not usually for your own controllable action.

Examples

I wish I knew the answer.
I wish the bus would come.

Common mistake: Do not interpret the past form after wish as past time automatically.

HypotheticalIntermediate

Wish and if only for past regrets

Wish/if only + past perfect expresses regret about a past event that cannot be changed.

Patternswish/if only + had + past participle

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Express past regrets and imagined alternatives.
Use past perfect to move one step back from the past.

Examples

I wish I had studied harder.
If only we had left earlier.

Common mistake: Do not use simple past when the intended meaning is an unreal past regret.

HypotheticalAdvanced

As if and as though

As 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.

Patternsas if/as though + presentas if/as though + pastas if/as though + past perfect

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Choose tense according to reality and time.
Use unreal past forms when the comparison is not true.

Examples

He talks as if he knew everything.
She looked as though she had seen a ghost.

Common mistake: Do not treat the past form after as if as automatically referring to past time.

HypotheticalAdvanced

Would rather and it’s time

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.

Patternswould rather + base verbwould rather + subject + pastit is time + subject + past

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Express preferences directly.
Use the past form for unreal or desired present behavior after these expressions.

Examples

I would rather stay home.
It is time we went home.

Common mistake: The past form here may refer to present or future preference, not past time.

Inversion & Emphasis

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InversionAdvanced

So and such for fronted emphasis

In formal literary style, so + adjective or such + be can be fronted and followed by inversion for strong emphasis.

PatternsSo + adjective + auxiliary + subject + that...Such + be + noun phrase + that...

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Recognize this mainly in formal or literary writing.
Do not confuse it with ordinary so/such result clauses.

Examples

So difficult was the test that many students left early.
Such was the noise that we could not sleep.

Common mistake: Do not apply inversion after every occurrence of so or such.

InversionAdvanced

Conditional inversion

Formal conditionals can omit if and invert had, were or should with the subject.

PatternsHad I known, ...Were I you, ...Should you need help, ...

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use this mainly in formal style.
Keep the meaning equivalent to an if-clause.

Examples

Had I known, I would have called.
Should you need help, call me.

Common mistake: Do not invert any past verb; the pattern is limited to had, were and should structures.

InversionAdvanced

Inversion after negative adverbials

Formal emphasis can place a negative or restrictive adverbial first and invert the auxiliary and subject.

PatternsNever have I...Rarely do they...Not only did she...

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use an auxiliary before the subject after fronted negative adverbials.
Use do-support when no auxiliary is otherwise present.

Examples

Never have I seen such a view.
Rarely do they arrive late.

Common mistake: Do not invert ordinary sentences unless the trigger requires it.

InversionIntermediate

Emphatic do and cleft sentences

English can emphasize a statement with do/does/did or focus information with it-clefts and what-clefts.

PatternsI do agree.It was X that...What I need is...

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use emphatic do in affirmative statements for contrast or insistence.
Use clefts to focus one element.

Examples

I do understand your concern.
What I need is a quiet room.

Common mistake: Do not use emphatic do together with another finite auxiliary.

Advanced Structures

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AdvancedAdvanced

Fronting and topic–comment structure

Writers and speakers can move an element to the front to establish a topic, contrast or emphasis, especially in literary and conversational styles.

PatternsFronted adverbial + clauseObject/topic + clause/comment

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use fronting deliberately for information structure.
Keep the grammatical relationships clear after moving an element.

Examples

Into the room walked the manager.
This book, I really enjoyed.

Common mistake: Do not front elements so heavily that the sentence becomes ambiguous or unnatural.

AdvancedAdvanced

Ellipsis and substitution

English often avoids repetition by omitting recoverable words or replacing them with forms such as one, do, so and neither.

PatternsI can swim and she can too.the red oneI think so.

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use ellipsis only when the missing meaning is clear.
Use one/ones to substitute for countable nouns.

Examples

I ordered the blue shirt, not the red one.
She can drive, and I can too.

Common mistake: Do not omit information if the result becomes ambiguous.

AdvancedAdvanced

The subjunctive in formal English

After certain verbs and adjectives, especially in formal American English, a that-clause may use the base verb for all subjects.

Patternsrecommend that + subject + base verbit is essential that + subject + base verb

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Use it after verbs such as recommend, insist and suggest in formal style.
Recognize alternative should-structures in British English.

Examples

They recommended that he apply early.
It is essential that she be informed.

Common mistake: Do not add third-person -s to the subjunctive base form.

AdvancedIntermediate

Parallel structure

Items joined in a list or comparison should normally have matching grammatical form.

Patternsto read, to write, and to speakreading, writing, and speaking

Examples, uses & common mistakes

Key points

Keep coordinated items in the same grammatical pattern.
Use parallel structure in lists and paired constructions.

Examples

She likes reading, writing, and painting.
The job requires patience, accuracy, and speed.

Common mistake: Avoid mixing an infinitive, gerund and full clause in one coordinated list without reason.

Compare easily confused structures

Side-by-side study cards for grammar distinctions learners commonly mix up.

Passive

Passive across tenses

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 done

Watch out: Do not build the passive by changing only the main verb.

Agreement

Tricky agreement: each, every, either, neither

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 verb

Watch out: Do not let a plural noun inside an of-phrase control the verb.

Advanced

Ellipsis and substitution

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.

Watch out: Do not omit information if the result becomes ambiguous.

Hypothetical

Wish and if only for past regrets

Wish/if only + past perfect expresses regret about a past event that cannot be changed.

wish/if only + had + past participle

Watch out: Do not use simple past when the intended meaning is an unreal past regret.

Gerund

Gerund vs infinitive: change of meaning

With 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 do

Watch out: Do not assume gerund and infinitive are interchangeable after every verb.

Inversion

Inversion after negative adverbials

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...

Watch out: Do not invert ordinary sentences unless the trigger requires it.

Relative

Defining vs non-defining relative clauses

Defining relatives identify which person or thing; non-defining relatives add extra information and are set off by commas.

noun + defining relativenoun, non-defining relative,

Watch out: Punctuation changes whether the information is essential or additional.

Reported

Reported questions

Reported questions use statement word order and normally do not use do/does/did.

asked + wh-word + subject + verbasked + if/whether + subject + verb

Watch out: Do not keep direct-question inversion in a reported question.

Clause

Independent and dependent clauses

An independent clause can stand alone; a dependent clause needs another clause to complete the meaning.

Independent clauseSubordinator + dependent clause

Watch out: A dependent clause by itself is usually a sentence fragment.

Participle

Reduced relative clauses

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 locally

Watch out: Do not reduce a relative clause if the time or subject relationship becomes unclear.

Conditional

Third and mixed conditionals

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 verb

Watch out: Keep the time reference consistent with the meaning you want.

Sentence

Word order and adverb placement

English 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/time

Watch out: Avoid separating a verb from its direct object with a long adverbial.

Random example bank

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Grammar structures quiz

Questions and answer choices are randomized for every new attempt.

Area Level Questions

Learn English From Scratch

A0: Absolute Beginner (Zero English)

Topic: Grammar Foundation

Subtopic: Personal Pronouns
Required Lesson: Meet the Pronouns: Who is Who? (I, You, He, She)

Subtopic: The Verb "To Be" (Present)
Required Lesson: I Am, You Are: Your First Verbs

Subtopic: Demonstrative Pronouns
Required Lesson: Pointing Things Out: This, That, These, Those

Subtopic: Indefinite Articles
Required Lesson: A or An? First Steps with Nouns

Subtopic: Regular Plural Nouns
Required Lesson: Adding 'S': Making Nouns Plural

Subtopic: Possessive Adjectives
Required Lesson: It's Mine: Talking About Ownership (My, Your, His)

Subtopic: Basic Imperatives
Required Lesson: Stand Up, Sit Down: Giving Simple Commands

Subtopic: Yes/No Questions with "To Be"
Required Lesson: Are You Ready? Asking Your First Questions

Subtopic: Basic Question Words
Required Lesson: The 3 Ws: Asking What, Who, and Where

Subtopic: Ability (Can/Cannot)
Required Lesson: I Can Do It: Expressing Basic Ability

Topic: Core Vocabulary

Subtopic: Alphabet & Phonics
Required Lesson: A to Z: The Sounds of English

Subtopic: Numbers 1-20
Required Lesson: Counting from One to Twenty

Subtopic: Essential Greetings
Required Lesson: Hello, Goodbye, and Please: Basic Manners

Subtopic: Colors
Required Lesson: Red, Blue, Green: Coloring Your Vocabulary

Subtopic: Days of the Week
Required Lesson: Monday to Sunday: The Weekly Cycle

Subtopic: Months of the Year
Required Lesson: January to December: Tracking the Year

Subtopic: Immediate Family
Required Lesson: Mother, Father, Sister, Brother: Your Household

Subtopic: Classroom Objects
Required Lesson: Pens, Desks, and Books: Your Learning Tools

Subtopic: Basic Body Parts
Required Lesson: Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes

Subtopic: Simple Food and Drink
Required Lesson: Water, Bread, and Apples: Basic Sustenance

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A1: Beginner

Topic: Grammar Basics

Subtopic: Present Simple (Affirmative)
Required Lesson: Daily Habits: What I Do Every Day

Subtopic: Present Simple (Negative & Interrogative)
Required Lesson: Do You? I Don't: Questions and Negatives

Subtopic: Adverbs of Frequency
Required Lesson: Always, Sometimes, Never: How Often?

Subtopic: Present Continuous
Required Lesson: Right Now: Actions Happening in the Moment

Subtopic: There is / There are
Required Lesson: Describing Your Room: What is There?

Subtopic: Prepositions of Place
Required Lesson: In, On, Under, Next To: Locating Objects

Subtopic: Have got / Has got
Required Lesson: What Do You Possess? Showing Ownership

Subtopic: Quantifiers (Some/Any)
Required Lesson: Some Apples, Any Sugar: Basic Quantities

Subtopic: Past Simple (Verb 'To Be')
Required Lesson: I Was, You Were: Your First Past Tense

Subtopic: Object Pronouns
Required Lesson: Me, Him, Us: Receiving the Action

Topic: Everyday Vocabulary

Subtopic: Telling Time
Required Lesson: What Time Is It? Half Past and Quarter To

Subtopic: Daily Routines
Required Lesson: Wake Up, Brush Teeth: Describing Your Day

Subtopic: Clothes & Accessories
Required Lesson: Shirts, Shoes, and Hats: Getting Dressed

Subtopic: Weather and Seasons
Required Lesson: Rain or Shine: Talking About the Weather

Subtopic: Rooms in the House
Required Lesson: Kitchen, Bedroom, and Bath: Home Vocabulary

Subtopic: Common Jobs
Required Lesson: Doctors, Teachers, and Drivers: Who Does What?

Subtopic: Transportation
Required Lesson: Cars, Trains, and Planes: Getting Around

Subtopic: Hobbies and Interests
Required Lesson: What Do You Do For Fun? Free Time Activities

Subtopic: Places in Town
Required Lesson: The Park, the Bank, and the Supermarket

Subtopic: Basic Adjectives (Opposites)
Required Lesson: Big and Small, Hot and Cold: Describing Things

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A2: Elementary

Topic: Expanding Grammar

Subtopic: Past Simple (Regular Verbs)
Required Lesson: Adding -ed: What Happened Yesterday

Subtopic: Past Simple (Irregular Verbs)
Required Lesson: Went, Saw, Had: Mastering the Exceptions

Subtopic: Past Continuous
Required Lesson: I Was Reading: Interrupted Actions in the Past

Subtopic: Future with 'Going to'
Required Lesson: My Next Vacation: Intentions and Plans

Subtopic: Future with 'Will'
Required Lesson: I Will Help You: Spontaneous Decisions and Predictions

Subtopic: Comparative Adjectives
Required Lesson: Taller and Faster: Comparing Two Things

Subtopic: Superlative Adjectives
Required Lesson: The Tallest and The Fastest: The Extremes

Subtopic: Modals of Advice
Required Lesson: Giving Advice: What You Should and Shouldn't Do

Subtopic: Much / Many / A lot of
Required Lesson: Countable vs. Uncountable: Dealing with Large Quantities

Subtopic: Gerunds vs. Infinitives (Basics)
Required Lesson: I Like Swimming vs. I Want to Swim

Topic: Situational Vocabulary

Subtopic: Shopping & Money
Required Lesson: How Much Is It? Coins, Cash, and Receipts

Subtopic: Food and Restaurants
Required Lesson: Menus, Ordering, and Tipping Your Waiter

Subtopic: Travel & Holidays
Required Lesson: Passports, Luggage, and Boarding Passes

Subtopic: Health & Illness
Required Lesson: Aches, Pains, and Medicine: At the Clinic

Subtopic: Describing Appearance
Required Lesson: Tall, Blonde, and Blue-Eyed: Physical Traits

Subtopic: Describing Personality
Required Lesson: Kind, Funny, and Shy: Character Traits

Subtopic: Technology and the Internet
Required Lesson: Screens, Clicking, and Surfing the Web

Subtopic: Education and School
Required Lesson: Subjects, Exams, and Homework

Subtopic: Animals and Nature
Required Lesson: Pets, Farm Animals, and the Great Outdoors

Subtopic: Directions and Navigation
Required Lesson: Turn Left, Go Straight: Finding Your Way

---

B1: Intermediate

Topic: Intermediate Grammar

Subtopic: Present Perfect Simple
Required Lesson: I Have Seen It: Experiences and Unfinished Time

Subtopic: Present Perfect vs. Past Simple
Required Lesson: Finished vs. Unfinished: Choosing the Right Tense

Subtopic: Present Perfect Continuous
Required Lesson: I Have Been Waiting: Focus on Duration

Subtopic: First Conditional
Required Lesson: If It Rains, I Will Stay: Real Future Possibilities

Subtopic: Second Conditional
Required Lesson: If I Won the Lottery: Imaginary Situations

Subtopic: Passive Voice (Present & Past)
Required Lesson: The Book Was Written: Focusing on the Object

Subtopic: 'Used To' for Past Habits
Required Lesson: I Used to Play: Past Habits That Have Changed

Subtopic: Modals of Deduction (Present)
Required Lesson: It Must Be True: Making Logical Guesses

Subtopic: Defining Relative Clauses
Required Lesson: The Man Who Called: Giving Essential Information

Subtopic: Question Tags
Required Lesson: It's a Beautiful Day, Isn't It? Confirming Information

Topic: Practical & Professional Vocabulary

Subtopic: The Workplace
Required Lesson: Colleagues, Meetings, and Deadlines

Subtopic: Everyday Phrasal Verbs
Required Lesson: Get Up, Look After, Give Up: Common Multi-word Verbs

Subtopic: Emotions and Feelings
Required Lesson: Beyond Happy: Anxious, Thrilled, and Upset

Subtopic: Relationships and Dating
Required Lesson: Getting Along, Falling Out, and Making Up

Subtopic: The Environment
Required Lesson: Pollution, Recycling, and Climate Change

Subtopic: Media and News
Required Lesson: Headlines, Broadcasters, and Social Media

Subtopic: Crime and Punishment
Required Lesson: Theft, Courts, and the Police

Subtopic: Sports and Fitness
Required Lesson: Tournaments, Equipment, and Working Out

Subtopic: Art and Culture
Required Lesson: Exhibitions, Masterpieces, and Performances

Subtopic: Prefixes and Suffixes
Required Lesson: Un-, Dis-, -ness, -ly: Building New Words

---

B2: Upper-Intermediate

Topic: Advanced Grammar Structures

Subtopic: Past Perfect Simple
Required Lesson: Before It Happened: The Past in the Past

Subtopic: Past Perfect Continuous
Required Lesson: I Had Been Running: Duration Before a Past Event

Subtopic: Future Perfect & Future Continuous
Required Lesson: I Will Be Waiting vs. I Will Have Finished

Subtopic: Third Conditional
Required Lesson: If I Had Known: Regrets About the Past

Subtopic: Mixed Conditionals
Required Lesson: If I Had Studied, I Would Be Rich Now

Subtopic: Reported Speech
Required Lesson: He Asked Me Where I Was Going: Relaying Conversations

Subtopic: Advanced Passive Voice
Required Lesson: It Is Said That... Impersonal Passives

Subtopic: Modals of Deduction (Past)
Required Lesson: He Must Have Forgotten: Guesses About the Past

Subtopic: Non-Defining Relative Clauses
Required Lesson: My Brother, Who Lives in Paris, is Coming

Subtopic: Wishes and Regrets
Required Lesson: I Wish I Had More Time: Using Wish and If Only

Topic: Expressive & Nuanced Vocabulary

Subtopic: Business English (Advanced)
Required Lesson: Negotiations, Contracts, and Corporate Jargon

Subtopic: Advanced Phrasal Verbs
Required Lesson: Bring About, Rule Out, Put Up With

Subtopic: Collocations
Required Lesson: Make vs. Do, Catch, Keep: Words That Belong Together

Subtopic: Idioms (Body Parts)
Required Lesson: Keep an Eye On, Cost an Arm and a Leg

Subtopic: Science and Technology
Required Lesson: Breakthroughs, AI, and Genetic Engineering

Subtopic: Politics and Society
Required Lesson: Elections, Policies, and Civic Duty

Subtopic: Finance and Economics
Required Lesson: Inflation, Investments, and the Stock Market

Subtopic: Travel Idioms and Metaphors
Required Lesson: Off the Beaten Path: Advanced Travel Talk

Subtopic: Formal vs. Informal Language
Required Lesson: Elevating Your Tone for Emails and Essays

Subtopic: Strong Adjectives
Required Lesson: Furious, Starving, and Exhausted: Extreme Words

---

C1: Advanced

Topic: Nuanced Grammar Mechanics

Subtopic: Inversion for Emphasis
Required Lesson: Rarely Have I Seen: Flipping Subject and Verb

Subtopic: Cleft Sentences
Required Lesson: It Was John Who Broke the Vase: Highlighting Information

Subtopic: Participle Clauses
Required Lesson: Walking Down the Street, I Saw a Friend

Subtopic: Advanced Gerunds and Infinitives
Required Lesson: To Have Done vs. Having Done: Perfect Forms

Subtopic: Noun Clauses
Required Lesson: I Don't Know What He Wants: Clauses as Objects

Subtopic: Subjunctive Mood
Required Lesson: I Recommend That He Study Harder

Subtopic: Ellipsis and Substitution
Required Lesson: Leaving Words Out to Sound Like a Native Speaker

Subtopic: Dummy Subjects (It / There)
Required Lesson: It Turns Out That... Structuring Complex Thoughts

Subtopic: Emphatic 'Do'
Required Lesson: I Do Believe That Is Incorrect: Adding Stress

Subtopic: Complex Prepositional Phrases
Required Lesson: In Accordance With, By Means Of: Formal Linking

Topic: Sophisticated Lexicon

Subtopic: Academic Vocabulary
Required Lesson: Analyzing, Synthesizing, and Evaluating Data

Subtopic: Colorful Idioms (Nature & Animals)
Required Lesson: Barking Up the Wrong Tree: Figurative Language

Subtopic: Subtle Synonyms
Required Lesson: Differentiating Between Look, Stare, Gaze, and Glare

Subtopic: Proverbs and Sayings
Required Lesson: A Stitch in Time Saves Nine: Cultural Wisdom

Subtopic: Humor, Sarcasm, and Irony
Required Lesson: Reading the Room: Understanding Implicit Meanings

Subtopic: Neologisms and Modern Slang
Required Lesson: Internet Speak and the Evolving English Language

Subtopic: Philosophy and Abstract Concepts
Required Lesson: Ethics, Existentialism, and Morality

Subtopic: Law and Justice
Required Lesson: Litigation, Precedent, and Liability

Subtopic: Medicine and Anatomy (Advanced)
Required Lesson: Pathology, Diagnostics, and Neurology

Subtopic: Expressing Certainty and Doubt
Required Lesson: Undoubtedly, Ostensibly, and Supposedly

---

C2: Mastery

Topic: Structural Perfection

Subtopic: Fronting and Dislocation
Required Lesson: That Movie, I Didn't Like It At All: Native Stylistics

Subtopic: Complex Compound Modifiers
Required Lesson: A Never-To-Be-Forgotten Experience: Chaining Adjectives

Subtopic: Nominalization
Required Lesson: Turning Verbs into Nouns for Ultra-Formal Writing

Subtopic: Dependent Prepositions with Abstract Nouns
Required Lesson: A Fascination With, An Aversion To: Precise Pairings

Subtopic: Syntactic Ambiguity Resolution
Required Lesson: Clarifying Complex Multi-Clause Sentences

Subtopic: Archaisms and Literary Grammar
Required Lesson: Thee, Thou, and Poetic Inversions

Subtopic: Dialectical Grammar Variations
Required Lesson: AAVE, Scouse, and Regional Syntax Differences

Subtopic: Advanced Articles Usage
Required Lesson: The Concept of 'The' with Abstract Ideas

Subtopic: Punctuation for Rhetorical Effect
Required Lesson: The Em Dash, Semicolons, and Stylistic Choices

Subtopic: Micro-Grammar in Spoken Discourse
Required Lesson: Fillers, Hedging, and Backchanneling in Conversation

Topic: Complete Lexical Dominance

Subtopic: Obscure Vocabulary and Eloquence
Required Lesson: Ephemeral, Sycophant, and Mellifluous: Big Words

Subtopic: Register and Code-Switching
Required Lesson: Moving Fluidly Between Street Slang and Boardroom Talk

Subtopic: Regional Slang (Global English)
Required Lesson: Blokes, Bogans, and Y'all: UK, AUS, and US Slang

Subtopic: Etymology and Root Words
Required Lesson: Latin and Greek Roots: Decoding Unknown Words

Subtopic: Literary Devices
Required Lesson: Metaphor, Simile, Synecdoche, and Metonymy

Subtopic: Nuances of Translation
Required Lesson: Untranslatable Concepts and Cultural Context

Subtopic: Professional Jargon (Cross-Industry)
Required Lesson: Synergy, Paradigm Shifts, and Scalability

Subtopic: Historical English Evolution
Required Lesson: How Shakespeare Shaped the Way We Speak Today

Subtopic: Rhetorical Strategies
Required Lesson: Pathos, Logos, and Ethos in English Persuasion

Subtopic: Idiomatic Mastery
Required Lesson: Weaving Multiple Idioms Naturally into a Single Thought

Phrasal Verbs: All-in-One tabs

Complete verb learning center

Phrasal Verbs & Other Verbs

Browse, compare, learn usage, and practice with randomized quizzes from one learning card.

7 learning sections

check+up+on

Ultra Core

check, verify, or examine someone or something

Example

Please check up on that information before publishing it.

Grammar & classification

Three Word Inseparable Transitive Particle: up Check Verify

Help / Guide

How to Use Phrasal Verbs and Other Verbs

Phrasal verbs

A phrasal verb combines a base verb with one or more particles. The complete expression can have a meaning that is not predictable from the individual words.

Separable phrasal verbs

A noun object can often go after the particle or between the verb and particle: turn off the light / turn the light off. A pronoun normally goes in the middle: turn it off.

Inseparable and three-word forms

Keep inseparable forms together, for example look after someone. Three-word forms such as put up with and look forward to are normally inseparable.

Tense

The tense changes the base verb, not the particle: find out → found out → has found out.

Other verbs

Study an ordinary verb with its meaning and a complete sentence. Also learn irregular past forms and whether the verb is transitive, intransitive, or can be both.

Recommended learning order

Start with Ultra Core, continue with Common, then use the Full List.
Group phrasal verbs by base verb, then compare them by primary particle such as up, out, off, in, and over.
Compare verbs with similar meanings but different base verbs.
Use the quiz repeatedly and change level and question type.

Vocabulary families

Same meaning, different base verb

Compare close alternatives in context. Similar does not always mean interchangeable; examples show the intended sense.

Activate

turn on Base: turn

start or activate a machine, device, or system

Can you turn on the system?

switch on Base: switch

start or activate a machine, device, or system

Can you switch on the system?

boot up Base: boot

start a computer or electronic system

The computer takes a minute to boot up.

power up Base: power

start or activate a machine, device, or system

Can you power up the system?

Arrive Appear

turn up Base: turn

arrive or appear, often unexpectedly

He may turn up later than expected.

show up Base: show

arrive or appear, often unexpectedly

He may show up later than expected.

Become Less

let up Base: let

become less strong, severe, or intense

The rain should let up this evening.

die down Base: die

become gradually less strong, noisy, or active

The wind should die down tonight.

ease off Base: ease

become less strong, severe, or intense

The rain should ease off later this afternoon.

Call Phone

call up Base: call

telephone someone

I will call up you after dinner.

ring up Base: ring

telephone someone

I will ring up you after dinner.

Call Return

call back Base: call

return a telephone call

I will call back as soon as I am free.

ring back Base: ring

return a telephone call

I will ring back as soon as I am free.

Choose Select

pick out Base: pick

choose, identify, or select someone or something

Can you pick out the best option?

single out Base: single

choose, identify, or select someone or something

Can you single out the best option?

Clean Organize

clean up Base: clean

clean, organize, or remove unwanted material from a place

We need to clean up the kitchen before the guests arrive.

clear out Base: clear

clean, organize, or remove unwanted material from a place

We need to clear out the kitchen before the guests arrive.

tidy up Base: tidy

clean, organize, or remove unwanted material from a place

We need to tidy up the kitchen before the guests arrive.

Continue

carry on Base: carry

continue doing something

We need to carry on until the work is finished.

go on Base: go

continue doing something

We need to go on until the work is finished.

keep on Base: keep

continue doing something

We need to keep on until the work is finished.

push on Base: push

continue doing something

We need to push on until the work is finished.

Deactivate

turn off Base: turn

stop or deactivate a machine, device, or system

Please turn off the computer before you leave.

shut off Base: shut

stop or deactivate a machine, device, or system

Please shut off the computer before you leave.

switch off Base: switch

stop or deactivate a machine, device, or system

Please switch off the computer before you leave.

power down Base: power

stop or deactivate a machine, device, or system

Please power down the computer before you leave.

Decrease

come down Base: come

decrease in amount, level, speed, or intensity

The noise should come down after midnight.

fall off Base: fall

decrease in amount, level, speed, or intensity

The noise should fall off after midnight.

go down Base: go

decrease in amount, level, speed, or intensity

The noise should go down after midnight.

drop off Base: drop

decrease in amount, level, speed, or intensity

The noise should drop off after midnight.

Distribute

give out Base: give

give or distribute something to several people

Please give out these papers to the class.

pass out Base: pass

give or distribute something to several people

Please pass out these papers to the class.

hand out Base: hand

give or distribute something to several people

Please hand out these papers to the class.

dish out Base: dish

break out Base: break

escape from a place, person, or difficult situation

They managed to break out before anyone noticed.

get away Base: get

escape from a place, person, or difficult situation

They managed to get away before anyone noticed.

run away Base: run

escape from a place, person, or difficult situation

They managed to run away before anyone noticed.

Practice

Phrasal Verbs Quiz

Practice meanings, particles, base verbs, and grammar.

Automatic question type Level Questions

Build your core verb vocabulary

Other Verbs Library

Study ordinary verb entries with meanings, forms, examples, translations, and related meanings.

20of 71 shown

Search Level Meaning group Sort Number to show

notice

Regular•noticed•noticed

Common

to become aware of something

Example

I noticed a small change in the design.

Grammar & classification

Regular Transitive Past: noticed Participle: noticed Discover

accept

Regular•accepted•accepted

Ultra Core

to agree to receive, approve, or take something

Example

She accepted the job offer.

Grammar & classification

Regular Transitive Past: accepted Participle: accepted Receive Or Agree

decide

Regular•decided•decided

Ultra Core

to make a choice after thinking

Example

We decided to leave early.

Grammar & classification

Regular Both Past: decided Participle: decided Choose

want

Regular•wanted•wanted

Ultra Core

to have a desire for something

Example

I want to improve my English.

Grammar & classification

Regular Transitive Past: wanted Participle: wanted Want

admire

Regular•admired•admired

Common

to respect or approve of someone or something greatly

Example

I admire her patience.

Grammar & classification

Regular Transitive Past: admired Participle: admired Respect

celebrate

Regular•celebrated•celebrated

Common

to do something special for an important event

Example

We celebrated her graduation.

Grammar & classification

Regular Both Past: celebrated Participle: celebrated Celebrate

understand

Irregular•understood•understood

Ultra Core

to know the meaning or reason for something

Example

I understand the main idea now.

Grammar & classification

Irregular Transitive Past: understood Participle: understood Understand

discover

Regular•discovered•discovered

Common

to find or learn something for the first time

Example

We discovered a problem in the data.

Grammar & classification

Regular Transitive Past: discovered Participle: discovered Discover

contain

Regular•contained•contained

Common

to have something inside

Example

This box contains old photographs.

Grammar & classification

Regular Transitive Past: contained Participle: contained Include

depend

Regular•depended•depended

Ultra Core

to be determined by or rely on something

Example

The final price depends on the size.

Grammar & classification

Regular Intransitive Past: depended Participle: depended Rely

visit

Regular•visited•visited

Ultra Core

to go to see a person or place

Example

We visited the museum on Saturday.

Grammar & classification

Regular Transitive Past: visited Participle: visited Visit

create

Regular•created•created

Ultra Core

to make something new

Example

They created a simple training plan.

Grammar & classification

Regular Transitive Past: created Participle: created Make

discuss

Regular•discussed•discussed

Ultra Core

to talk about a subject with other people

Example

We discussed the plan after the meeting.

Grammar & classification

Regular Transitive Past: discussed Participle: discussed Communicate

achieve

Regular•achieved•achieved

Common

to successfully reach a goal

Example

He achieved his goal after years of work.

Grammar & classification

Regular Transitive Past: achieved Participle: achieved Succeed

deserve

Regular•deserved•deserved

Common

to be worthy of something

Example

You deserve a break after that work.

Grammar & classification

Regular Transitive Past: deserved Participle: deserved Merit

wish

Regular•wished•wished

Common

to want something that may not be easy or possible

Example

I wish I had more free time.

Grammar & classification

Regular Both Past: wished Participle: wished Want

receive

Regular•received•received

Ultra Core

to get something that is sent or given to you

Example

We received your message this morning.

Grammar & classification

Regular Transitive Past: received Participle: received Receive Or Agree

require

Regular•required•required

Common

to need something, often as a rule or condition

Example

This job requires a valid license.

Grammar & classification

Regular Transitive Past: required Participle: required Need

explain

Regular•explained•explained

Ultra Core

to make something clear by giving details

Example

Can you explain this rule again?

Grammar & classification

Regular Transitive Past: explained Participle: explained Explain

remember

Regular•remembered•remembered

Ultra Core

to keep or bring information back to your mind

Example

Remember to lock the door.

Grammar & classification

Regular Both Past: remembered Participle: remembered Remember

Vocabulary families

Other verbs with related meanings

Compare close alternatives in context. Similar does not always mean interchangeable; examples show the intended sense.

Choose

choose

to decide which person or thing you want

Choose the answer that fits best.

decide

to make a choice after thinking

We decided to leave early.

prefer

to like one thing more than another

I prefer tea to coffee.

Communicate

announce

to make information known publicly

The company announced a new service.

discuss

to talk about a subject with other people

We discussed the plan after the meeting.

mention

to refer to something briefly

She mentioned your name during the meeting.

Consent

agree

to have the same opinion or to consent

I agree with your main point.

approve

to officially accept or agree to something

The manager approved the request.

Discover

discover

to find or learn something for the first time

We discovered a problem in the data.

notice

to become aware of something

I noticed a small change in the design.

realize

to suddenly understand or become aware of something

I realized that I had the wrong address.

Explain

describe

to say what someone or something is like

Describe what happened in your own words.

explain

to make something clear by giving details

Can you explain this rule again?

Finish

complete

to finish something fully

Please complete the form today.

finish

to bring an activity to an end

I finished the report this morning.

Happen

happen

to take place or occur

What happened after the meeting?

occur

to happen, especially in formal English

The error occurred during installation.

Improve

develop

to grow, improve, or create over time

She developed a useful new skill.

improve

to make or become better

Practice will improve your pronunciation.

Include

contain

to have something inside

This box contains old photographs.

include

to contain something as part of a whole

The price includes breakfast.

Need

need

to require something because it is necessary

We need more time to finish.

require

to need something, often as a rule or condition

This job requires a valid license.

Receive Or Agree

accept

to agree to receive, approve, or take something

She accepted the job offer.

receive

to get something that is sent or given to you

We received your message this morning.

Recommend

advise

to give someone a recommendation about what to do

The doctor advised me to rest.

recommend

to say that something is good or suitable

I recommend this book for beginners.

suggest

to present an idea or possibility for consideration

She suggested taking an earlier train.

Respect

admire

to respect or approve of someone or something greatly

I admire her patience.

respect

to feel admiration for someone or treat them properly

Students should respect one another.

Seem Or Become Visible

appear

to become visible or seem to be something

A small error appeared on the screen.

seem

to give the impression of being something

The task seems easier now.

Succeed

achieve

to successfully reach a goal

He achieved his goal after years of work.

manage

to succeed in doing something difficult or to control something

He managed to solve the problem.

Practice

Other Verbs Quiz

Practice meanings, forms, and usage of the Other Verbs collection.

Automatic question type Level Questions