Pronouns

Pronouns are words that replace nouns. He, she, I, myself, yourself, these, who and what are all examples of pronouns.
A pronoun saves us from repeating a noun. Compare:

• Anthony lives in London. Anthony works in a shop near Anthony’s brother’s house. 
• Anthony lives in London. He works in a shop near his brother’s house.
  [He and his are pronouns. They replace Anthony and Anthony's brother's.]

There are many different types of pronouns in English. Here are some lists, with explanations and examples:

• Personal pronouns: I, me, you, him, . . .
• Reflexive pronouns: myself, yourself, ourselves, . . .
• Possessive pronouns: mine, yours, ours, . . .
• Interrogative pronouns: what, who, whom, . . .

• Relative pronouns: who, which, that, . . .
• Demonstrative pronouns: this, that, these, . . .
• Intensive pronouns vs. reflexive pronouns
  

Adjectives and adverbs

What is the difference between an adverb and an adjective? When and how do we use adjectives an adverbs?

Adjectives

• What are adjectives?
• Comparative and superlative forms of adjectives bigger, older, more expensive, . . .
• Possessive adjectives and pronouns my, mine, your, yours, . . .

Adverbs

• What are adverbs?
• Adverbs of frequency – word order always, never, usually, . . .
• Adverbs of manner: list of 50
• Irregular adverbs well, fast, . . .

Prepositions

A preposition can show us the position of something. It can also express time. Sometimes a preposition follows a verb, sometimes it follows an adjective.
Here are some examples of different types of prepositions:

• Prepositions of place  on, under, next to, among, . . .
• Prepositions of direction to, from, in, into, through, . . .
• Prepositions of time in, on, during, for, over, by, until, . . .
• Prepositions: in, on, at

• Prepositional verbs agree to, apologise for, . . .

• Prepositions after adjectives (1) afraid of, angry about, . . .
• Prepositions after adjectives (2) aware of, depend on, . . .

Modal verbs

Modal verbs, sometimes called modals, are auxiliary verbs (helping verbs). They express such things as possibility, probability, permission and obligation.

• Can, could, might, may, must, should, will, would and shall are modal verbs.
• We use a modal verb before a second verb.
• Modal verbs are not followed by ‘to’.
• Modal verbs can have more than one meaning and usage.

Modal verbs to express ability

• Can, could, was able to – modal verbs to express ability
  

Modal verbs to express permission

• Can, can’t, could, may: modal verbs for permission

Modal verbs to express probability and certainty (modal verbs of deduction)

• Present tense modal verbs of deduction: must, can’t, may, might, could
• Past tense modal verbs of deduction: must have, can’t have, couldn’t have

Modal verbs to express obligation

• Should – to express weak obligation, advice
• Should have – to express unfulfilled obligation in the past

Modal verbs – past tense forms and negatives

• Modal verbs – past tense forms
• Modal verbs – negative forms
• ‘Had to’ vs. ‘must have’

Verb structures in English

Verb forms can be confusing in English. For instance, when do we use the infinitive form go and when should we use the -ing form going?
These are the different structures that we use when there are two verbs together in a sentence:

• Verb + bare infinitive - I can go there.
• Verb + -ing - I love going there.
• Verb + to + infinitive - I want to go there.
• Verb + object + to + infinitive - He wants me to go there.

Conditional sentences

Learners of English often have problems with conditional sentences. One problem is knowing which conditional to use. We may then have difficulties with the construction of the conditional sentence.
Here are all four conditional forms in English, with examples and explanations of when and how to use them.
Zero conditional
If people eat too, much they get fat.
Zero conditional – examples, structure, usage

First conditional
If I have time, I will visit you.
First conditional – examples, structure, usage
Second conditional
If I had more time, I would travel the world.
Second conditional – examples, structure, usage
Third conditional
If I had had time, I would have gone to the football match.
Third conditional – examples, structure, usage
See also: Stuart’s article Common mistakes in conditional sentences.

List of all English tenses

A list of all English tenses, including:

- the structure of each tense
- explanations of usage
- examples of common errors and how to avoid making them.

Present tenses

• Structure of present simple
• Structure of present continuous

Past tenses

• Structure of past simple
• Structure of past continuous

Present perfect tenses

• Structure of present perfect (simple)
• Structure of present perfect (continuous)

• Past perfect tenses

• Structure of past perfect (simple)
• Structure of past perfect (continuous)

Future tenses

• Structure of future simple
• Structure of future continuous
• Structure of ‘going to’ future
• Present tenses used for the future
• Structure of future perfect (simple)
• Structure of future perfect (continuous)

Passive tenses

• Structure of passive forms
• Structure of all past tense passive forms