English grammar, topic by topic
Start with the topic that's giving you trouble, whether that's the present perfect, conditionals or linking words. Each page sums up what matters most and lists the lessons on it from the lowest level up, with practice questions and answers. Prefer to go level by level? See all English lessons by level.
Present perfect or past simple?5 lessons · A2–B1. Both tenses talk about the past, and many languages use one tense where English uses these two.Talking about the past: English past tenses5 lessons · A1–B1. To tell a story in English you need more than one past tense: one for the events, one for the background, and one for what had already happened before.English conditionals: first, second, third and mixed5 lessons · B1–C1. Conditionals talk about what happens, or would happen, if something else is true.English modal verbs: must, have to, should and more2 lessons · A2–B2. Modal verbs add meaning to another verb: whether something is necessary, allowed, a good idea or probably true.Talking about the future in English2 lessons · A2–B2. English has no single future tense.The passive in English3 lessons · B1–B2. The passive puts the focus on what happens rather than on who does it: The bridge was built in 1890.Reported speech and reporting verbs3 lessons · B1–B2. Reported speech is how you tell someone what another person said or asked.Relative clauses: who, which, that, whose3 lessons · B1–C1. Relative clauses say which person or thing you mean, or add information about them, without starting a new sentence.Linking words: although, despite, however, whereas3 lessons · B2–C1. Linking words show how ideas relate: contrast, concession, cause or result.-ing or to? Verb patterns in English2 lessons · B2. After some verbs English uses -ing, after others to + infinitive, and a few take both with a change in meaning.Formal, professional and academic English4 lessons · B2–C1. Writing to a friend and writing to a client use different English: different greetings, vocabulary and sentence structure.Emphasis in English: inversion and cleft sentences3 lessons · C1. Advanced English moves words around to put the focus where you want it.