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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.
Some verbs take to + infinitive, while modal verbs and certain structures take a bare infinitive.
want to gocan golet/make + object + 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 participleIn 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 worksWriters 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/commentWhose 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 + 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 → thereA 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 clauseHaving + 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 clauseEnglish 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.Objects receive the action, while complements describe or identify the subject or object.
S + V + OS + linking V + subject complementS + V + O + object complementAn independent clause can stand alone; a dependent clause needs another clause to complete the meaning.
Independent clauseSubordinator + dependent clauseDifferent reporting verbs take different complements: infinitive, gerund, object + infinitive, or that-clause.
agree to dodeny doingadvise object to dosuggest that + clause / suggest doingFormal 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...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 doSome 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 locallyA 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 clauseA gerund is an -ing form functioning as a noun, for example as subject or object.
verb-ing as subject/objectpreposition + verb-ingIn 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...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 verbFormal 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-infinitiveCollective 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...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 calledThe zero conditional describes general results; the first conditional describes a real future possibility.
If + present, presentIf + present, will + 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,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 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 perfectComplex 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 + clauseEnglish clauses are built around a subject and a verb, with optional objects, complements and adverbials.
Subject + VerbSubject + Verb + ObjectSubject + Linking Verb + ComplementIn 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...Items joined in a list or comparison should normally have matching grammatical form.
to read, to write, and to speakreading, writing, and speakingPresent participles often describe an active or ongoing relation; past participles often describe a completed or passive relation.
verb-ingpast participle (V3)In 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 verbWould 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 + pastThe 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 passiveThe 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 doneWish + past form commonly expresses dissatisfaction with the present; wish + would can express a desired change in behavior or situation.
wish + past simplewish + would + base verbWish/if only + past perfect expresses regret about a past event that cannot be changed.
wish/if only + had + past participleThe second conditional expresses unreal, imaginary or unlikely present and future situations.
If + past simple, would + 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 + clauseCoordinators link equal units; subordinators make one clause dependent on another.
clause, and/but/so clausebecause/although/when + clauseReported questions use statement word order and normally do not use do/does/did.
asked + wh-word + subject + verbasked + if/whether + subject + verbEnglish 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 + clauseParticiple clauses compress information when the understood subject is the same as the subject of the main clause.
Walking home, ...Built in 1900, ...Having finished, ...After 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 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/timeEnglish 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 conditionals can omit if and invert had, were or should with the subject.
Had I known, ...Were I you, ...Should you need help, ...Reported speech retells what someone said, often with tense backshift when the reporting verb is in the past.
said (that) + clausetold + object + clauseCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
Objects receive the action, while complements describe or identify the subject or object.
S + V + OS + linking V + subject complementS + V + O + object complementA 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 clauseEnglish clauses are built around a subject and a verb, with optional objects, complements and adverbials.
Subject + VerbSubject + Verb + ObjectSubject + Linking Verb + 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/timeCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
A 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 clauseAn independent clause can stand alone; a dependent clause needs another clause to complete the meaning.
Independent clauseSubordinator + dependent 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 + clauseCoordinators link equal units; subordinators make one clause dependent on another.
clause, and/but/so clausebecause/although/when + clauseCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
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 verbCollective 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...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...In 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 verbThird 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 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 + clauseCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
Have/get + object + past participle means that someone arranges for another person to perform a service or action.
have + object + past participleget + object + past participleFormal 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-infinitiveThe 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 passiveThe 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 doneCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
Commands 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 → thereDifferent reporting verbs take different complements: infinitive, gerund, object + infinitive, or that-clause.
agree to dodeny doingadvise object to dosuggest that + clause / suggest doingReported questions use statement word order and normally do not use do/does/did.
asked + wh-word + subject + verbasked + if/whether + subject + verbReported speech retells what someone said, often with tense backshift when the reporting verb is in the past.
said (that) + clausetold + object + clauseCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
Some verbs take to + infinitive, while modal verbs and certain structures take a bare infinitive.
want to gocan golet/make + object + base verbWith 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 doA 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 + clauseCards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
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 locallyPresent 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, ...Cards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
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 worksWhose 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 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 calledDefining relatives identify which person or thing; non-defining relatives add extra information and are set off by commas.
noun + defining relativenoun, non-defining relative,Cards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
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.
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 + past form commonly expresses dissatisfaction with the present; wish + would can express a desired change in behavior or situation.
wish + past simplewish + would + base verbWish/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 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...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 conditionals can omit if and invert had, were or should with the subject.
Had I known, ...Were I you, ...Should you need help, ...Cards are shuffled on each fresh page load. Use the controls to focus the lesson set.
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/commentEnglish 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.Items 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.
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.An independent clause can stand alone; a dependent clause needs another clause to complete the meaning.
Independent clauseSubordinator + dependent clauseFormal 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...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 doSome 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 locallyWords 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 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,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 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 doneWish/if only + past perfect expresses regret about a past event that cannot be changed.
wish/if only + had + past participleReported questions use statement word order and normally do not use do/does/did.
asked + wh-word + subject + verbasked + if/whether + subject + 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/timeExamples come from the editable lesson database and change order each load.
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record information in writing
Please write down the address.
make an image or view appear closer and larger
Use the control to zoom in on the map.
turn something to the other side or transfer control
Please turn over the page.
Sense: flip to the other side.
occupy time or space, or keep someone busy
The meeting could tie up most of the morning.
enter a building or place illegally or by force
Someone tried to break into the store last night.
stop living in a home and leave it
They plan to move out at the end of the month.
recover from an illness, difficulty, shock, or setback
The doctors believe he will pull through.
increase gradually or accumulate over time
Stress can build up over several weeks.
accept or tolerate an unpleasant situation or behavior
I cannot live with that noise every night.
compensate for a loss, mistake, or disadvantage
We will make up for the lost time tomorrow.
require or make something necessary
This job may call for extra training.
begin living in a new home or place
They will move in next weekend.
investigate or examine a subject or problem carefully
The team will check out the complaint.
Sense: investigate or examine.
cause something to happen
The new policy may bring about major changes.
increase in amount, level, speed, or intensity
Prices may go up again next month.
exercise in order to improve fitness
I try to work out three times a week.
Sense: exercise.
enter a building or place illegally or by force
Someone tried to break in last night.
increase in amount, level, speed, or intensity
Prices may shoot up again next month.
enter a discussion or activity suddenly and begin participating
Feel free to jump in if you have an idea.
understand, interpret, or recognize something
I am trying to figure out what this message means.
Sense: understand.