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Grammar

Every rule from A1 to C2, in the order to read them.

How the rules work

A rule explains one point of grammar. Topics without a rule yet are marked Coming soon.

  • Examples

    Sentences with the form in bold.

  • Common mistakes

    A wrong sentence, the right one and why.

  • All the tenses on one page

    Twelve tenses side by side, with when to use each one.

Common mistakes

  • Read in order

    Each list is in reading order. A rule page shows the rules before and after it and, where it helps, what to read first.

  • Practise

    Under Practise this rule, open the quiz or set the rule links to.

The rules are open to everyone, with or without an account.

All the tenses on one pageTwelve forms side by side, with when to use each one.

171 topics in the syllabus, 145 with a rule you can read now.

A1 Beginner

31 topics, 31 with a rule

  1. Verb to be: am / is / areTenses
  2. Subject pronounsPronouns and determiners
  3. Possessive adjectivesPronouns and determiners
  4. Plural nounsNouns and articles
  5. this / that / these / thosePronouns and determiners
  6. Articles a / anNouns and articles
  7. Adjectives: position and formAdjectives and adverbs
  8. there is / there areQuestions and word order
  9. Dummy subject itQuestions and word order
  10. have / have got (possession)Tenses
  11. Present Simple: affirmativeTenses
  12. Present Simple: negatives & questionsTenses
  13. Basic word order (SVO)Questions and word order
  14. Adverbs of frequencyAdjectives and adverbs
  15. Present ContinuousTenses
  16. Present Simple vs Present Continuous (basic)Tenses
  17. ImperativesQuestions and word order
  18. can / can'tModal verbs
  19. Question wordsQuestions and word order
  20. Prepositions of placePrepositions
  21. Prepositions of time: at / on / inPrepositions
  22. Object pronounsPronouns and determiners
  23. Countable / uncountable; some / anyPronouns and determiners
  24. Past of be: was / wereTenses
  25. like / love / hate + -ingVerb patterns
  26. and / but / or / because / soClauses and linking words
  27. Possessive 'sNouns and articles
  28. Spelling rulesReference
  29. ContractionsReference
  30. Irregular plurals and uncountable nounsReference
  31. Numbers, dates and timesReference

A2 Elementary

35 topics, 35 with a rule

  1. Past Simple: regular verbsTenses
  2. Past Simple: irregular verbsTenses
  3. Past Simple: negatives & questionsTenses
  4. Past ContinuousTenses
  5. Past Simple vs Past ContinuousTenses
  6. Present Perfect: experienceTenses
  7. Present Perfect: just / already / yetTenses
  8. be going toTenses
  9. will (future)Tenses
  10. Present Continuous for arrangementsTenses
  11. Stative verbsTenses
  12. Comparative adjectivesAdjectives and adverbs
  13. Superlative adjectivesAdjectives and adverbs
  14. as … as / not as … asAdjectives and adverbs
  15. Adverbs of manner; good vs wellAdjectives and adverbs
  16. Articles: a / the / zero articleNouns and articles
  17. much / many / a lot of / a few / a littlePronouns and determiners
  18. some / any / no + compoundsPronouns and determiners
  19. one / onesPronouns and determiners
  20. Possessive pronouns; whosePronouns and determiners
  21. must / have to; mustn't vs don't have toModal verbs
  22. should / shouldn'tModal verbs
  23. Requests and offers: could / would / would likeModal verbs
  24. Permission and offers: can / could / may; Shall I…?Modal verbs
  25. Verb + to-infinitive or -ing (basic)Verb patterns
  26. Infinitive of purposeVerb patterns
  27. Prepositions of movementPrepositions
  28. by / with; by car, on footPrepositions
  29. too / enoughAdjectives and adverbs
  30. Subject and object questionsQuestions and word order
  31. Zero and first conditionalConditionals and unreal situations
  32. Sequencers and time linkersClauses and linking words
  33. Irregular verbsReference
  34. Pronunciation of -s and -ed endingsReference
  35. Prepositions of time and placeReference

B1 Intermediate

46 topics, 46 with a rule

  1. Present Perfect vs Past SimpleTenses
  2. for / since / How long…?Tenses
  3. Present Perfect ContinuousTenses
  4. Present Perfect Simple vs ContinuousTenses
  5. Past PerfectTenses
  6. Narrative tensesTenses
  7. used to / would (past habits)Tenses
  8. Future forms reviewTenses
  9. Future time clausesClauses and linking words
  10. unlessConditionals and unreal situations
  11. Second conditionalConditionals and unreal situations
  12. Passive: Present and Past SimplePassive and causative
  13. Reported speech: statementsReported speech
  14. Defining relative clausesClauses and linking words
  15. may / might / could (possibility)Modal verbs
  16. Modals of deduction: presentModal verbs
  17. can / could / be able toModal verbs
  18. ought to / be supposed toModal verbs
  19. Verb patterns: -ing vs to-infinitiveVerb patterns
  20. Gerund as subject and after prepositionsVerb patterns
  21. make / let / allow / be allowed toVerb patterns
  22. Reflexive pronouns; each otherPronouns and determiners
  23. both / either / neither; all / nonePronouns and determiners
  24. another / other / others / the otherPronouns and determiners
  25. Question tagsQuestions and word order
  26. So do I / Neither do I; I think soQuestions and word order
  27. Indirect questionsQuestions and word order
  28. Reported questionsReported speech
  29. Questions ending with prepositionsQuestions and word order
  30. Negative questions and answersQuestions and word order
  31. Linkers: although / howeverClauses and linking words
  32. Phrasal verbs: basicsVerb patterns
  33. Articles with names and placesNouns and articles
  34. Uncountable nouns: advancedNouns and articles
  35. -ed / -ing adjectivesAdjectives and adverbs
  36. Linking verbs + adjectiveAdjectives and adverbs
  37. Order of adjectivesAdjectives and adverbs
  38. Adverbs of degree; so / suchAdjectives and adverbs
  39. Position of adverbsAdjectives and adverbs
  40. Common dependent prepositionsPrepositions
  41. for / during / while; by / until; in time / on timePrepositions
  42. Word formation: prefixes and suffixesWord formation
  43. List of stative verbsReference
  44. Verbs followed by -ing or toReference
  45. Dependent prepositionsReference
  46. Separable and inseparable phrasal verbsReference

B2 Upper-intermediate

32 topics, 32 with a rule

  1. Future Continuous and Future PerfectTenses
  2. Future in the pastTenses
  3. Past Perfect ContinuousTenses
  4. used to vs be / get used toVerb patterns
  5. Third conditionalConditionals and unreal situations
  6. as long as / provided / in caseConditionals and unreal situations
  7. wish / if onlyConditionals and unreal situations
  8. would rather / had better / it's timeConditionals and unreal situations
  9. Passive: all tenses and modalsPassive and causative
  10. Impersonal passivePassive and causative
  11. have / get something donePassive and causative
  12. Reported commands and requestsReported speech
  13. Reporting verbsReported speech
  14. Non-defining relative clausesClauses and linking words
  15. Relative clauses with prepositionsClauses and linking words
  16. what vs that / whichClauses and linking words
  17. Modals of deduction: pastModal verbs
  18. should have / needn't have / didn't need toModal verbs
  19. Verbs with -ing / to and change of meaningVerb patterns
  20. Preparatory it; adjective / noun + to-infinitiveVerb patterns
  21. despite / in spite of / whereas / whileClauses and linking words
  22. Purpose and resultClauses and linking words
  23. Articles: generic reference and abstract nounsNouns and articles
  24. Complex noun phrases and compound adjectivesNouns and articles
  25. Advanced comparisonAdjectives and adverbs
  26. Advanced quantifiersPronouns and determiners
  27. Phrasal verbs: three-partVerb patterns
  28. Dependent prepositions: advancedPrepositions
  29. Emphatic do and auxiliariesEmphasis and style
  30. Word formation: changing word classWord formation
  31. Linking words by functionReference
  32. Punctuation and capital lettersReference

C1 Advanced

17 topics, 1 with a rule

  1. Mixed conditionalsConditionals and unreal situations

C2 Proficiency

10 topics, 0 with a rule