Latest Articles from ELB
How to rewrite English sentences using word order
When you have a good understanding of the fundamentals of English word order, English sentences can become very flexible. Longer sentences may be arranged in a large number of ways, and many of the rules can be bent. This is useful if you want to add variety or...
Past simple negatives and affirmatives exercise
Affirmative and negative statements in the different tenses have quite distinct forms, with the negatives using the auxiliary verb did. To test understanding and demonstrate the difference, this exercise scrambles sentences that you can practice putting into negative...
Pronouncing -ed endings, rules for -d, -t and -id sounds
Endings of words that use the suffix -ed are pronounced in 3 different ways in English – as an added –t or –d sound, or as an extra syllable, -id. It is actually quite easy to spot the difference between these different pronunciations, as this short explanation, with...
Felix and the Umbrella – a mixed past simple uses exercise
In the following reading text, all of the verbs should be in one of the past simple forms. Choose which past simple form to use, and complete the reading text by using the information in brackets. Sometimes the verb in brackets is also joined by a negative or subject....
5 excellent YouTube channels for learning English
The amazing amount of video material now available online makes resources like YouTube an excellent way to learn more English. If you want to pick up extra tips, practice your listening (and in many cases reading!) skills, or even find full lessons, there are hundreds...
What’s the difference between ‘solve’ and ‘resolve’?
The verb to solve is generally used to mean find a solution – for example an answer or explanation. We solve a problem, something with a logical or complete answer. The verb to resolve has a number of meanings, one of which is to deal with conclusively – that is, to...
21 alternative verbs to describe speaking
There are many verbs in English that describe speech. If you want to describe a conversation in a more dynamic way, you can choose verbs with more specific meanings than "to say", which simply means to speak. This is useful if you want to create a varied narrative, in...
Understanding how to fit “answer” and “answer to” into sentences
The word answer is often joined by the preposition to, usually connecting it to a noun (something that requires answering). However, answer can be both a verb and a noun, and they are naturally used differently when forming sentences. So, what are some simple...
“I am” or “I do” when answering questions
When answering questions in English, it is useful to use common expressions like "I am" or "I do". These common verbs are used to respond to questions that require a positive or negative answer, giving you a simple, easy response to questions. However, they are used...