Basics. Phrasal Verbs.
Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb and a preposition or an adverb, which together create a new meaning. The position of the preposition or adverb can vary, sometimes coming directly after the verb or following the object of the verb. In some cases, the preposition or adverb can be placed between the verb and its object, or after the object. These expressions often have a different meaning than the individual words, making them unique and sometimes challenging to learn.
Phrasal Verbs Without an Object
These phrasal verbs do not require an object to complete their meaning.
Examples:
- The dog ran away from home.
- He got up early in the morning.
- Keep on practicing, and you'll get better.
Phrasal Verbs With an Object
These phrasal verbs require an object to complete their meaning.
Examples:
- She put on her shoes before leaving the house.
- He turned off the lights before going to bed.
- I need to fill out this form for the application.
Try our quiz to check if you are comfortable with common phrasal verbs!
Verb
Verb vs noun vs adjective: nouns name things. Adjectives describe. Verbs express what happens or what IS. The test: can it take tense (walked, will walk)? Can it take -ing? Can it follow to as an infinitive (to walk)? Yes to any → verb. English often converts freely between classes (run = noun or verb), so context decides.
A verb = action/state/occurrence word. 5 forms (base, -s, past, past participle, -ing). Carries tense, aspect, mood, voice. The one required element in every sentence.
Diagnostic: does it change for tense (walk → walked)? Can you put to before it (to walk)? Does it take -ing (walking)? → verb.
Phrasal verb
Phrasal verb vs verb + preposition: a phrasal verb has a non-literal combined meaning (run into = meet by chance). A verb + preposition keeps its literal meaning (run into the room = physically run inside). The test: is the meaning predictable from the parts? No → phrasal verb. Yes → just a verb followed by a preposition.
Phrasal verbs combine verbs with particles/prepositions to create new meanings. They're the single biggest gap between textbook English and real native usage.
Diagnostic: can you guess the meaning from the individual words? No → phrasal verb (learn as unit). Yes → literal verb + preposition.
Particle
Particle vs preposition: same words (up, in, off, out), different jobs. A preposition has an object (look at the book). A particle changes the verb's meaning with no object attached (look up = search). Test: can you move it after the object? Look up the word / Look the word up → particle. Look at the word / Look the word at ❌ → preposition.
A particle is a small uninflected word: phrasal verb particles, infinitival to, negative not.
Diagnostic: does the small word change the verb's meaning and can it move? → particle. Does it head a prepositional phrase? → preposition.
Preposition
Preposition vs particle: same words (in, on, up, off), different jobs. A preposition links to a noun (look at the book). A particle changes verb meaning without a noun (give up = quit). Test: is there a noun/pronoun after it forming a prepositional phrase? → preposition. Does it change the verb's meaning? → particle in a phrasal verb.
A preposition = small word connecting a noun to the sentence (time, place, manner, relationship). Choice is idiomatic per verb/adjective combination.
Diagnostic: struggling with which preposition to use? It's almost never about logic — look up the specific verb/adjective + preposition combination.
Adverb
Adverb vs adjective: adjectives describe things; adverbs describe actions, qualities, or degrees. The mix-up usually happens after action verbs — she sings beautiful (wrong) vs she sings beautifully (right).
An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb: incredibly fast, she spoke softly, we go often.
Diagnostic: ask what word is this describing? If it's a verb (an action) → adverb. If it's a noun (a thing) → adjective. Exception: linking verbs (be, seem, taste) take adjectives, not adverbs.
English Grammar Basics
Basics vs intermediate/advanced grammar: if you're unsure whether to study articles or conditionals, tense basics or reported speech — you need to check whether your foundations are solid first. Basics covers everything up to A2.
English Grammar Basics groups the core building blocks: nouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions, present/past tenses, questions, and negation.
Diagnostic: if you still hesitate over she don't vs she doesn't, or a vs an — start here. Master these and intermediate topics stop feeling random.
A1 | Elementary | Beginners
A1 vs A2: A1 covers isolated survival phrases (Where is…?, I am…, How much?). A2 handles connected sentences about familiar routines and simple past events. If you can manage short fixed phrases but not string together original sentences about your day, you're still A1.
A1 is the entry level of the CEFR: greetings, introductions, numbers, basic present tense, and core function words.
Diagnostic: can you describe yesterday using past tense? No → A1. Yes → you're moving into A2.
Easy
Easy vs Medium vs Hard: Easy = one rule, obvious answer, A1–A2. Medium = one rule but realistic distractors, A2–B1. Hard = interacting rules, edge cases, B2+. Start Easy to check you have the basics before moving up.
The Easy tag filters for single-rule, short-sentence, common-vocabulary challenges designed for beginners or for anyone wanting a confidence check on fundamentals.
Diagnostic: if you get Easy questions wrong, stay here — your foundations need work. If they feel trivial, move to Medium.