English Grammar Exercises With Answers

English Grammar Exercises With Answers help beginner, intermediate, and ESL learners practice grammar, check mistakes, and understand the reason behind each correction. Use this collection in order, or choose a topic such as articles, verb tenses, prepositions, conditionals, or sentence structure.

Work through each exercise without looking at the answer first. Then compare your sentence with the answer, read the short explanation, and write one new example about your own life, studies, travel, or work.

Published: July 15, 2026 | Last updated: July 15, 2026

How to Use These English Grammar Exercises With Answers

This page is designed for self-study, classroom review, homework, and practical English writing. The exercises move from foundational grammar to more advanced usage. Exercises 1–4 are mainly beginner level, Exercises 5–8 are beginner to intermediate, and Exercises 9–12 are intermediate to advanced.

Grammar practice exercises work best when they are active. Cover the answer key, complete the task, and mark each answer as correct, nearly correct, or incorrect. If you miss an item, do not just copy the answer. Explain the rule in your own words and use the corrected form in a short message or paragraph.

For an additional reference, consult the Cambridge Dictionary Grammar Guide. It is useful when a sentence has more than one possible form or when you want extra examples of formal and conversational English.

“Grammar is the structural foundation of our ability to express ourselves.”

— Beverly S. Clark, commonly cited in discussions of grammar and communication

Contents: English Grammar Questions With Answers

Exercise 1: Subject-Verb Agreement (Beginner)

Choose the verb that agrees with the subject in each sentence.

  1. The report shows / show the latest results.
  2. My classmates works / work from different offices.
  3. Each student has / have a grammar workbook.
  4. The instructions is / are easy to follow.
  5. The list of travel options includes / include three train routes.
  6. My brother and his friend plays / play football every Saturday.

Answers and Explanations

  1. The report shows the latest results. “Report” is singular, so the present-simple verb takes -s.
  2. My classmates work from different offices. “Classmates” is plural, so use the base verb work.
  3. Each student has a grammar workbook. “Each” refers to one student at a time and takes the singular verb has.
  4. The instructions are easy to follow. “Instructions” is plural, so the correct form of be is are.
  5. The list of travel options includes three train routes. The head noun is “list,” not “options,” so the singular verb includes agrees with it.
  6. My brother and his friend play football every Saturday. Two people joined by and normally form a plural subject, so use play.

The subject controls the verb, even when other nouns appear between them. Collective nouns such as team, family, and committee need special care. In American English, a group is often treated as one unit: The team has finished its report. In British and other varieties, a collective noun may take a plural verb when the members are acting separately: The team have finished their report. Both patterns can be appropriate; choose one style and keep the pronouns and verb consistent.

Exercise 2: Pronouns and Punctuation (Beginner)

Correct the pronoun or add the missing comma in each sentence.

  1. Me and Daniel finished the assignment.
  2. The manager spoke to Sarah and I.
  3. When the lesson ended we went to the library.
  4. The website, which launched last month needs new content.
  5. Please send the file to Jordan and me.
  6. Although it was raining the hikers continued their trip.

Answers and Explanations

  1. Daniel and I finished the assignment. “I” is the subject performing the action, and placing the other person first is the usual polite order.
  2. The manager spoke to Sarah and me. “Me” is the object of the preposition to, so an object pronoun is required.
  3. When the lesson ended, we went to the library. A comma separates the opening dependent clause from the main clause.
  4. The website, which launched last month, needs new content. The nonessential relative clause needs a comma before and after it.
  5. Please send the file to Jordan and me. The pronoun follows the preposition to and receives the action, so me is correct.
  6. Although it was raining, the hikers continued their trip. The comma makes the opening concession clause easier to read.

A subject pronoun performs an action: I finished. An object pronoun receives an action or follows a preposition: spoke to me. Punctuation cannot repair a sentence with the wrong structure, but a well-placed comma can clearly separate an opening clause or extra information.

Practical check: Remove the other person from a phrase such as “Sarah and I.” If “I finished” works, use I. If “the manager spoke to me” works, use me.

[IMAGE: A worksheet showing English grammar exercises with answers for subject-verb agreement, pronouns, and punctuation]

Exercise 3: Articles: A, An, and The (Beginner)

Complete each sentence with a, an, the, or no article where appropriate.

  1. I saw ___ interesting documentary about ocean travel.
  2. She bought ___ new notebook for her class.
  3. We visited ___ museum you recommended.
  4. My cousin is studying ___ biology at university.
  5. Could you pass me ___ salt, please?
  6. He wants to become ___ engineer.

Answers and Explanations

  1. I saw an interesting documentary about ocean travel. Use an before a vowel sound, and “interesting” begins with a vowel sound.
  2. She bought a new notebook for her class. Use a for one nonspecific countable noun beginning with a consonant sound.
  3. We visited the museum you recommended. Use the because the relative clause identifies a particular museum.
  4. My cousin is studying biology at university. School subjects and academic fields usually take no article when discussed generally.
  5. Could you pass me the salt, please? In this context, both speakers understand which salt is meant, so use the.
  6. He wants to become an engineer. “Engineer” begins with a vowel sound, so use an, not a.

Articles show how specific a noun is. Use a or an when you introduce one nonspecific countable thing: I read a book. Use the when the listener can identify the thing: The book was about travel. Use no article for many uncountable nouns and plural nouns in general statements: Water is important and Books can be useful.

Choose by sound, not simply by spelling. We say an hour because the h is silent, but a university because it begins with a “you” sound.

Exercise 4: Prepositions of Time, Place, and Movement (Beginner)

Choose the best preposition for each sentence.

  1. The online class begins at / on / in 9:30.
  2. Our final exam is at / on / in Friday.
  3. They moved to Canada at / on / in 2024.
  4. The keys are in / on / at the kitchen table.
  5. We walked across / at / in the bridge.
  6. She arrived at / to / on the airport early.

Answers and Explanations

  1. The online class begins at 9:30. Use at for a specific clock time.
  2. Our final exam is on Friday. Use on with days and dates.
  3. They moved to Canada in 2024. Use in with years, months, seasons, and longer periods.
  4. The keys are on the kitchen table. Use on for a surface.
  5. We walked across the bridge. Across describes movement from one side to the other.
  6. She arrived at the airport early. The usual expression is arrive at for a building or point, but arrive in is common for a city or country.

Prepositions often depend on fixed expressions, so exposure matters. Compare at home, in a room, on a bus, and by train. When you learn a new verb, record its usual preposition as a phrase, such as listen to music, depend on someone, or apply for a job.

Exercise 5: Verb Tenses and Sentence Structure (Beginner to Intermediate)

Choose the verb form that matches the time or meaning in each sentence.

  1. I write / am writing an email right now.
  2. She visited / has visited London three times.
  3. They finished / had finished the task before the call began.
  4. We will launch / launched the campaign next Monday.
  5. I have lived / lived here since 2021.
  6. He watched / was watching a film when the lights went out.

Answers and Explanations

  1. I am writing an email right now. The present continuous describes an action happening at the time of speaking.
  2. She has visited London three times. The present perfect describes life experience without naming a finished past time.
  3. They had finished the task before the call began. The past perfect places one past action before another past action.
  4. We will launch the campaign next Monday. The future form refers to an expected action after now.
  5. I have lived here since 2021. The present perfect connects a situation that began in the past with the present; since gives the starting point.
  6. He was watching a film when the lights went out. The past continuous gives the background action, while the past simple marks the shorter event.

The present perfect is not forbidden with every past-time reference. It commonly describes experience, a recent result, or an unfinished period: She has visited London three times and We have received two messages this morning when the morning is still in progress. A finished past-time expression normally requires the past simple: She visited London in 2024 and We received two messages yesterday.

Sentence structure also matters. Most basic English sentences follow subject-verb-object order, as in The designer created a layout. A time phrase, place phrase, reason clause, or condition can be added, but every dependent clause must connect to an independent clause.

Exercise 6: Build Complete Sentences (Beginner)

Put the words in the correct order. Add punctuation where needed.

  1. every morning / reads / the analyst / industry news
  2. because / canceled / the event / it rained
  3. the designer / a new layout / created / for the website
  4. after the lecture / students / discussed / the main idea

Answers and Explanations

  1. The analyst reads industry news every morning. The subject comes before the verb, and the frequency phrase naturally comes at the end.
  2. The event was canceled because it rained. The passive verb was canceled shows what happened to the event, and the reason clause follows it.
  3. The designer created a new layout for the website. The sentence uses subject-verb-object order, followed by a phrase explaining purpose or connection.
  4. After the lecture, students discussed the main idea. The opening time clause is followed by a comma before the main clause.

Exercise 7: Adjectives and Adverbs (Intermediate)

Choose the correct form in each sentence.

  1. The instructions were clear / clearly.
  2. She explained the process clear / clearly.
  3. The children finished the puzzle quick / quickly.
  4. It was a careful / carefully decision.
  5. He speaks English fluent / fluently.
  6. The soup tastes wonderful / wonderfully.

Answers and Explanations

  1. The instructions were clear. The adjective follows the linking verb were and describes the instructions.
  2. She explained the process clearly. The adverb describes how she explained the process.
  3. The children finished the puzzle quickly. The adverb modifies the action finished.
  4. It was a careful decision. The adjective comes before the noun decision.
  5. He speaks English fluently. The adverb describes the manner of speaking.
  6. The soup tastes wonderful. After a linking verb such as taste, use an adjective to describe the subject, not an adverb.

Adjectives usually describe nouns or follow linking verbs: a quiet room and The room is quiet. Adverbs often describe verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs: worked carefully, extremely useful, and very slowly. Not every adverb ends in -ly, and not every -ly word is an adverb. Words such as friendly and lively are adjectives.

Watch for meaning changes. He works hard means he puts in a lot of effort, while He hardly works means he works very little. These small differences matter in emails, academic writing, and everyday conversation.

Exercise 8: Future Forms for Plans, Predictions, and Schedules (Intermediate)

Choose the most natural future form: will, be going to, present continuous, or present simple.

  1. Look at those dark clouds. It will rain / is going to rain.
  2. I think our team will win / is winning the match.
  3. We are meeting / will meet the tutor at 3 p.m. tomorrow.
  4. The train leaves / is leaving at 6:15 every evening.
  5. I have decided: I will call / am going to call the hotel tonight.
  6. That box looks heavy. I will carry / am carrying it for you.

Answers and Explanations

  1. It is going to rain. The speaker sees present evidence, the dark clouds, and predicts a likely result.
  2. I think our team will win the match. Will is natural for a prediction or personal opinion made at the moment.
  3. We are meeting the tutor at 3 p.m. tomorrow. The present continuous works for a fixed personal arrangement.
  4. The train leaves at 6:15 every evening. The present simple is used for an official timetable or schedule.
  5. I am going to call the hotel tonight. Be going to shows a prior intention or plan.
  6. I will carry it for you. Will can express a spontaneous offer made at the time of speaking.

Future meaning does not come from one single tense. Use will for many predictions, promises, offers, and decisions made now. Use be going to for an earlier plan or a prediction based on present evidence. Use the present continuous for arranged personal events and the present simple for schedules.

These forms can overlap. A speaker may say I will visit my aunt next month as a general decision or I am visiting my aunt next month when the arrangement is already made. The surrounding context tells the reader which meaning is intended.

Exercise 9: Questions and Negative Sentences (Intermediate)

First, rewrite each statement as a negative sentence. Then form a question where requested.

  1. The writer understands the instructions.
  2. We sent the final version.
  3. She is attending the interview.
  4. They have received the confirmation email.
  5. The workshop begins at 10:00. Write a question beginning with When.
  6. Leila submitted the application. Write a question beginning with Who.

Answers and Explanations

  1. The writer does not understand the instructions. The present simple uses does not with a singular subject, and the main verb returns to the base form understand.
  2. We did not send the final version. The past simple uses did not plus the base verb send, not “sent.”
  3. She is not attending the interview. The sentence already has the auxiliary is, so place not after it.
  4. They have not received the confirmation email. The present perfect keeps have and adds not before the past participle.
  5. When does the workshop begin? In a present-simple question, use does before the subject and the base verb begin.
  6. Who submitted the application? Here, who is the subject, so no extra do is needed.

Use an auxiliary before the subject in most questions: Has the team approved the proposal? and Can you attend the meeting? With the verb be, move the form of be: Is she attending? With a modal such as can, place the modal first and use the base verb.

Contractions such as doesn’t, didn’t, and isn’t are natural in conversation and informal messages. Full forms are often preferred for emphasis, formal applications, or careful academic writing. Both are standard; the choice is mainly about tone.

Exercise 10: Conditional Sentences (Intermediate)

Complete each conditional sentence with the correct verb form.

  1. If you heat ice, it melts / will melt.
  2. If I finish my homework early, I will watch / watched a film.
  3. If we had more time, we visit / would visit the old town.
  4. If she had checked the address, she would not have taken / will not take the wrong bus.
  5. Unless you save the file, you may lose / lost your work.
  6. If you practise regularly, your writing will improve / would have improved.

Answers and Explanations

  1. If you heat ice, it melts. The zero conditional describes a general fact, so both clauses use the present simple.
  2. If I finish my homework early, I will watch a film. The first conditional describes a real future possibility: present simple after if and will in the result clause.
  3. If we had more time, we would visit the old town. The second conditional describes an unlikely or imaginary present or future situation.
  4. If she had checked the address, she would not have taken the wrong bus. The third conditional imagines a different past and uses past perfect after if plus would have in the result.
  5. Unless you save the file, you may lose your work. Unless means “if not,” and may lose expresses a possible result.
  6. If you practise regularly, your writing will improve. This is a realistic future result, so the first conditional pattern is appropriate.

Do not normally use will directly after if for a basic future condition. Say If it rains, we will stay home, not “If it will rain.” Some special uses of will are possible when it expresses willingness, but they are not the usual pattern for a simple prediction.

Conditionals are useful beyond grammar tests. They help you explain rules, give advice, discuss plans, and reflect on past choices. For example, a student might write, If I review my errors, I will remember the rule. A traveler might say, If the bus is late, we will take a taxi.

Exercise 11: Reported Speech (Advanced)

Rewrite each direct statement as reported speech. Use a suitable reporting verb such as said, told, or asked.

  1. Maya said, “I am tired.”
  2. Jon said, “I finished the assignment yesterday.”
  3. The teacher said to us, “You must submit the form by Friday.”
  4. Rina asked, “Have you booked the tickets?”
  5. Leo said, “I will send the link tomorrow.”

Answers and Explanations

  1. Maya said that she was tired. In a past reporting context, present am commonly shifts to past was, and I changes to she.
  2. Jon said that he had finished the assignment the day before. Past simple often shifts to past perfect, and yesterday changes to the day before when the time reference changes.
  3. The teacher told us that we had to submit the form by Friday. Use told with an object such as us; must commonly becomes had to for a past obligation.
  4. Rina asked whether I had booked the tickets. A yes-or-no question becomes an indirect question with whether or if, and it uses statement word order.
  5. Leo said that he would send the link the next day. Will commonly shifts to would, while tomorrow changes to the next day.

Backshift is common when the reporting verb is past, but it is not an unbreakable rule. If the information is still true, a speaker may keep the present: The guide said that the museum is closed on Mondays. In conversation, people also avoid backshift when the statement feels current or the exact wording is important.

Reported speech also requires attention to pronouns, time expressions, and distance. Compare She said, “I can help you today” with She said that she could help me that day. The second version changes the perspective of both people and the time reference.

Exercise 12: Common Errors and Pronoun Reference (Advanced)

Correct each sentence. Then read the explanation for the grammar point.

  1. Their going to publish the article today.
  2. The information are useful for new students.
  3. The survey received less responses this month.
  4. Because the page loaded slowly.
  5. The team have finished its report, but its missing a conclusion.
  6. When Ana spoke to Maria, she was upset.

Answers and Explanations

  1. They’re going to publish the article today. They’re is short for “they are.” Their shows possession, as in “their article,” while there refers to a place or introduces an idea.
  2. The information is useful for new students. Information is generally uncountable in standard English and takes a singular verb. Use pieces of information or details for separate items.
  3. The survey received fewer responses this month. Use fewer with countable nouns such as responses, pages, and visitors. Use less with uncountable nouns such as time, traffic, and information.
  4. Because the page loaded slowly, visitors left the site. A clause beginning with because is dependent and needs an independent clause to express a complete thought.
  5. The team has finished its report, but it is missing a conclusion. This version treats team as a singular unit, so has and its agree with that choice. It’s means “it is,” while its shows possession. In varieties that use plural collective agreement, The team have finished their report, but it is missing a conclusion is also possible; consistency is important.
  6. When Ana spoke to Maria, Ana was upset. The original pronoun she has two possible references. Repeating the name removes the ambiguity.

Pronoun reference is a clarity issue as well as a grammar issue. A reader should not have to guess whether it refers to a report, a website, or a problem. In a long sentence, repeat the noun or revise the structure when a pronoun could point to more than one idea.

Sentence fragments are another common problem. A dependent clause such as Although the train was late needs a main clause: Although the train was late, we arrived on time. In notes, headlines, and informal messages, fragments may be intentional, but complete sentences are safer in academic and professional writing.

Mixed English Grammar Practice With Answers

Use this short review to test whether you can combine several rules instead of solving one topic at a time. These examples include study, travel, everyday communication, and workplace situations.

  1. Every Monday, our tutor reviews / review the previous lesson.
  2. I have never been at / to Japan.
  3. Could you tell me where is the station / the station is?
  4. If the weather improves, we will go / would go for a walk.
  5. She completed the form careful / carefully.
  6. He said that he was / is busy, but the choice depends on whether he is still busy.
  7. There are fewer / less people on the early train.
  8. The book, which I borrowed yesterday, is / are on the desk.

Mixed Review Answers

  1. Every Monday, our tutor reviews the previous lesson. “Tutor” is singular, and the routine calls for the present simple.
  2. I have never been to Japan. The expression for visiting a country is be to; the present perfect describes experience up to now.
  3. Could you tell me where the station is? An indirect question uses statement word order, not “where is the station.”
  4. If the weather improves, we will go for a walk. This is a realistic future condition, so use the first conditional pattern.
  5. She completed the form carefully. The adverb explains how she completed the form.
  6. He said that he was busy is the common backshifted form. He said that he is busy is also possible when the situation remains true or the speaker presents it as current.
  7. There are fewer people on the early train. “People” is countable, so use fewer.
  8. The book, which I borrowed yesterday, is on the desk. The subject is singular “book”; the commas enclose extra information.

How to Learn From Grammar Worksheets

Answer keys are most helpful when they show more than the final sentence. For every mistake, identify the trigger that guided the answer. A time expression such as yesterday points toward the past simple, right now often points toward the present continuous, and since 2021 commonly signals the present perfect.

  1. Predict the rule before answering. Ask whether the item tests time, number, word order, reference, or meaning.
  2. Complete the sentence without help. This shows what you can produce independently.
  3. Compare the whole sentence. Check the verb, subject, article, preposition, punctuation, and meaning—not only one word.
  4. Write a reason. For example: “I used fewer because responses are countable.”
  5. Make a personal example. Change “The train leaves at 6:15” to “My bus leaves at 7:00.” Personal examples make the structure easier to retrieve.
  6. Review after a delay. Return to missed items later in the day or the next day, rather than repeating them immediately until they look familiar.

A useful error log can have four columns: the original sentence, your answer, the corrected answer, and the reason. Add a fifth column for a new example. Over time, this reveals patterns, such as repeated errors with articles, irregular past forms, or prepositions after particular verbs.

Do not try to correct every possible issue in one draft. If your main goal is clear communication, first fix sentence completeness, subject-verb agreement, verb tense, and pronoun reference. Then improve style, variety, and level of formality.

Formal and Conversational Grammar Choices

Standard English includes choices that depend on audience and context. A contraction such as we’re is normal in conversation, social posts, and many friendly emails. A full form such as we are may sound more formal or may add emphasis. Neither choice is automatically more grammatical.

Collective nouns also vary by dialect. The company has announced its results treats the company as one organization. The committee have disagreed among themselves treats the members as individuals and is common in some varieties of English. Follow the variety expected by your school, employer, publisher, or audience.

Reported speech allows similar flexibility. Backshift is a useful default after a past reporting verb, but keeping the present can show that information is still true. In a formal report, choose the version that makes the time relationship clear rather than changing every verb mechanically.

Style preferences should not be confused with errors. Some writers avoid a sentence-ending preposition in very formal prose, while everyday English commonly uses it: Who are you speaking to? In a formal context, To whom are you speaking? is possible, but it may sound stiff in ordinary conversation. Good grammar includes making a suitable choice for the situation.

FAQ: English Grammar Questions With Answers

What level are these English grammar exercises for?

They begin with foundational topics for beginners and ESL students, then move toward intermediate and advanced practice. The labels help you choose a starting point, but a strong learner can review the beginner sections to find gaps before moving on.

Should I read the answers before completing an exercise?

No. Try each item first, even if you are unsure. Comparing your attempt with the answer and explaining the rule gives you more useful practice than simply reading a corrected sentence.

What is the difference between the present perfect and the past simple?

The present perfect often describes experience, a recent result, or an unfinished period: I have visited London three times. The past simple normally describes a completed action connected to a finished time: I visited London in 2024.

Can “the team have finished” be correct?

Yes, in varieties of English that use plural agreement for collective nouns when members are viewed separately. If the team is treated as one unit, The team has finished its report is appropriate. Keep the verb and pronoun choice consistent.

How can I improve after finishing the exercises?

Use the corrected forms in real communication. Write a short email, describe your day, summarize a lesson, or explain a travel plan. Then check the same grammar points in your own writing and keep an error log for items you miss more than once.

Conclusion: Keep Practising English Grammar

English Grammar Exercises With Answers are most valuable when they lead to better communication. Start with agreement, sentence structure, pronouns, articles, and prepositions. Then practise tense contrast, future meaning, questions, negatives, conditionals, reported speech, and common usage choices.

For each exercise, follow the same cycle: answer, check, explain, and reuse. Read the grammar practice exercises for beginners and intermediate learners again when you need a focused review, and use the English grammar worksheets with explanations for extra written practice. Your next step should be a short paragraph or real message that uses three structures from this page.