All other Grammar Topics

Adjectives and Adverbs

Adjectives are used to modify nouns, e.g. The dog is loud. – What is the dog like?  – loud

Adverbs are used to modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs, e.g. The dog barks loudly. – How does the dog

bark? – loudly

ExplanationsComparison of AdjectivesForm and Comparison of AdverbsAdjective or Adverb

Exercises on English AdjectivesExercise on Comparison of Adjectives (5 random adjectives)Exercise on Comparison of Adjectives (comparative, superlative)Exercise on Comparison of Adjectives (as…as)Comparison Exercise on the Text “Los Angeles”Positive Form and Comparison Exercise on the Text “London”

Exercises on English AdverbsExercise on Form of Adverbs (5 random adverbs)Exercise on Comparison of Adverbs (5 random adverbs)Exercise on Form of AdverbsExercise on Comparison of AdverbsPosition of Adverbs (explanation with exercises)

Mixed ExerciseAdjective or AdverbAdjective or Adverb (positive comparative and superlative forms)Exercise on the text “ Niagara Falls ”

Games & FunGood-better-best – Do you know the answers? (Quiz)

Comparison of Adjectives

Exercise on Positive Form and Comparison of Adjectives

Positive Form

Use the positive form of the adjective if the comparison contains one of the following expressions:

as … as

Example: Jane is as tall as John.

not as … as / not so … as

Example: John is not as tall as Arnie.

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (-er/-est)

one-syllable adjectives (clean, new, cheap)

two-syllable adjectives ending in -y or -er (easy, happy, pretty, dirty, clever)

positive form

comparative form

superlative form

clean cleaner (the) cleanest

Exceptions in spelling when adding -er / -est

silent ‘e’ is dropped

Example: late-later-latest

final ‘y’ after a consonant becomes i

Example: easy-easier-easiest

final consonant after short, stressed vowel is doubled

Example: hot-hotter-hottest

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (more/most)

adjectives of three or more syllables (and two-syllable adjectives not ending in -y/-er)

positive form

comparative form

superlative form

difficult more difficult most difficult

Comparative Form and Superlative Form (irregular comparisons)

positive formcomparative

formsuperlative form

good better best

bad / ill worse worst

little (amount) less least

little (size) smaller smallest

much / many more most

far (place + time) further furthest

far (place) farther farthest

late (time) later latest

late (order) latter last

near (place) nearer nearest

near (order) - next

old (people and things) older oldest

old (people) elder eldest

Exercise on Comparison of Adjectives

Exercise on Comparison of Adjectives  (5 random adjectives)

Exercise on Comparison of Adjectives (comparative, superlative)

Exercise on Comparison of Adjectives (as…as)

Comparison Exercise on the Text   “ Los Angeles ”

Positive Form and Comparison Exercise on the Text   “ London ”

Form and Comparison of Adverbs

dverbs are used to express how something is done (adjectives express how someone or something is).

Example: The dog sleeps quietly. The dog is absolutely quiet.

Form

In general: adjective + -ly

adjective adverb

slow slowly

Exceptions in spelling

exception example

silent e is dropped in true, due, whole true → truly

y becomes i happy → happily

le after a consonant is dropped sensible → sensibly

after ll only add y full → fully

Adjectives ending in -ic: adjective + -ally (exception: public-publicly)

adjective adverb

fantastic fantastically

Adjectives ending in -ly: use ‘in a … way / manner’ or another adverb with similar meaning

adjective adverb

friendly in a friendly wayin a friendly manner

likely probably

Exceptions

adjective adverb (meaning) adverb (meaning)

good well  

difficult with difficulty  

public publicly  

deep deep (place) deeply (feeling)

direct direct directly (=soon)

hard hard hardly (=seldom)

high high (place) highly (figurative)

late late lately (=recently)

most most mostly (=usually)

near near nearly (=almost)

pretty pretty (=rather) prettily

short short shortly (=soon)

The following adjectives are also used as adverbs (without modification):

daily, enough, early, far, fast, hourly, little, long, low, monthly, much, straight, weekly, yearly, …

Exercise on the form of adverbs

Comparison

Comparison (-er/-est)

 Comparative ending

in-erSuperlative ending

in-est

one-syllable adverbs (hard) harder hardest

adverbs with the same form as adjectives (early)

earlier earliest

Comparison (more / most)

 Comparative formed

withmoreSuperlative formed

withmost

adverbs ending in -ly(happily)

more happily most happily

Irregular comparisons

positive form comparative superlative

well better best

badly worse worst

ill worse worst

little less least

much more most

far (place + time) further furthest

far (place) farther farthest

late (time) later latest

Exercise on comparison of adverbs

Adjective or Adverb Adjectives are used to modify nouns:

The dog is loud.

Adverbs are used to modify verbs, adjectives or other adverbs:

The dog barks loudly.

Linking Verbs

Some verbs can only be used with adjectives, others might change their meaning when used with an adverb.

verb used with an adjective used with an adverb

look look good (= appearance) look well (= healthy)

feel feel good (= state of health/mind) feel well (= have a good sense of touch)

smell smell good (= odour) smell well (= have a good sense of smell)

taste taste good (= preference) taste well (= have a good sense of taste)

The following verbs can only be used with adjectives:

be

become

get

grow

keep

remain

seem

sound

stay

turn

Exercises on Adjectives or Adverbs

Adjective or Adverb

Exercise on the text   “ Niagara Falls ”

Position of Adverbs

Adverb of Manner

(e.g.: slowly, carefully, awfully)

These adverbs are put behind the direct object (or behind the verb if there's no direct object).

subject verb(s) direct object adverb

He drove the car carefully.

He drove   carefully.

Exercise on adverbs of manner

Adverbs of Place

(e.g.: here, there, behind, above)

Like adverbs of manner, these adverbs are put behind the direct object or the verb.

subject verb(s) direct object adverb

I didn't see him here.

He stayed   behind.

Exercise on adverbs of place

Adverbs of Time

(e.g.: recently, now, then, yesterday)

Adverbs of time are usually put at the end of the sentence.

subject verb(s) indirect object direct object time

I will tell you the story tomorrow.

If you don't want to put emphasis on the time, you can also put the adverb of time at the beginning of the

sentence.

time subject verb(s) indirect object direct object

Tomorrow I will tell you the story.

Exercise on adverbs of time

Adverbs of Frequency

(e.g.: always, never, seldom, usually)

Adverbs of frequency are put directly before the main verb. If 'be' is the main verb and there is no auxiliary

verb, adverbs of frequency are put behind 'be'. Is there an auxiliary verb, however, adverbs of frequency are

put before 'be'.

subject auxiliary/be adverb main verb object, place or time

I   often go swimming in the evenings.

He doesn't always play tennis.

We are usually   here in summer.

I have never been abroad.

Exercise on adverbs of frequency

Exercise on adverbs (mix)

go to Word Order in Questions ►

Word Order in Questions

In questions, the word order subject-verbs-object is the same as in affirmative sentences. The only thing that’s

different is that you usually have to put the auxiliary verb (or the main verb “be”) before the subject.

Interrogatives are put at the beginning of the sentences:

interrogativeauxiliary

verbsubject

other verb(s)

indirect object

direct object

place time

What would you like to tell me      

  Did you have   a party in your flat

yesterday?

When were you       here?  

Exercise on word order in questions 1

You don’t use an auxiliary verb if you ask for the subject. In this case the interrogative simply takes the place

of the subject.

interrogative verb(s) object

Who asked you?

Exercise on word order in questions 2

More Exercises

Questions in Simple Present

Questions in Present Progressive

Questions in Simple Past

Questions in Past Progressive

Questions in Present Perfect Simple

Questions in Present Perfect Progressive

Questions with Interrogatives in Simple Present

Questions with Interrogatives in Present Progressive

Questions with Interrogatives in Simple Past

Questions with Interrogatives in Past Progressive

Questions with Interrogatives in Simple Past

Questions with Interrogatives in Past Progressive

Questions with Interrogatives in Present Perfect Simple

Questions with and without Interrogatives in Past Perfect Simple

Auxiliary Verbs

Exercises on Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary Verbs are the verbs be, do, have, will when they are followed by another verb (the full verb) in order

to form a question, a negative sentence, a compound tense or the passive.

The verb "be"

The verb be can be used as an auxiliary and a full verb. As an auxiliary we use this verb for compound tenses

and the passive voice. Note that be is an irregular verb:

Simple Present:

I am, he/she/it is, we/you/they are

Simple Past:I/he/she/it was, we/you/they were

Past Participle:been

You can tell that in the following sentences be is an auxiliary because it is followed by another verb (the full

verb). (For progressive forms use the "-ing" form of the full verb; for passive voice, use the past participle of

the full verb.)

Progressive Forms

Present Progressive:

He is playing football.

Past Progressive:He was playing football.

Present Perfect Progressive:He has been playing football.

Past Perfect Progressive:He had been playing football.

Passive

Simple Present/Past:

The house is/was built.

Present/Past Perfect:The house has/had been built.

Future I:The house will be built.

"be" as a full verb

The verb be can also be a full verb. In this case, it's not followed by another verb. If be is used as a full verb,

we do not need an auxiliary in negative sentences or questions.

positive sentence:

They are fifteen years old.

negative sentence:They are not fifteen years old.

question:Are they fifteen years old?

The verb "have"

The verb have, too, can be used both as an auxiliary and as a full verb. As an auxiliary we use this verb to

form compound tenses in active and passive voice. (Use the past participle of the full verb.)

Compound Tenses - Active Voice

Present Perfect Simple:

He has played football.

Past Perfect Simple:He had played football.

Present Perfect Progressive:He has been playing football.

Past Perfect Progressive:He had been playing football.

Compound Tenses - Passive Voice

Present/Past Perfect:

The house has/had been built.

Note that have is an irregular verb, too:

Simple Present:

I/we/you/they have, he/she/it has

Simple Past:I/he/she/it/we/you/they had

Past Participle:had

"have" in positive sentences

As a full verb have indicates possession. In British English, however, we usually use have got (havebeing the

auxiliary, got the full verb).

full verb:

I have a car.

auxiliary verb:I have got a car.

"have" in negative sentences and questions

When we use have as a full verb, we must use the auxiliary do in negative sentences and questions. If we

use have got, however, we do not need another auxiliary.

have as a full verb:

I do not have a car.

Do I have a car?

have as an auxiliary verb:I have not got a car.

Have I got a car?

The verb "will"

The verb will can only be used as an auxiliary. We use it to form the future tenses.

The auxiliary verb "will"

Future I:

He will not play football.

Future II:He will have played football.

The verb will remains the same for all forms (no "s" for 3rd person singular). The short form for negative

sentences is won't.'

Examples:

I will, he will

I will not = I won't

The verb "do"

The verb do can be both an auxiliary and a full verb. As an auxiliary we use do in negative sentences and

questions for most verbs (except not for be, will, have got and modal verbs) in Simple Present and Simple

Past. (Use the infinitive of the full verb.)

The auxiliary "do" in negative sentences

Simple Present:

He does not play football.

Simple Past:He did not play football.

The auxiliary "do" in questions

Simple Present:

Does he play football?

Simple Past:Did he play football?

The verb do is irregular:

Simple Present:

I/we/you/they do, he/she/it does

Simple Past:I/he/she/it/we/you/they did

The full verb "do"

As a full verb we use do in certain expressions. If we want to form negative sentences or questions

using do as a full verb, we need another do as an auxiliary.

positive sentence:

She does her homework every day.

negative sentence:She doesn't do her homework every day.

question:Does she do her homework every day?

Sentences without the auxiliary "do"

In the following cases, the auxiliary do is not used in negative sentences/questions:

the full verb is "be"

Example:

I am not angry. / Are you okay?

the sentence already contains another auxiliary (e.g. have, be, will)

Example:

They are not sleeping. / Have you heard that?

the sentence contains a modal verb (can, may, must, need, ought to, shall, should)

Example:

We need not wait. / Can you repeat that, please?

the question asks for the subject of the sentence

Example:

Who sings that song?

Exercises on Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary or Full Verb - Exercise 1

Auxiliary or Full Verb - Exercise 2

Choose the correct Auxiliary - Exercise 1

Choose the correct Auxiliary - Exercise 2 , Exercise 3, Exercise 4

Auxiliaries in negative sentences - Exercise 1

Auxiliaries in negative sentences - Exercise 2

Auxiliaries in questions - Exercise 1

Auxiliaries in questions - Exercise 2

Modal Verbs and their substitutes

Modal verbs are for example may, can, must, should, need. They express an ability, permission, wish etc. to

do something. (I may, can, must swim.) Many modal verbs cannot be used in all of the English tenses. That's

why we need to know the substitutes to these modal verbs.

Modal Verb Substitute Example

must to have to I must swim. = I have to swim.

must not not to be allowed to I must not swim. = I am not allowed to swim.

can to be able to I can swim. = I am able to swim.

may to be allowed to I may swim. = I am allowed to swim.

need to have to I need to swim. = I have to swim.

need not not to have to I need not swim. = I don't have to swim.

shall / should/ ought to

to be supposed to / to be expected to / to be to

I shall / should / ought to swim. = I am supposed to swim. / I am expected to swim. / I am to swim.

Exercise on modal verbs and their substitutes

Exercise - modal verb or substitute

Exercise on 'must not' and 'need not' (for soccer fans)

Conditional Sentences / If-Clauses Type I, II und III

Conditional Sentences are also known as Conditional Clauses or If Clauses. They are used to express that the

action in the main clause (without if) can only take place if a certain condition (in the clause with if) is fulfilled.

There are three types of Conditional Sentences.

Conditional Sentence Type 1

→ It is possible and also very likely that the condition will be fulfilled.

Form: if + Simple Present, will-Future

Future I Simple will 

Exercises on Future I Simple with   will

Will future expresses a spontaneous decision, an assumption with regard to the future or an action in the

future that cannot be influenced.

Form of will Future

  positive negative question

no differences I will speak. I will not speak. Will I speak?

Use of will Future

a spontaneous decision

example: Wait, I will help you.

an opinion, hope, uncertainty or assumption regarding the future

example: He will probably come back tomorrow.

a promise

example: I will not watch TV tonight.

an action in the future that cannot be influenced

example: It will rain tomorrow.

conditional clauses type I

example: If I arrive late, I will call you.

Signal Words

in a year, next …, tomorrow

Vermutung: I think, probably, perhaps

Exercises on will Future

positive sentences in   will   Future

negative sentences in   will   Future

questions in   will   Future

mixed exercise in   will   Future

Tests

Future I Simple will: Level   1  • Level   2  • Level   3

Example: If I find her address, I’ll send her an invitation.

more on Conditional Sentences Type I ►

Conditional Sentence Type 2

→ It is possible but very unlikely, that the condition will be fulfilled.

Form: if + Simple Past, Conditional I (= would + Infinitive)

Example: If I found her address, I would send her an invitation.

more on Conditional Sentences Type II ►

Conditional Sentence Type 3

→ It is impossible that the condition will be fulfilled because it refers to the past.

Form: if + Past Perfect, Conditional II (= would + have + Past Participle)

Example: If I had found her address, I would have sent her an invitation.

more on Conditional Sentences Type III ►

Exceptions

Sometimes Conditional Sentences Type I, II and III can also be used with other tenses.

more on Conditional Sentences used with other tenses ►

Exercises on Conditional Sentences

Conditional Sentence Type 1

Exercise on If Clauses Type I  

Exercise 2 on If Clauses Type I  

Conditional Sentence Type 2

Exercise on If Clauses Type II  

Exercise 2 on If Clauses Type II  

Conditional Sentence Type 3

Exercise on If Clauses Type III  

Exercise 2 on If Clauses Type III  

Mixed Exercises on Conditional Sentences

Type I or II  • Exercise 2 • Exercise 3 

Type I, II or III  • Exercise 2 • Exercise 3 

Fairytale “The Cat and the Mouse”  

Exercise on “New Orleans” text  

Exceptions

Exercise on If Clauses Type I with Auxiliaries  

Exercise on If Clauses Type I  • Exercise 2 

Exercise on If Clauses Type II  

Exercise on If Clauses Type III  

Tests on Conditional Sentences

Conditional Sentences Type 1  

Conditional Sentences Type 1 and 2  

Conditional Sentences Type 1, 2 and 3  

Conditional Sentences Type 1, 2, 3 and Exceptions  

Exceptions for Conditional Sentences

So far you have only learned the basic rules for Conditional Sentences. It depends on the context, however,

which tense to use. So sometimes it's possible for example that in an IF Clause Type I another tense

than Simple Present is used, e.g. Present Progressive or Present Perfect.

Conditional Sentences Type I (likely)

Condition refers to:

IF Clause Main Clause

future action Simple PresentIf the book is interesting, …

Future I …I will buy it.

Imperative …buy it.

Modal Auxiliary

…you can buy it.

action going on now

Present Progressive

If he is snoring, …

Future I …I will wake him up.

Imperative …wake him up.

Modal Auxiliary

…you can wake him up.

finished action Present Perfect If he has moved into his new flat, …

Future I …we will visit him.

Imperative …visit him.

Condition refers to:

IF Clause Main Clause

Modal Auxiliary

…we can visit him.

improbable action

should + Infinitive

If she should win this race, …

Future I…I will congratulate

her.

Imperative …congratulate her.

Modal Auxiliary

…we can congratulate her.

present facts Simple PresentIf he gets what he

wants, …Simple Present

…he is very nice.

Conditional Sentences Type II (unlikely)

Condition refers to: IF Clause Main Clause

present / future eventSimple

PastIf I had a lot of

money, …Conditional I

…I would travel around the world.

consequence in the past

Simple Past

If I knew him, …Conditional

II…I would have said hello.

Conditional Sentences Type II (impossible)

Condition refers to:

IF Clause Main Clause

presentPast

PerfectIf I had known it, … Conditional I

…I would not be here now.

pastPast

PerfectIf he had learned for the

test, …Conditional

II…he would not have

failed it.

Exercises

Exercise on IF Clauses Type I with Auxiliaries

Exercise on IF Clauses Type I  • Exercise 2

Exercise on IF Clauses Type II

Exercise on IF Clauses Type III

Infinitive and Gerund

Exercises and Tests on Infinitive and Gerund

There are certain words in English that are usually followed by an infinitive or gerund. If you are not sure

whether to use the infinitive or gerund, check out our lists or look the words up in a dictionary.

Infinitive

Use

Certain words are followed by an infinite verb with or without ‘to’.

Use and Word Lists Example

as the subject of a clause To know you is to love you.

after certain expressions (without   ‘to’ ) Why not go to the cinema?

after certain verbs (without   ‘to’ ) I can swim.

after certain verbs (with   ‘to’ ) He wants to swim.

after certain verbs with interrogatives (infinitive constructions)

They don’t know how to swim.

after certain verbs with objects (without   ‘to’ ) He made her swim.

after certain verbs with objects (with   ‘to’ ) They wanted him to swim.

after certain adjectives and their comparisons It’s easier to swim downstream.

after nouns deriving from the verbs mentioned above

We made a promise to swim. (derived from the verb ‘to promise’)

Gerund

Form

ing form of the verb

Exceptions in Spelling

See → Present Progressive   – Exceptions

Use

Certain words are followed by an Ing-Form.

Use and Word Lists Example

as the subject of a clause Cycling is good for your health.

after certain adjectives He’s afraid of going by plane.

after certain prepositions Before going to bed he turned off the lights.

after certain verbs I enjoy cooking.

after certain verbs with prepositions I am looking forward to seeing you again.

after certain nouns We had problems finding our way back home.

Words followed either by Infinitive or Ing-Form

Use and Word Lists Example

same meaning I started to read. / I started reading.

same meaning but different use She forbids us to talk. / She forbids talking.

different meaning He stopped to smoke. / He stopped smoking.

infinitive or present participle I saw him go up the stairs. / I saw him going up the stairs.

Exercises and Tests

Infinitive

Infinitive with / without   to  • Exercise 2 

Infinitive Constructions  • Exercise 2 

Gerund

Gerund – Form  

Gerund used as a subject  

Infinitive / Gerund

Infinitive or Gerund  • Exercise 2 

Infinitive or Gerund  • Exercise 2 

Infinitive or Gerund  • Exercise 2 • Exercise 3 

Infinitiv and/or   Ing -Form  

Tests on Infinitive and Gerund

Level   1  • Level   2  • Level   3  • Level   4

Words used with the Infinitive

Infinitive as the Subject of a Clause (followed by the verbs below)

Example: To follow his advice seemed logical.

be

seem

appear

Words used with the Infinitive

Infinitive after certain Expressions (without 'to')

Example: I would rather stay at home.

had better

would rather

would sooner

why not

why should I/you/… [not]

Words used with the Infinitive

nfinitive after certain Verbs (without to)

Example: We must stay at home.

can

dare (also with to)

do

help (also with to)

let

may

must

need (also with to)

shall

should

will

Infinitive after certain Verbs (with to)

Example: He refused to pay the bill.

afford

agree

aim

appear

arrange

attempt

be determined

beg

care

choose

claim

condescend

consent

dare (also without to)

decide

demand

deserve

determine

endeavour

expect

fail

guarantee

happen

have

help (also without to)

hesitate

hope

learn

long

manage

mean

need (also without to)

neglect

offer

ought

plan

prepare

pretend

proceed

promise

refuse

resolve

seem

stop

swear

tend

threaten

trouble

undertake

used

volunteer

vow

want

wish

would hate

would like

would love

would prefer

Infinitive after certain Verbs with Interrogative (how, if, what, where, whether)

Example: We didn't remember where to meet.

ask

advise + Objekt

consider

decide

explain

find out

forget

know

learn

remember

see

show

teach

tell + object

understand

wonder

Infinitive after certain Verbs with an Object (without 'to')

Example: We heard him scream.

let

make

Infinitive after certain Verbs with an Object (with 'to')

Example: She got me to wash the dishes.

advise

allow

ask

beg

cause

enable

encourage

expect

forbid

force

get

help

invite

mean

order

permit

persuade

recommend

remind

teach

tell

want

warn

would hate

would like

would love

would prefer

Infinitive after certain Adjectives

Example: It was impossible to go back.

amazed

amazing

angry

astonished

astonishing

awkward

brave

careless

clever

cowardly

crazy

delighted

difficult

disappointed

disgusted

easy

extraordinary

funny

generous

glad

happy

hard

honest

horrified

impossible

kind

nice

odd

pointless

relieved

ridiculous

rude

sad

selfish

silly

sorry

strange

stupid

surprised

wicked

wise

Infinitive after certain Nouns

Example: There was no need to get angry.

effort

agreement

aim

appearance

arrangement

attempt

choice

claim

decision

determination

expectation

failure

guarantee

hesitation

hope

longing

need

neglect

offer

plan

preparation

procedure

promise

refusal

resolution

tendency

threat

trouble

try

Gerund

Form

ing form of the verb

Exceptions in Spelling

See → Present Progressive   – Exceptions

Present Progressive - Exceptions in Spelling 

  Animation: exceptions in spelling

A single, silent e at the end of the word is dropped before ing.

example: come - coming

I am coming home. You are coming home. He is coming home.

But: ee at the end of the word is not changed

example: agree - agreeing

The final consonant after a short, stressed vowel is doubled before ing.

example: sit - sitting

I am sitting on the sofa. You are sitting on the sofa. He is sitting on the sofa.

The letter l as final consonant after a vowel is always doubled before ing.

example: travel - travelling

I am travelling around. You are travelling around. He is travelling around.

Mind: This applies only for British English; in American English there is usually only one l.

An ie at the end of a word becomes y before ing.

example: lie - lying

I am lying in bed. You are lying in bed. He is lying in bed.

Exercise on exceptions in spelling 1

Exercise on exceptions in spelling 2

go to Short Forms ►

Present Progressive - Short Forms

affirmative negative

I am playing. - I'm playing. I am not playing. - I'm not playing.

He is playing. - He's playing. He is not playing. - He's not playing. / He isn't playing.

We are playing. - We'replaying.

We are not playing. - We're not playing. /We aren't playing.

Exercise - changing short forms to long forms

Exercise - changing long forms to short forms

go to Use ►

Present Progressive - UseActions taking place at the moment of speaking (now) 

He is playing football.

The action is going on now.

Signal words like now, at the moment are often used to emphasise that the action is taking place at the moment of speaking. Signal words are not really necessary, however, as this is already expressed by the tense itself.

Exercise

Arrangements for the near future 

I'm going to the theatre tonight.

In the example you can see that the tickets are already bought. So we are talking about an arrangement for the near future.

To make clear that the action is not going on now, we usually use signal words like tonight, tomorrow, next Friday, at noon.

Exercise

Actions taking place only for a limited period of time 

Jim is helping in his brother's firm this week.

Here we are talking about a time limit. Jim does not usually work in the firm, he is still at school and wants to earn some extra money during his holidays.

To make clear that there is a time limit, we usually use signal words, e.g. this week/month/year.

Exercise

Actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of speaking) 

I'm studying for my exams.

This action takes place around now and only for a limited period of time, but not at the moment of speaking.

We don't have to use signal words here, but we often find signal words in such sentences, e.g. now, at the moment.

Exercise

Development, changing situations 

The population of China is rising very fast.

The sentence describes a development from one situation to another.

Signal words are not that common here, only sometimes the change of situation is emphasised by using for example more and more.

Exercise

Exercise on lyrics (mixed) 

Exercise on useful phrases (mixed) 

go to signal words ►

Present Progressive - Signal Words

Actions taking place at the moment of speaking (now) 

at the moment

now / just now / right now

Listen!

Look!

Arrangements for the near future 

in the morning / in the afternoon / in the evening

at noon / tonight

tomorrow

next ...

Actions taking place only for a limited period of time 

this week / this month / this year

Actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of speaking) 

at the moment

now / just now / right now

Development, changing situations 

more and more

Exercise on signal words 1 

Exercise on signal words 2 

go to summary ►

Present Progressive - Summary

Form

  affirmative negative question

I I am playing. I am not playing. Am I playing?

he, she, it He is playing. He is not playing. Is he playing?

you, we, they

You are playing. You are not playing.

Are you playing?

Exceptions in Spelling

Exeption Example

silent e is dropped before ing (but: ee is not changed) come - coming (but: agree - agreeing)

final consonant after short, stressed vowel is doubled sit - sitting

final consonant l after vowel is always doubled (in British English) travel - travelling

ie becomes y before ing lie - lying

Short Forms

positiv negativ

I am playing. - I'm playing. I am not playing. - I'm not playing.

He is playing. - He's playing. He is not playing. - He's not playing. / He isn't playing.

We are playing. - We'replaying.

We are not playing. - We're not playing. /We aren't playing.

Use

Use Example

actions taking place at the moment of speaking (now) He is playing football.

arrangements for the near future I'm going to the theatre tonight.

actions taking place only for a limited period of time Jim is helping in his brother's firm this

week.

actions taking place around now (but not at the moment of speaking)

I'm studying for my exams.

development, changing situations The population of China is rising very fast.

Typical Signal Words

at the moment

now / just now / right now

Listen!

Look!

Words used with the Gerund

Adjectives (with Prepositions) followed by the Gerund

Example: I am interested in visiting the museum.

afraid of

angry about / at

bad at

busy

clever at

crazy about

disappointed about

excited about

famous for

fond of

glad about

good at

impressed by

interested in

keen on

like

near

proud of

sick of

sorry about

tired of

worried about

worth

Präpositions followed by the Gerund

Example: Instead of studying for her exams, she went out every night.

about (in 'how/what about')

after

apart from

because of

before

by

in

in spite of

instead of

on

without

Verbs followed by the Gerund

Example: I enjoy enjoy cooking.

admit

advise

allow

appreciate

avoid

can't help

can't stand

consider

delay

deny

dislike

enjoy

escape

fancy

finish

go (in go swimming)

imagine

involve

keep

mention

mind

miss

permit

postpone

practise

reject

resist

risk

stop

suggest

understand

waste time / money

Verbs with Prepositions followed by the Gerund

Example: I'm looking forward to seeing you again soon.

accuse of

adjust to

agree with

apologize for

approve of

ask about

ask for

begin by

believe in

be used to

blame for

care for

carry on

complain about

concentrate on

congratulate on

consist of

cope with

decide against

decide for

depend on

die of

dream about / of

escape from

feel like

forgive for

give up

insist on

keep on

look forward to

object to

pay for

prevent sb. from

protect from

put off

rely on

spend money on

spend time on

succeed in

suspect of

take part in

talk about / of

thank for

think of

use for

warn against

worry about

Nouns / Nouns with Prepositions followed by the Gerund

Example: There's no point in waiting any longer.

advantage of

alternative of

chance of

choice between

danger of

difficulty in

doubt about

experience in

fun

hope of

idea of

interest in

opportunity of

place for

pleasure in

point in

possibility of

problem

reason for

trouble

trouble in

use

way of

waste of money

waste of time

Words followed either by Infinitive or Ing-Form

Words used either with the Infinitive or Gerund

Words with the same meaning

Example: I started to read. / I started reading.

attempt

begin

bother

cannot bear

cease

continue

hate

intend

love

prefer

start

Words with the same meaning but different use

Word Infinitive - with an object Gerund – without an object

advise I advise you to go by bus. I advise going by bus.

allow / permit He allowed her to take the car. He allowed taking the car.

forbid She forbids us to smoke. She forbids smoking.

Words with a different meaning

Word Infinitive meaning Gerund meaning

forget / remember with regard to the future

Remember to switch off the lights.

with regard to the past

Do you remember switching off the lights?

go on start something new

Go on to read.

continue with the same action

Go on reading.

regret with regard to the future

I regret to say that.

with regard to the past

I regret saying that.

stop interrupt another action

I stopped to smoke.

terminate

I stopped smoking.

try do something complicated

Try to solve this riddle.

do it and see what happens

Try talking to him.

Infinitive or Present Participle

Gerund and present participle are not exactly the same. As this chapter is about when to use the infinitive and

when to use the ing-form, however, we have also listed words here that can be used either with the infinitive or

the present participle. (for more information on the present participle seeparticiples)

Words Infinitive meaning Gerund meaning

feel

hear

see

Emphasises that the action is completed.

Example: I saw him go up the stairs. 

Action can be completed, but not

necessarily.

Example: I saw him going up the

stairs. 

go

come

expresses a purpose

Example: She is coming to show us the

pictures.

in connection with activities

Example: Let’s go shopping / dancing.

Nouns - Articles, Plural and Possessive Case

Important things to keep in mind when using nouns are which article to use and how to form the plural and

how to form the possessive case.

Article

Direct article - the

example: the house

Indirect article a / an

a - if the first letter of the following word is pronounced like a consonant

example: a car, a university

an - if the first letter of the following word is pronounced like a vowel

example: an apple, an hour

Exercise on indirect articles

Exercise on direct articles

Plural

general rule: singular form + s

example: a car - two cars

after s, ch, x, z the plural is formed by adding es

example: a box - two boxes

y after a consonant is changed to ie before the plural s

example: a city - two cities

But: y after a vowel is not changed

example: a boy - two boys

After o the plural is usually formed by adding es (this is not the case, however, with words used for electric

gadgets and music: radio, video, disco)

example: a tomato - two tomatoes

Exercise - singular or plural?

Possessive Case of Nouns

adding 's of phrase

usually used for people usually used for things

Ronny's brother the name of the school

If there is a relation to people when using the possessive case with unanimated things, often the s is added

instead of using an of phrase.

example: Germany's economy or the ecomony of Germany

When using the possessive case with a time, s is added.

example: a three weeks' holiday

Exercise on the possessive case of nouns

Passive Voice

Use of Passive

Passive voice is used when the focus is on the action. It is not important or not known, however, who or what

is performing the action.

Example: My bike was stolen.

In the example above, the focus is on the fact that my bike was stolen. I do not know, however, who did it.

Sometimes a statement in passive is more polite than active voice, as the following example shows:

Example: A mistake was made.

In this case, I focus on the fact that a mistake was made, but I do not blame anyone (e.g. You have made a

mistake.).

Form of Passive

Subject + finite form of to be + Past Participle (3rd column of irregular verbs)

Example: A letter was written.

When rewriting active sentences in passive voice, note the following:

the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive sentence

the finite form of the verb is changed (to be + past participle)

the subject of the active sentence becomes the object of the passive sentence (or is dropped)

Examples of Passive 

Tense Subject Verb Object

Simple Present Active: Ritawrites a letter.

Passive: A letter is written by Rita.

Simple Past Active: Rita wrote a letter.

Passive: A letter was written by Rita.

Present Perfect Active: Rita has written a letter.

Passive: A letter has been written by Rita.

Future I Active: Rita will write a letter.

Passive: A letter will be written by Rita.

Hilfsverben Active: Rita can write a letter.

Passive: A letter can be written by Rita.

Examples of Passive 

Tense Subject Verb Object

Present Progressive Active: Ritais writing a letter.

Passive: A letter is being written by Rita.

Past Progressive Active: Rita was writing a letter.

Passive: A letter was being written by Rita.

Past Perfect Active: Rita had written a letter.

Passive: A letter had been written by Rita.

Future II Active: Rita will have written a letter.

Passive: A letter will have been written by Rita.

Conditional I Active: Rita would write a letter.

Passive: A letter would be written by Rita.

Conditional II Active: Rita would have written a letter.

Passive: A letter would have been written by Rita.

Passive Sentences with Two Objects 

Rewriting an active sentence with two objects in passive voice means that one of the two objects becomes the

subject, the other one remains an object. Which object to transform into a subject depends on what you want

to put the focus on.

  Subject Verb Object 1 Object 2

Active: Ritawrote a letter to me.

Passive: A letter was written to me by Rita.

Passive: I was written a letter by Rita.

.

As you can see in the examples, adding by Rita does not sound very elegant. That’s why it is usually dropped.

Personal and Impersonal Passive

Personal Passive simply means that the object of the active sentence becomes the subject of the passive

sentence. So every verb that needs an object (transitive verb) can form a personal passive.

Example: They build houses. – Houses are built.

Verbs without an object (intransitive verb) normally cannot form a personal passive sentence (as there is no

object that can become the subject of the passive sentence). If you want to use an intransitive verb in passive

voice, you need an impersonal construction – therefore this passive is called Impersonal Passive.

Example: he says – it is said

Impersonal Passive is not as common in English as in some other languages (e.g. German, Latin). In

English, Impersonal Passive is only possible with verbs of perception (e. g. say, think, know).

Example: They say that women live longer than men. – It is said that women live longer than

men.

Although Impersonal Passive is possible here, Personal Passive is more common.

Example: They say that women live longer than men. – Women are said to live longer than

men.

The subject of the subordinate clause (women) goes to the beginning of the sentence; the verb of perception

is put into passive voice. The rest of the sentence is added using an infinitive construction with 'to' (certain

auxiliary verbs and that are dropped).

Sometimes the term Personal Passive is used in English lessons if the indirect object of an active sentence is

to become the subject of the passive sentence.

Excercises

Exercises on Passive (Form)

Exercise on Passive with Simple Present  

Exercise on Passive with Simple Past  

Exercise on Passive with Present Perfect  

Exercise on Passive with Future I  

Exercises on Passive (Active → Passive)

Exercise on Passive with Simple Present  

Exercise on Passive with Simple Past  

Exercise on Passive with Present Perfect  

Exercise on Passive with Future I  

Exercise on Passive with Auxiliary Verbs  

Mixed Exercise on Passive with Passive  

Sentences with 2 Objects (Indirect Object, Personal Passive)    (neu)

Sentences with 2 Objects (Direct Object)    (neu)

Personal Passive (verbs of perception)    (neu)

Exercise on Passive with Present Progressive  

Exercise on Passive with Past Progressive  

Exercise on Passive with Past Perfect  

Exercise on Passive with Future II  

Exercise on Passive with Conditional I  

Exercise on Passive with Conditional II  

Exercises on Passive (Active or Passive)

Exercise on Simple Present  

Exercise on Simple Past  

Exercise on Present Perfect  

Exercise on Future I with   will  

Exercise – The Statue of Liberty    (neu)

Exercise – Portal Dolmen    (neu)

Summary – The Fellowship of the Ring , part 2, part 3 

Grammar in Texts

Show Passive Voice in   „ The Canterville Ghost “  

Grammar Exercise on   „ Washington, DC “  

Show Passive Voice in   „ History of Snowboarding “  

Tests on Passiv

Tenses Active and Passive  

Participles

Exercises on Participles

There are three kinds of participles in English: present participle, past participle and perfect participle. You

probably know the first two from certain tenses and adjective forms. Apart from that, participles are also used

to shorten sentences.

Present Participle

The present participle is the ing-form. You surely know this form:

from progressive / continuous tenses (e. g. Present Progressive) – I am speaking.

as an adjective form – The film is interesting.

as a gerund – He is afraid of flying.

Not the exceptions in spelling when adding 'ing':

Exception Example

final e dropped (but: ee is not changed) come – coming (but: agree - agreeing)

final consonant after short, stressed vowel is doubled sit – sitting

final consonant l after vowel is always doubled (in British English) travel – travelling

final ie becomes y lie – lying

The present participle can be used to describe the following verbs:

come, go, sit

Example: The girl sat crying on the sofa.

The present participle can also be used after verbs of the senses if we do not want to emphasise that the

action was completed. (see Infinitive or Ing-Form)

feel, find, hear, listen to, notice, see, smell, watch

Example: Did you see him dancing?

Furthermore, the present participle can be used to shorten or combine active clauses that have the same

subject.

Example: She left the house and whistled. – She left the house whistling.

Exercises on Present Participle

Past Participle

The past participle is the participle that you find in the third column of lists with irregular verbs. You surely

know this form:

from perfect tenses (z. B. Present Perfect Simple) – I have spoken.

from passive voice – The letter was written.

as an adjective form – I was bored to death.

For irregular participle forms see third column of irregular verbs. Regular verbs form the past participle by

adding ed, however, note the following exceptions in spelling:

Exceptions when adding ed Example

after a final e, only add d love – loved

final consonant after a short, stressed vowelor l as final consonant after a vowel is doubled

admit – admittedtravel – travelled

final y after a consonant becomes i hurry – hurried

The past participle can also be used to shorten or combine passive clauses that have the same subject.

Example: The boy was given an apple. He stopped crying. – Given an apple, the boy stopped

crying.

Exercises on Past Participle

Perfect Participle

The perfect participle can be used to shorten or combine clauses that have the same subject if …

… one action (the one where the perfect participle is used) is completed before the next action starts.

Example: She bought a bike and cycled home. – Having bought a bike, she cycled home.

… one action has been going on for a period of time when another action starts.

Example: He had been living there for such a long time that he didn't want to move to another

town. – Having lived there for such a long time, he didn't want to move to another town.

The perfect participle can be used for active and passive voice.

active voice: having + past participle (Having cooked, he set the table.)

passive voice: having been + past participle (Having been cooked, the food looked delicious.)

Exercises on Perfect Participle

Use of Participle Clauses

If a clause is shortened using a participle construction, the clause is called participle clause.

Example: Watching TV, she forgot everything around her.

In English, participle clauses are mainly used in writing in order to put a lot of information into one sentence.

When shortening or combining clauses with a participle construction, keep the following rules in mind:

Both clauses should have the same subject.

The less important part becomes the participle clause. Important information should always be in the main

clause.

Make sure, you use the correct participle form (see above).

The conjunctions as, because, since and relative pronouns who, which are left out.

The conjunctions before, when are used in the participle clause.

The conjunctions after, while can be used or left out.

Participle Clauses with different Subjects

Sometimes participle clauses can be used even if the clauses to be combined do not have the same subject.

This is the case for example if the main clause contains one of the following verbs + object:

feel, find, hear, listen to, notice, see, smell, watch

Example: I heard him playing the guitar.

Here, the participle clause must directly follow the object it is relating to. (Note: Some of the verbs mentioned

here can also be used with the infinitive. For further information see Infinitive or Ing-Form)

A participle construction is also possible, if both subjects are mentioned (often the word 'with' is put before the

subject in the participle clause). This is very formal, however, and not often used.

Example: Mrs Jones went to New York. Mr Smith took up her position.

→ (With) Mrs Jones going to New York, Mr Smith took up her position.

Incorrect Participle Clauses

Apart from the exceptions mentioned above, participle clause and main clause should have the same subject.

Otherwise the sentences might sound rather strange.

Example: I was driving on the motorway, when the baby started to cry.

→ Falscher Partizipialsatz: Driving on the motorway, the baby started to cry.

In this example you get the feeling that the baby has driven the car. So these participle clauses are considered

wrong in standard English. In colloquial English, these 'incorrect participle clauses' are usually okay, and you

can even find an example in Shakespeare's Hamlet:

Now, Hamlet, hear. ’Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, a serpent stung me.

As the text goes, it is said that Hamlet's father was bitten by a snake. Strictly speaking, however, the snake

was asleep when it bit Hamlet's father.

Exercises and Tests

Present Participle

Form of Present Participle  

Combine Sentences using the Present Participle  

Participles after certain Verbs  

Past Participle

Form of Past Participle  

have something done  

Combine Sentences using the Past Participle  

Perfect Participle

Combine Sentences using the Perfect Participle  

Active or Passive Voice  

Participle Mix

Participles (Mix)  

Participles (Mix)  

Combine Sentences using Participle Constructions  

Combine Sentences using Participle Constructions  

Combine Sentences using Participle Constructions (with Conjunctions)  

Replace Relative Clauses by Participle Constructions  

Rewrite Sentences without using the Participle Constructions  

Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal verbs are mainly used in spoken English and informal texts. (The more formal a conversation or text,

the less phrasal verbs are found.)

Phrasal verbs consist of a verb plus a particle (preposition, adverb). The particle can change the meaning of

the verb completely, e.g.:

look up – consult a reference book (look a word up in a dictionary)

look for – seek (look for her ring)

look forward – anticipate with pleasure (look forward to meeting someone)

There are no rules that might explain how phrasal verbs are formed correctly - all you can do is look them up

in a good dictionary and study their meanings. In our lists, you will find some frequently used phrasal

verbs and their meanings.

Frequently Used Phrasal Verbs with:

break , bring, call, carry, come, do, fall, get, go, keep, look, make, put, run, set, take, turn

Position of the Particle

The particle is placed either after the verb or after the object.

Example:

Write down the word. / Write the word down.

If the object is a pronoun, however, the particle has to be placed after the pronoun (object).

Example:

Write it down.

Exercises on Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verbs with 'up'  

Phrasal Verbs with 'on'  

Phrasal Verbs with 'turn'  

Mixed Exercise 1  

Mixed Exercise 2  

Phrasal Verbs with 'out'  

Phrasal Verbs with 'down'  

Phrasal Verbs with 'look'  

Mixed Exercise 1  

Mixed Exercise 2  

Phrasal Verbs with 'up'  

Phrasal Verbs with 'out'  

Phrasal Verbs with 'off'  

Phrasal Verbs with 'come'  

Phrasal Verbs with 'get'  

Phrasal Verbs with 'go'  

Mixed Exercise 1  

Mixed Exercise 2  

Frequently used Phrasal Verbs

Phrasal Verbs with: break, bring, call, carry, come, do, fall, get, go, keep, look, make, put, run, set,take, turn

break

break down fail to function

have a physical or mental collapse

break in interrupt a discussion

burgle

soften with use (shoes)

break off discontinue (therapy, relationship)

break out escape from prison, begin suddenly

break up end a relationship

bring

bring about cause to happen

bring forth give birth to

bring forward draw attention to sth

bring on cause to happen or appear

bring round persuade

cause to recover consciousness

bring up rear, educate a child

mention

vomit

call

call back return a phone call

call for require

call in communicate by phone

consult a specialist

call off cancel

call out read names aloud

order workers to strike

call on request sb to do sth

call up reach by phone

summon for military services

carry

carry away remove

inspire, affect emotionally

carry off take away (by force)

win

remove, degrade (earth)

carry on continue

carry out accomplish, make

carry through complete

bring out of difficulties

come

come about happen, to be achieved

come across find/meet by chance

come after follow

come at attack

reach, discover

come back return

come by pass, go past, visit

buy, get

come down fall (price)

come down to mean, signify

come down with fall sick with

come in enter, be received

prove to be

come in for receive, be object of (criticism)

come off become detached

come out become known, be published

be removed (stain)

come over come from a distance

come round visit sb

recover consciousness

come to amount to

arrive/reach a place

come up be mentioned/discussed

(problem) arise

come up against be faced with (problems)

come upon find/meet by chance

come up to match (a standard)

come up with produce an idea

do

do away with abolish

kill

do up dress up

fasten, secure (clothing)

do with need

do without not require

fall

fall apart fall into pieces

fall behind fail to keep up pace

fall for be in love with

be deceived by

fall in with meet by chance

coincide with

fall off decrease

drop from

fall out quarrel

fall out with quarrel with

fall through fail, miscarry

fall to start an activity eagerly

get

get across communicate (an idea)

get along be in good terms with somebody

get away escape

get away with escape (punishment)

get by manage, cope

get down to turn one's attention to sth

get in enter (car, taxi)

get off disembark (bus, train etc.)

get on enter (bus, train etc.)

get out disembark (car, taxi)

get over recover (illness, upset)

get through pass (an exam)

be connected on the phone

get to reach

get up rise from bed after sleeping

go

go against be contrary to (principles, rules)

go along with take the same view

go away depart

go down become less

decrese in price

sink (ship)

set (sun)

go for pick up, go and get

go off explode

deteriorate (food)

begin to sound (alarm)

go on continue

go out leave the house

strike

go over inspect the details of sth

go past pass

go round visit informally

go through deal with

discuss in detail

experience sth (usually bad)

go up increase in price

explode

go with match

keep

keep away prevent from / avoid being near

keep back withhold

keep down not to increase

keep off avoid (a topic)

stay away

keep on not stopping doing sth

keep up continue, carry on

keep up with not to fall behind sb

look

look after take care of

look down on regard with a feeling of superiority

look for seek

look forward to anticipate with pleasure

look into investigate (a crime)

look on be a spectator

regard

look out be careful

look over inspect hastily

look through pretend not to see

examine the contents of sth

look up consult a reference book

look up to respect

make

make for have/produce a particular effect

make off run away

make out recognise, distinguish

make up constitute, form

invent a lie

put together, prepare

apply cosmetics

make up for compensate

regain (time)

put

put across express in an understandable way

put back put sth to its proper place

lay money aside for the future

move back the hands of a clock

put by save for later use

put down repress

write down

store (food)

put down to give as a reason, attribute to

put forward move forward the hands of a clock

suggest, propose

put in for be a candidate for an election

put on dress oneself with

tease

gain (weight)

put off postpone

put out extinguish (a fire, light)

put through connect sb by phone

put up build

raise (hand)

provide accomodation for

offer for sale

put up with tolerate, accept

run

run after chase

run away escape, flee

run down knock down, collide with

feel weak due to overwork

run in imprison

run into meet by chance

run off escape, flee

run out run outside

become used up

run out of exhaust one's stock

run over overflow

study quickly

pass over, knock down

run up against meet with difficulties

set

set aside reserve for later use

set back hinder, slow down a progress

set down write down

set off cause to explode

start a journey

set up start business

take

take after follow sb as an example

resemble in appearance

take down write down

take in understand (meaning)

deceive

take off undress

begin flight (plane)

take to develop a habit

take up continue, proceed

become interested in

take up with begin to associate with

turn

turn down diminish the intensity

reject

turn in hand in

turn off switch off

turn on switch on

turn out switch off

turn over bring the reverse side up

turn up increase the intensity

make an appearance

Prepositions

Exercises on Prepositions

Prepositions are short words (on, in, to) that usually stand in front of nouns (sometimes also in front of gerund

verbs).

Even advanced learners of English find prepositions difficult, as a 1:1 translation is usually not possible. One

preposition in your native language might have several translations depending on the situation.

There are hardly any rules as to when to use which preposition. The only way to learn prepositions is looking

them up in a dictionary, reading a lot in English (literature) and learning useful phrases off by heart (study tips).

The following table contains rules for some of the most frequently used prepositions in English:

Prepositions – Time

English Usage Example

on days of the week on Monday

in months / seasons

time of day

year

after a certain period of time (when?)

in August / in winter

in the morning

in 2006

in an hour

at for night

for weekend

a certain point of time (when?)

at night

at the weekend

at half past nine

since from a certain point of time (past till now) since 1980

for over a certain period of time (past till

now)

for 2 years

ago a certain time in the past 2 years ago

before earlier than a certain point of time before 2004

to telling the time ten to six (5:50)

past telling the time ten past six (6:10)

to / till /

until

marking the beginning and end of a

period of time

from Monday to/till Friday

English Usage Example

till / until in the sense of how long something is

going to last

He is on holiday until Friday.

by in the sense of at the latest

up to a certain time

I will be back by 6 o’clock.

By 11 o'clock, I had read five

pages.

Prepositions – Place (Position and Direction)

English Usage Example

in room, building, street, town, country

book, paper etc.

car, taxi

picture, world

in the kitchen, in London

in the book

in the car, in a taxi

in the picture, in the world

at meaning next to, by an object

for table

for events

place where you are to do something

typical (watch a film, study, work)

at the door, at the station

at the table

at a concert, at the party

at the cinema, at school, at

work

on attached

for a place with a river

being on a surface

for a certain side (left, right)

for a floor in a house

for public transport

for television, radio

the picture on the wall

London lies on the

Thames.

on the table

on the left

on the first floor

on the bus, on a plane

on TV, on the radio

by, next to,

beside

left or right of somebody or something Jane is standing by / next

to / beside the car.

under on the ground, lower than (or covered by)

something else

the bag is under the table

below lower than something else but above

ground

the fish are below the

surface

over covered by something else put a jacket over your shirt

English Usage Example

meaning more than

getting to the other side (also across)

overcoming an obstacle

over 16 years of age

walk over the bridge

climb over the wall

above higher than something else, but not directly

over it

a path above the lake

across getting to the other side (also over)

getting to the other side

walk across the bridge

swim across the lake

through something with limits on top, bottom and

the sides

drive through the tunnel

to movement to person or building

movement to a place or country

for bed

go to the cinema

go to London / Ireland

go to bed

into enter a room / a building go into the kitchen / the

house

towards movement in the direction of something

(but not directly to it)

go 5 steps towards the

house

onto movement to the top of something jump onto the table

from in the sense of where from a flower from the garden

Other important Prepositions

English Usage Example

from who gave it a present from Jane

of who/what does it belong to

what does it show

a page of the book

the picture of a palace

by who made it a book by Mark Twain

on walking or riding on horseback

entering a public transport vehicle

on foot, on horseback

get on the bus

in entering a car  / Taxi get in the car

English Usage Example

off leaving a public transport vehicle get off the train

out of leaving a car  / Taxi get out of the taxi

by rise or fall of something

travelling (other than walking or

horseriding)

prices have risen by 10 percent

by car, by bus

at for age she learned Russian at 45

about for topics, meaning what about we were talking about you

Exercises on Prepositions

Exercise on Prepositions – Place 1  

Exercise on Prepositions – Place 2  

Exercise on Prepositions – Place 3  

Exercise on Prepositions – Place 4  

Exercise on Prepositions – Place 5  

Exercise on Prepositions – Time 1  

Exercise on Prepositions – Time 2  

Exercise on Prepositions   since   and   for

See also: Date and Time

Exercise on Prepositions – Buses  

Exercise on Prepositions – A picture  

Exercise on Prepositions – A photograph  

Exercise on Prepositions – The Wampanoag  

Exercise on Prepositions – George Washington  

Exercise on Prepositions – Henry Ford  

Exercise on Prepositions – McDonald’s  

Exercise on Prepositions – Uluru  

Pronouns (Personal, Possessive, Relative and Reflexive Pronouns)

Pronouns are words like I, me (personal pronouns) or my, mine (possessive pronouns).

Personal Pronouns Possessive Adjectives and Pronouns Reflexive Pronouns

subject form object form possessive adjective possessive pronoun

I me my mine myself

you you your yours yourself

he him his his himself

she her her hers herself

it it its its itself

we us our ours ourselves

you you your yours yourselves

they them their theirs themselves

Personal Pronouns - Subject Form

example: We have got some books.

Exercise on personal pronouns - subject form

Personal Pronouns - Object Form

example: The books are for us.

Exercise on personal pronouns - object form

Possessive Adjectives

example: These are our books.

Exercise on possessive adjectives

Possessive Pronouns

example: The books are ours.

Exercise on possessive pronouns

Reflexive Pronouns

example: He can carry the bags himself.

Exercise on reflexive pronouns

Exercise on reflexive and reciprocal pronouns

Relative Pronouns

example: This is the man who lives next door.

Exercise on relative pronouns (see relative clauses)

Mixed Exercises

Exercise on personal pronouns and possessive adjectives

Question Tags

Question tags are used in conversation to get a (positive) reaction from the person you are talking to. That’s

not really difficult, is it? ;o)

Form

positive main clause → negative question tag

negative main clause → positive question tag

Examples

You are Tom, aren’t you?

He isn’t Joe, is he?

main clause with auxiliary verb → use auxiliary verb in question tag

You’ve got a car, haven’t you?

Exercise on question tags

Exercise on the text   “ Keystone ”

Relative ClausesExercises and Tests

Exercises and tests on relative clauses

We use relative clauses to give additional information about something without starting another sentence. By

combining sentences with a relative clause, your text becomes more fluent and you can avoid repeating

certain words.

How to Form Relative Clauses 

Imagine, a girl is talking to Tom. You want to know who she is and ask a friend whether he knows her. You

could say:

A girl is talking to Tom. Do you know the girl?

That sounds rather complicated, doesn't it? It would be easier with a relative clause: you put both pieces of

information into one sentence. Start with the most important thing  – you want to know who the girl is.

Do you know the girl …

As your friend cannot know which girl you are talking about, you need to put in the additional information  – the

girl is talking to Tom. Use „the girl“ only in the first part of the sentence, in the second part replace it with the

relative pronoun (for people, use the relative pronoun „who“). So the final sentence is:

Do you know the girl who is talking to Tom?

Relative Pronouns 

relative pronoun

use example

who subject or object pronoun for people I told you about the woman wholives next door.

which subject or object pronoun for animals and things Do you see the cat which is lying on the roof?

which referring to a whole sentence He couldn’t read which surprised me.

whose possession for people animals and things Do you know the boy whose mother is a nurse?

whom object pronoun for people, especially in non-defining relative clauses (in defining relative clauses we

I was invited by the professor whomI met at the

colloquially prefer who) conference.

that subject or object pronoun for people, animals and things in defining relative clauses (who orwhich are also possible)

I don’t like the table that stands in the kitchen.

Subject Pronoun or Object Pronoun? 

Subject and object pronouns cannot be distinguished by their forms - who, which, that are used for subject and

object pronouns. You can, however, distinguish them as follows:

If the relative pronoun is followed by a verb, the relative pronoun is a subject pronoun. Subject pronouns must

always be used.

the apple which is lying on the table

If the relative pronoun is not followed by a verb (but by a noun or pronoun), the relative pronoun is anobject

pronoun. Object pronouns can be dropped in defining relative clauses, which are then calledContact Clauses.

the apple (which) George lay on the table

Relative Adverbs 

A relative adverb can be used instead of a relative pronoun plus preposition. This often makes the sentence

easier to understand.

This is the shop in which I bought my bike.

→ This is the shop where I bought my bike.

relative adverb

meaning use example

when in/on which refers to a time expression the day when we met him

where in/at which refers to a place the place where we met him

why for which refers to a reason the reason why we met him

Defining Relative Clauses 

Defining relative clauses (also called identifying relative clauses or restrictive relative clauses) give detailed

information defining a general term or expression. Defining relative clauses are not put incommas.

Imagine, Tom is in a room with five girls. One girl is talking to Tom and you ask somebody whether he knows

this girl. Here the relative clause defines which of the five girls you mean.

Do you know the girl who is talking to Tom?

Defining relative clauses are often used in definitions.

A seaman is someone who works on a ship.

Object pronouns in defining relative clauses can be dropped. (Sentences with a relative clause without the

relative pronoun are called Contact Clauses.)

The boy (who/whom) we met yesterday is very nice.

Non-Defining Relative Clauses 

Non-defining relative clauses (also called non-identifying relative clauses or non-restrictive relative clauses)

give additional information on something, but do not define it. Non-defining relative clauses are put in commas.

Imagine, Tom is in a room with only one girl. The two are talking to each other and you ask somebody whether

he knows this girl. Here the relative clause is non-defining because in this situation it is obvious which girl you

mean.

Do you know the girl, who is talking to Tom?

Note: In non-defining relative clauses, who/which may not be replaced with that.

Object pronouns in non-defining relative clauses must be used.

Jim, who/whom we met yesterday, is very nice.

How to Shorten Relative Clauses? 

Relative clauses with who, which, that as subject pronoun can be replaced with a participle. This makes the

sentence shorter and easier to understand.

I told you about the woman who lives next door. – I told you about the woman living next door.

Do you see the cat which is lying on the roof? – Do you see the cat lying on the roof?

Exercises on Relative Clauses

Relative Pronouns and Relative Adverbs

Exercise on Relative Pronouns  

Subject Pronouns or Object Pronouns?  

Relative Pronouns – Necessary or not?  

Relative Pronouns – Necessary or not?  

Relative Adverbs  

Relative Pronouns in the Text „Stonehenge“ (who/which)  

Relative Clauses and Contact Clauses

Relative Clauses - Formation  

Contact Clauses  

Definitions with Relative Clauses  

Relative Clauses - defining or non-defining?  

Non-Defining Relative Clauses  

Forming Relative Clauses - defining and non-defining  

Relative Clauses in the Text „San Francisco“  

Tests

Relative Clauses: Level   1  • Level   2  • Level   3  • Level   4

Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)

Exercises on Reported Speech

If we report what another person has said, we usually do not use the speaker’s exact words (direct speech),

but reported (indirect) speech. Therefore, you need to learn how to transform direct speech into reported

speech. The structure is a little different depending on whether you want to transform a statement, question or

request.

Statements

When transforming statements, check whether you have to change:

pronouns

present tense verbs (3rd person singular)

place and time expressions

tenses (backshift)

Type Example

direct speech “I speak English.”

reported speech He says that he speaks English.

Type Example

(no backshift)

reported speech(backshift)

He said that he spoke English.

→ more on statements in reported speech

Statements in Reported Speech

Pronouns

In reported speech, you often have to change the pronoun depending on who says what.

Example

She says, “My mum doesn’t have time today.” – She says that her mum doesn’t have time today.

Tenses

No backshift

Do not change the tense if the introductory clause is in Simple Present (e. g. He says). Note, however, that

you might have to change the form of the present tense verb (3rd person singular).

Example

He says, “I speak English.” – He says that he speaks English.

Backshift

You must change the tense if the introductory clause is in Simple Past (e. g. He said). This is calledbackshift.

Example

He said, “I am happy.” – He said that he was happy.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Simple Present Simple Past

Present Progressive Past Progressive

Simple Past Past Perfect Simple

Present Perfect Simple

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Past Perfect Simple

Past Progressive

Past Perfect ProgressivePresent Perfect Progressive

Past Perfect Progressive

Future I (going to) was / were going to

Future I (will)Conditional I (would)

Conditional I (would)

The verbs could, should, would, might, must, needn’t, ought to, used to do not normally change.

Example:

He said, “She might be right.” – He said that she might be right.

Place and Time expressions

For place and time expressions you have to check whether place and time are the same in direct and reported

speech or not. Check out the following example:

It is Friday and you meet James at a restaurant. James tells you that he saw Caroline in this restaurant today.

(“I saw Caroline here today.”) A few minutes later, Helen joins you and you want to report what James has told

you. Place (here) and time (today) are the same and you can say:

→ James said that he had seen Caroline here today.

One day later, you meet Mary at the same restaurant. Again, you want to report to her what James has told

you. The place is the same, but not the time (it happened yesterday). So you would say:

→ James said that he had seen Caroline here yesterday.

Still a few days later, Tom rings you at home. Again, you want to report to him what James has told you.

However, now you are not at the restaurant (but at home) and a few days have passed since then. So you

would say:

→ James said that he had seen Caroline at the restaurant on Friday.

oder

→ I met James in a restaurant on Friday and he said that he had seen Caroline there that day.

Therefore you always have to think which place and time expressions are logical in a certain situation.

In the following table, you will find ways of transforming place and time expressions into reported speech.

Direct Speech Reported Speech

today that day

now then

yesterday the day before

… days ago … days before

last week the week before

next year the following year

tomorrow the next day / the following day

here there

this that

these those

Exercises on reported speech

Questions

When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

pronouns

present tense verbs (3rd person singular)

place and time expressions

tenses (backshift)

Also note that you have to:

transform the question into an indirect question

use the interrogative or if / whether

Type Example

with interrogativedirect speech “Why don’t you speak English?”

reported speech He asked me why I didn’t speak English.

without interrogativedirect speech “Do you speak English?”

reported speech He asked me whether / if I spoke English.

→ more on questions in reported speech

Questions in Reported Speech

For pronouns, tenses and place / time expressions see statements in reported speech.

Besides, note that instead of ‚that‘ you use the interrogative. If there is no interrogative, use ‚whether‘/ ‚if‘.

  Direct Speech Reported Speech

statement He said: “She lives in London.“ He said that she lived in London

question with interrogative He asked:“Where does she live?“ He asked where she lived.

question without interrogative

He asked: “Does she live in London?“

He asked whether she lived in London.

He asked if she lived in London.

It is also important that you use an indirect question in reported speech, i.e. after the interrogative

or‚whether‘ / ‚if‘ you continue the sentence as if it were a statement (subject-verb etc.). The auxiliary

verb ‚do‘ is not used in indirect questions.

Example:

He asked: “Where does she live?“ – He asked where she lived.

Exercises on reported speech

Requests

When transforming questions, check whether you have to change:

pronouns

place and time expressions

Type Example

direct speech “Carol, speak English.“

reported speech He told Carol to speak English.

→ more on requests in reported speech

Requests in Reported Speech

For pronouns and place / time expressions see statements in reported speech. Tenses are not relevant for

requests – simply use ‚to‘ + infinite verb.

Example:She said, “Say hello to your mum.“ – She asked me to say hello to my mum.

For negative requests, use ‚not to‘ + infinite verb.

Example:He said, “Don’t give up, Bob.“ – He advised Bob not to give up.

Exercises on reported speech

Additional Information and Exeptions

Apart from the above mentioned basic rules, there are further aspects that you should keep in mind, for

example:

main clauses connected with and / but

tense of the introductory clause

reported speech for difficult tenses

exeptions for backshift

requests with must, should, ought to and let’s

→ more on additional information and exeptions in reported speech

Advanced Points

Main Clauses connected with and / but

If two complete main clauses are connected with ‚and‘ or ‚but‘, put ‚that‘ after the conjunction.

Example:

He said,“I saw her but she didn’t see me.“ – He said that he had seen her but that she hadn’t seen him.“

If the subject is left out in the second main clause (the conjunction is followed by a verb), do not use‚that‘.

Example:

She said,“I am a nurse and work in a hospital.“ – He said that she was a nurse and worked in a hospital.“

Tense of the Introductory Clause

The introductory clause usually is in Past Tense.

Example:

He said that …

Present Tense is often used to report a conversation that is still going on, e. g. during a phone call or while

reading a letter.

Example:

“I am fine.“ – Tom says / writes that he is fine.

The introductory clause can also be in another tense. In the following table you can see, for which tense of the

introductory clause you have to use backshift in reported speech.

No Backshiftif introductory clause is in …

Backshiftif introductory clause is in …

Simple Present (He says …)

Present Perfect (He has said …)

Future I will (He will say …)

Future I going to (He is going to

say …)

Simple Past (He said …)

Past Perfect (He had said …)

Future II ( He will have said …)

Conditional I (He would say …)

Conditional II (He would have

No Backshiftif introductory clause is in …

Backshiftif introductory clause is in …

said …)

Backshift in Reported Speech

The basic rules for backshift when transforming direct speech into reported speech are:

Direct Speech Reported Speech

Simple Present Simple Past

Present Progressive Past Progressive

Simple Past

Past Perfect SimplePresent Perfect

Past Perfect

Past Progressive

Past Perfect ProgressivePresent Perfect Progressive

Past Perfect Progressive

Future I (going to) was / were going to

Future I (will)Conditional I

Conditional I

Future IIConditional II

Conditional II

Exceptions

Backshift of Simple Present is optional if the situation is still unchanged or if you agree with the original

speaker.

Beispiel:

“Canberra is the capital of Australia.“

She said that Canberra is / was the capital of Australia.

Backshift of Simple Past and Past Progressive is optional if they cannot be mistakenly taken for backshift of

Present Tense. So backshift is not necessary if there is a time expression indicating past.

Example:

“She left Boston on Monday.“

He said that she left / had left Boston on Monday.

Simple Past and Past Progressive do not normally change in sentences with when / if.

Example:

“When I was having breakfast, the telephone suddenly rang.“

She said that when she was having breakfast, the telephone suddenly rang.

Example:“If I had more time, I would learn French.“

He said that if he had more time, he would learn French.

Requests

The basic rule for requests is: introductory clause + ‚to‘ + infinite verb.

Example:

“Say hello to your mum.“

She asked me to say hello to my mum.

Advise expressions with must, should and ought are usually reported using advise / urge.

Example:

“You must read that book.“

He advised / urged me to read that book.

The expression let’s is usually reported using suggest. In this case, there are various possibilities for reported

speech: gerund or statement with should.

Example:

“Let’s go to the cinema.“

He suggested going to the cinema.

He suggested that we should go.to the cinema.

Exercises on reported speech

Exercises on Reported Speech

Statements in Reported Speech

no backshift – change of pronouns

no backshift – change of pronouns and places

with backshift

with backshift and change of place and time expressions

Questions in Reported Speech

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Requests in Reported Speech

Exercise 1 – requests (positive)

Exercise 2 – requests (negative)

Exercise 3 – requests (mixed)

Mixed Exercises on Reported Speech

Exercise 1

Exercise 2

Grammar in Texts

„ The Canterville Ghost “   (highlight direct speech and reported speech)

Short Answers

Exercises on Short Answers

Saying ‘Yes, I do. / No, I don’t’ in English is more polite than just saying ‘Yes. / No.’ That’s why short answers

are very commonly used.

To form the short answer, you use the first word from the question. (This is either an auxiliary verb or a form

of ‘be’.)

Use the long form (he does) in affirmative answers (yes).

Use the short form (he doesn’t) in negative answers (no).

Question Affirmative Negative

Do we know him? Yes, we do. No, we don’t.

Can she see me? Yes, she can. No, she can’t.

Have they read the book? Yes, they have. No, they haven’t.

Is he hungry? Yes, he is. No, he isn’t.

Mind: If ‘you’ is the subject of the question, ‘you’ must be replaced by ‘I’ or ‘we’.

Question Affirmative Negative

Do you know him? Yes, I / we do. No, I / we don’t.

If the question starts with ‘are you’, ‘are’ must sometimes be replaced by ‘am’.

Question Affirmative Negative

Are you hungry? Yes, I am. No, I’m not.

But: → Yes, we are. No, we aren’t.

Exercises on Short Answers

Exercise on Short Answers

Exercise on the text   “ New York ”

Exercise on the text   “ Hadrian ’ s Wall ”

Word Order in English Sentences

In the English language there are no different forms for subjects and objects. To keep subject and object

apart, however, we have to stick to the word order.

Explanations and Exercises

Word Order in Positive Sentences

For the beginning, remember this simple rule:

subject verb(s) object

I speak English

I can speak English

Exercise on word order in positive sentences 1

If you are a more advanced learner, remember the following rule:

subject verb(s9 indirect object direct object place time

I will tell you the story at school tomorrow.

Exercise on word order in positive sentences 2

Word Order in Negative Sentences

The word order in negative sentences is the same as in affirmative sentences. Note, however, that in negative

sentences we usually need an auxiliary verb:

subject verbs indirect object direct object place time

I will not tell you the story at school tomorrow.

Exercise on word order in negative sentences

go to Word Order in Subordinate Clauses ►

Word Order in Subordinate Clauses

In subordinate clauses, the word order is the same as in simple affirmative sentences. (Conjunctions are often

used between two clauses):

conjunction subject verb(s) indirect object direct object place time

  I will tell you the story at school tomorrow ...

because I don't have   time   now.

Exercise on word order in subordinate clauses

go to Position of Time Expressions ►

Position of Time Expressions

(e.g.: recently, now, then, yesterday)

Adverbs of time are usually put at the end of the sentence.

subject verb(s) indirect object direct object time

I will tell you the story tomorrow.

If you don't want to put emphasis on the time, you can also put the adverb of time at the beginning of the

sentence.

time subject verb(s) indirect object direct object

Tomorrow I will tell you the story.

Note that some time expressions are adverbs of frequency (always, never, usually usw.). These are usually

put before the main verb (except for 'be' as a main verb). (see also Position of Adverbs)

subject auxiliary/be adverb main verb object, place or time

I   often go swimming in the evenings.

He doesn't always play tennis.

We are usually   here in summer.

I have never been abroad.

Exercise on position of time expressions

go to Position of Adverbs ►

Position of Adverbs

Adverb of Manner

(e.g.: slowly, carefully, awfully)

These adverbs are put behind the direct object (or behind the verb if there's no direct object).

subject verb(s) direct object adverb

He drove the car carefully.

He drove   carefully.

Exercise on adverbs of manner

Adverbs of Place

(e.g.: here, there, behind, above)

Like adverbs of manner, these adverbs are put behind the direct object or the verb.

subject verb(s) direct object adverb

I didn't see him here.

He stayed   behind.

Exercise on adverbs of place

Adverbs of Time

(e.g.: recently, now, then, yesterday)

Adverbs of time are usually put at the end of the sentence.

subject verb(s) indirect object direct object time

I will tell you the story tomorrow.

If you don't want to put emphasis on the time, you can also put the adverb of time at the beginning of the

sentence.

time subject verb(s) indirect object direct object

Tomorrow I will tell you the story.

Exercise on adverbs of time

Adverbs of Frequency

(e.g.: always, never, seldom, usually)

Adverbs of frequency are put directly before the main verb. If 'be' is the main verb and there is no auxiliary

verb, adverbs of frequency are put behind 'be'. Is there an auxiliary verb, however, adverbs of frequency are

put before 'be'.

subject auxiliary/be adverb main verb object, place or time

I   often go swimming in the evenings.

He doesn't always play tennis.

We are usually   here in summer.

I have never been abroad.

Exercise on adverbs of frequency

Exercise on adverbs (mix)

go to Word Order in Questions ►

Adverb of Manner

(e.g.: slowly, carefully, awfully)

These adverbs are put behind the direct object (or behind the verb if there's no direct object).

subject verb(s) direct object adverb

He drove the car carefully.

He drove   carefully.

Exercise on adverbs of manner

Adverbs of Place

(e.g.: here, there, behind, above)

Like adverbs of manner, these adverbs are put behind the direct object or the verb.

subject verb(s) direct object adverb

I didn't see him here.

He stayed   behind.

Exercise on adverbs of place

Adverbs of Time

(e.g.: recently, now, then, yesterday)

Adverbs of time are usually put at the end of the sentence.

subject verb(s) indirect object direct object time

I will tell you the story tomorrow.

If you don't want to put emphasis on the time, you can also put the adverb of time at the beginning of the

sentence.

time subject verb(s) indirect object direct object

Tomorrow I will tell you the story.

Exercise on adverbs of time

Adverbs of Frequency

(e.g.: always, never, seldom, usually)

Adverbs of frequency are put directly before the main verb. If 'be' is the main verb and there is no auxiliary

verb, adverbs of frequency are put behind 'be'. Is there an auxiliary verb, however, adverbs of frequency are

put before 'be'.

subject auxiliary/be adverb main verb object, place or time

I   often go swimming in the evenings.

He doesn't always play tennis.

We are usually   here in summer.

I have never been abroad.

Exercise on adverbs of frequency

Exercise on adverbs (mix)

go to Word Order in Questions ►

In questions, the word order subject-verbs-object is the same as in affirmative sentences. The only thing that’s

different is that you usually have to put the auxiliary verb (or the main verb “be”) before the subject.

Interrogatives are put at the beginning of the sentences:

interrogativeauxiliary

verbsubject

other verb(s)

indirect object

direct object

place time

What would you like to tell me      

  Did you have   a party in your flat

yesterday?

When were you       here?  

Exercise on word order in questions 1

You don’t use an auxiliary verb if you ask for the subject. In this case the interrogative simply takes the place

of the subject.

interrogative verb(s) object

Who asked you?

Exercise on word order in questions 2

More Exercises

Questions in Simple Present

Questions in Present Progressive

Questions in Simple Past

Questions in Past Progressive

Questions in Present Perfect Simple

Questions in Present Perfect Progressive

Questions with Interrogatives in Simple Present

Questions with Interrogatives in Present Progressive

Questions with Interrogatives in Simple Past

Questions with Interrogatives in Past Progressive

Questions with Interrogatives in Simple Past

Questions with Interrogatives in Past Progressive

Questions with Interrogatives in Present Perfect Simple

Questions with and without Interrogatives in Past Perfect Simple

More Exercises

Negative Sentences in Simple Present

Negative Sentences in Present Progressive

Negative Sentences in Simple Past

Negative Sätze im Past Progressive

Negative Sentences in Present Perfect Simple

Negative Sentences in Present Perfect Progressive

Negative Sentences in Past Perfect Simple

More Exercises

Positive Sentences in Simple Present

Positive Sentences in Present Progressive

Positive Sentences in Simple Past

Positive Sentences in Past Progressive

Positive Sentences in Present Perfect Simple

Positive Sentences in Present Perfect Progressive

Positive Sentences in Past Perfect Simple

Word Order in Negative SentencesWord Order in Subordinate ClausesPosition of Time ExpressionsPosition of AdverbsWord Order in Questions