Recursio
English Guides
Clear, self-contained guides to English grammar and vocabulary — with real examples, the mistakes learners actually make, and a quick exercise.
What this section is
These are self-contained guides to one question each: a, an or the; since or for; which phrases actually come up in a job interview. Each is written for a stated level (A1–C1, shown on every card), uses ordinary sentences rather than textbook examples, and ends with a short exercise — because reading a rule is not the same as being able to use it.
Every guide also has a section on the mistakes learners really make with that topic — the ones that survive years of study, like "I am agree" or "since three years". If you only have five minutes, that section is usually the one worth reading.
You do not need to read them in order: look up what you are stuck on, do the exercise, and come back when the next thing trips you up. Where a guide is practised in one of our listening episodes, a link appears at the end — hearing a rule used is what makes it stop feeling like a rule.
Grammar
- A2
-ed vs -ing Adjectives: bored or boring?
Bored or boring? -ed adjectives say how you feel; -ing adjectives say what causes the feeling. Learn the difference with clear examples.
Read the guide → - A2
A, An, The: English Articles Explained
When to use a, an, the — or no article at all. The rules for English articles with clear examples, the mistakes learners make most, and a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - B1
Adjective Order in English
Why is it 'a nice big old wooden table'? Learn the usual order of adjectives in English — opinion, size, age, shape, color, origin, material, purpose.
Read the guide → - A2
Adverbs of Frequency: always, usually, never
How often? Learn always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely and never — and the word order rule: before the main verb, but after am, is and are.
Read the guide → - B1
Can, Could, May, Might: Talking About Possibility
How to talk about possibility in English with can, could, may and might — degrees of certainty, present and past forms, common mistakes, and a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
Comparatives and Superlatives
How to compare in English: -er and more for comparatives, the -est and most for superlatives, irregular forms, the common mistakes, and a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - B1
Conditionals: Zero, First, Second, Third
The four English conditionals explained simply — zero, first, second, and third — with the form, real examples, common mistakes, and a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
Countable and Uncountable Nouns
What countable and uncountable nouns are, how they change a/an, some, much and many, the words that trip learners up, and a quick exercise to test yourself.
Read the guide → - B1
Dependent Prepositions: interested in, depend on, good at
Interested in, good at, depend on — many English verbs and adjectives take a fixed preposition. Learn the common pairs and what follows them.
Read the guide → - B2
Future Continuous & Future Perfect
This time tomorrow I'll be flying; by Friday I'll have finished. Learn will be + -ing for an action in progress and will have + participle for one completed.
Read the guide → - B1
Future Time Clauses: When, As Soon As, Before
Why it's 'I'll call you when I get there', not 'when I will get there': the future goes in the main clause, a present tense in the time clause.
Read the guide → - B2
Gerunds and Infinitives: -ing or to + verb
When to use the -ing form and when to use to + verb in English — the verbs that take each, the ones that change meaning, common mistakes, and a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - B1
Have Something Done: I Had My Hair Cut
Have something done, explained simply: I had my hair cut means someone did it for you. Forms in every tense, get something done, mistakes and an exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
How to Make Questions in English
How to make questions in English: use an auxiliary and invert. Yes/no and wh- questions, do/does/did, and subject questions — with examples.
Read the guide → - B1
Indirect Questions: Could You Tell Me Where…?
Indirect questions made simple: Could you tell me where the station is? Statement word order, no do/does, if for yes-no questions — mistakes and an exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
Irregular Verbs: The Ones You Actually Need
English irregular verbs made manageable: learn all three forms together, group verbs by pattern, and see where each form is used — with a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - B1
Must, Have to, Should: Obligation in English
How to talk about obligation in English: must, have to, should, and mustn't vs don't have to — what each means and the mistakes learners make.
Read the guide → - B2
Past Modals: Should Have, Must Have, Might Have
Regret, criticism and guesses about the past: should have, must have, can't have and might have — what each one really means, plus mistakes and an exercise.
Read the guide → - B1
Past Simple vs Past Continuous
Past simple or past continuous? Past simple is a finished action; past continuous is an action in progress — see how they combine and when to use each.
Read the guide → - A2
Possessives: 's, s' and of
My brother's car or the car of my brother? Learn when English uses 's, when it uses of, and where the apostrophe goes with plurals.
Read the guide → - A2
Prepositions of Place: At, In, On
At a point, in an enclosed space, on a surface — the idea behind at, in and on for place, plus the fixed phrases that break the pattern, and an exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
Prepositions of Time: At, In, On
When to use at, in and on for time in English — clock times, months, days and dates — with a simple rule, the exceptions, common mistakes, and a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - B1
Present Perfect Continuous
I've been waiting for an hour. Learn have/has been + -ing: how long something has continued, recent activity with a visible result, and how it differs.
Read the guide → - B1
Present Perfect vs Past Simple
When to use the present perfect and when to use the past simple — the difference explained with clear examples, common mistakes, and a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
Present Simple vs Present Continuous
When to use the present simple and when to use the present continuous — routines vs right now, the verbs that don't take -ing, common mistakes, and an exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
Question Tags: isn't it?, don't you?, right?
Question tags made simple: repeat the auxiliary and flip the polarity — positive statement, negative tag; negative statement, positive tag.
Read the guide → - B1
Relative Clauses: Who, Which, That
How relative clauses work in English: who, which, that, where and whose, defining vs non-defining, when to drop the pronoun, and the mistakes to avoid.
Read the guide → - B1
Reported Speech (Indirect Speech)
How to report what someone said in English: the tense backshift, pronoun and time changes, reported questions, and say vs tell — with examples and an exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
Since vs For with the Present Perfect
Since or for? Learn the difference in seconds — since marks a point in time, for marks a length of time — with examples, common mistakes, and a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - B1
So do I / Neither do I: Agreeing in English
So do I or neither do I? Match the auxiliary and invert it. Use so for positive agreement, neither for negative — plus Me too and Me neither.
Read the guide → - B1
So vs Such
So or such? Use so + adjective (so cold) and such + a noun phrase (such a cold day). Includes so much/so many and the so…that pattern.
Read the guide → - A2
Some, Any, Much, Many, A Lot Of
Some or any? Much or many? Pick the right quantifier by asking two things: countable or uncountable, and positive, negative, or question.
Read the guide → - B1
The Passive Voice in English
How the English passive works: be + past participle, when to use it, how to add the agent with by, the tenses, common mistakes, and a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - B1
The Past Perfect: The Past Before the Past
Use had + past participle to place an event before another past point. Learn the forms, when past simple is enough, common mistakes and an exercise.
Read the guide → - A1
There is / There are
There is or there are? Use there is with singular and uncountable nouns, there are with plurals. Negatives, questions, and common mistakes explained.
Read the guide → - A2
Too vs Enough
Too or enough? Too means more than you want; enough means as much as you need. Learn the word order: too + adjective, adjective + enough.
Read the guide → - B2
Used to, Be Used to, Would
Three look-alikes explained: used to for past habits, be used to for familiarity, and would for repeated past actions — with examples and an exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
Will vs Going to: Talking About the Future
Will or going to? Learn the difference for decisions, plans, and predictions — with clear examples, the mistakes learners make, and a quick exercise.
Read the guide →
Vocabulary
- B1
20 Commonly Confused English Words
Affect or effect? Its or it's? Clear up common English word pairs and triples learners mix up, with simple tricks to remember each one, plus a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - B1
30 Common English Idioms (and What They Mean)
30 common English idioms grouped by theme, with plain meanings and examples — how to use them naturally and the mistakes to avoid.
Read the guide → - A2
30 Essential Phrasal Verbs for Beginners
The 30 most useful English phrasal verbs for beginners, grouped by everyday theme, with meanings, example sentences, common mistakes, and a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
Asking for and Giving Directions in English
Lost? Learn how to ask the way politely, understand the answer, and give directions yourself — go straight, turn left, across from, it's a five-minute walk.
Read the guide → - A2
At the Doctor's: English for Health & Illness
English for the doctor's office: make an appointment, describe your symptoms, understand the doctor, and get your prescription — with common mistakes.
Read the guide → - A2
At the Restaurant: Ordering in English
Restaurant English step by step: book a table, read the menu, order politely, ask about dishes, and pay — with the phrases servers actually use.
Read the guide → - A2
At the Supermarket: Food & Groceries in English
Supermarket English for real shopping trips: aisle, fresh produce, dairy, checkout, on sale, best before — natural phrases, common mistakes, an exercise.
Read the guide → - B1
Cars & Driving in English
Useful driving English: fill up the tank, get a flat tire, give someone a ride, park and get a ticket — with common mistakes and an exercise.
Read the guide → - B1
Common English Collocations
Collocations are words that naturally go together. Learn the most common ones with make, do, take, have and get — plus the mistakes to avoid.
Read the guide → - A2
Describing People: Appearance & Personality
Describe people in English: height, build, hair and age, plus personality words — and the key difference between What's she like? and What does she look like?
Read the guide → - A2
Essential Travel English Phrases
The English phrases you actually need to travel: airport, hotel, directions, eating out and emergencies — ready to use, with the mistakes to avoid.
Read the guide → - B1
False Friends: English Words That Trick You
False friends look like a word in your language but mean something else in English. Learn the common traps, why they happen, and how to beat them.
Read the guide → - A2
Family & Relationships Vocabulary
Family English that actually comes up: siblings, in-laws, cousins and partners, plus relationship phrases like get along with, take after and get engaged.
Read the guide → - A2
Feelings & Emotions Vocabulary
Say more than happy and sad: thrilled, annoyed, nervous, relieved, overwhelmed — plus how to ask how someone feels and how to comfort them.
Read the guide → - A2
Food & Cooking English
Food English for real life: shopping for groceries, cooking verbs like chop, fry and bake, following a recipe, and talking about taste.
Read the guide → - B1
Giving Opinions in English: 8 Ways to Say What You Think
Say what you think in English without sounding blunt: strong and soft opinion phrases, how to hedge, how to ask for someone else's view — with an exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
Hobbies & Free Time in English
Talk about your free time in English: be into, take up, get into, go running, play the guitar — natural phrases, common mistakes and a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
How to Build Your English Vocabulary
A practical system for growing your English vocabulary: choose the right words, learn them in chunks, and make them stick with review — plus mistakes to avoid.
Read the guide → - A2
How to Remember New English Words
Why you forget new vocabulary — and seven evidence-informed ways to make English words stick, from spaced repetition to learning words in context.
Read the guide → - B1
Job Interview English: Questions & Answers
Ready-to-use English phrases for a job interview: how to introduce yourself, talk about strengths and weaknesses, ask questions, and close well.
Read the guide → - B1
Linking Words and Connectors in English
The English linking words that join your ideas: addition, contrast, cause and effect, sequence — with how to punctuate them and the mistakes to avoid.
Read the guide → - A2
Make vs Do: What's the Difference?
Make or do? Learn the difference with simple rules, the most common collocations, the mistakes learners make, and a quick exercise to test yourself.
Read the guide → - B1
Making a Complaint Politely in English
Complain in English without sounding rude: softeners, the problem-then-request order, and phrases for hotels, restaurants and support — with an exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
Making Plans & Invitations in English
Making plans in English: invite someone, suggest a time, accept or decline politely, and confirm — including How about + -ing and Are you free on…?
Read the guide → - B1
Meeting English: Phrases That Get You Heard
English for meetings: open, interrupt politely, agree and disagree, check you understood, and wrap up — with the mistakes learners make and a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - B1
Money & Banking English
Talk about money in English: bank accounts and cards, paying bills, saving and borrowing, plus everyday phrases like I'm broke and I can't afford it.
Read the guide → - B1
Online Shopping, Delivery & Returns in English
Order, track and return things in English: add to cart, out of stock, tracking number, delayed, a refund — real phrases, common mistakes and an exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
Phone Calls & Texting in English
Phone English made simple: answer a call, ask for someone, take a message, handle a bad line, and text naturally — with the phrases people really use.
Read the guide → - A2
Public Transport in English: Buses, Trains & Tickets
Public transport English that gets you home: catch a bus, one-way and round-trip tickets, get on and off, change lines — with mistakes and a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - B1
Renting an Apartment in English
Rent an apartment in English with confidence: landlord, lease, deposit, utilities, furnished, move in — key phrases, common mistakes and a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
Say, Tell, Speak, Talk: Which One?
Say, tell, speak, or talk? Learn the difference with simple rules, the fixed phrases for each, the mistakes learners make, and a quick exercise.
Read the guide → - A2
Shopping in English: Stores, Prices & Paying
Shopping in English: ask about prices and sizes, try things on, pay, and handle returns — with the phrases you'll actually hear in a store.
Read the guide → - A2
Small Talk in English: Phrases to Start a Conversation
Small talk in English made easy: friendly openers, safe topics, follow-up phrases, and polite ways to end a conversation — with mistakes to avoid.
Read the guide → - A2
Talking About the Weather in English
Weather English beyond hot and cold: freezing, pouring, chilly, humid — plus how to ask, how to react, and why the weather is small-talk fuel.
Read the guide → - B1
Useful Phrases for Professional Emails
Ready-to-use English phrases for professional emails: openings, requests, attachments, closings, and how to sound polite and clear — with mistakes to avoid.
Read the guide →
Skills
- A1
English Pronunciation: A Beginner's Guide
A friendly guide to English pronunciation for beginners: word stress, the schwa, tricky sounds and silent letters — why spelling lies, and how to sound clearer.
Read the guide → - A2
How to Improve Your English Speaking
Why speaking feels hard — and seven practical ways to speak more fluently, from learning chunks to talking to yourself, plus the mistakes that hold you back.
Read the guide →