THE ENGLISH LEARNING LIBRARY
Learn a rule, read examples and try a short quiz. Start with the basics or choose the level that suits you.
YOUR GRAMMAR LIBRARY
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The rule
Sentence forms serve different purposes: declaratives usually state something, interrogatives ask questions, imperatives give commands or requests, and exclamatives express an exclamation. Purpose and form can overlap: “Could you help?” is a question used as a request.
I enjoy long walks. — statement
The rule
Pronouns can refer to people or things without repeating a noun phrase: Maya arrived; she sat down. Choose the right role and form: I/me, she/her, mine and herself. My and your come before nouns as possessive determiners; mine and yours stand alone.
Maya arrived. She sat down.
The rule
Adjectives describe nouns or pronouns: a red bag; the bag is heavy. Several adjectives usually follow a conventional order. Use a comparative to compare two things (heavier) and a superlative for an extreme within a group (the heaviest).
She has a red dress.
The rule
Adverbs can modify a verb, an adjective, another adverb or a whole clause. They can tell us how, when, where, how often or to what degree. Many end in -ly, but fast and well are also adverbs; friendly is normally an adjective.
He speaks fluently. — manner
The rule
Prepositions link a noun phrase to another part of a sentence. They can express place (under the table), time (on Monday) or direction (towards the door). Learn the whole phrase, because more than one preposition may be grammatical with a different meaning.
The cat is resting on the sofa cushion.
The rule
Conjunctions connect words, phrases or clauses. And, but and or coordinate; because and although introduce subordinate clauses; either…or and both…and work in pairs. Choose the connector that expresses the relationship you mean.
I like tea and coffee.
The rule
Learning materials often group verb phrases into 12 tense-and-aspect patterns. Compare the time of the event with its aspect: simple, continuous, perfect or perfect continuous. English expresses future time in several ways, including will and be going to.
I eat dinner at eight. — present simple
The rule
In the usual passive pattern, the receiver of an action becomes the subject. Use the appropriate form of be + past participle: the meal was cooked. Add a by-phrase if the doer matters. Some verbs do not normally form a passive.
They built the house. → The house was built.
The rule
Reported speech tells someone what was said without quoting the exact words. Adjust pronouns and time references to the new situation. A past reporting verb often leads to backshift, but an unchanged tense can be appropriate when the information is still true or relevant.
Direct: “I am tired.” Backshifted report: She said she was tired.
The rule
A conditional links a condition with a result. Common patterns describe general facts (zero), real future possibilities (first), imagined present or future situations (second), and unreal past situations (third). Mixed conditionals connect different times.
If it rains, we will stay home. — real future possibility
The rule
Core modal verbs such as can, may, might, should and must come before a base verb: she can swim. They express meanings such as ability, permission, possibility, advice and obligation. Related expressions have different patterns: ought to go and need to go.
Can I use your phone? — permission
The rule
Match the verb to the subject, not to a nearby noun: the list of items is ready. Everyone and each normally take singular verbs. Collective nouns such as team can take singular or plural agreement depending on meaning and variety of English.
The list of items is on the desk.
PUT IT INTO PRACTICE
Use what you have learned in a short daily activity or a language game.
