Most English speakers know what sounds “right,” but that doesn’t always mean they can explain why it’s right. When you're teaching English abroad or online, that intuitive knowledge isn’t enough. Students need clear, confident explanations — and that means you need to understand the mechanics behind the language.
Whether you're prepping for a tricky lesson on modal verbs or assigning extra practice for students struggling with tenses, the right grammar tools can make all the difference. The best part? Many of them are free, accessible, and designed with EFL teachers in mind.
Understanding the Basics: Sites for Clear Explanations
🔍 EnglishGrammar.org
If you’re ever moments away from class and thinking, “Wait — what's the difference between past perfect and past perfect continuous again?”, this is the site to turn to. EnglishGrammar.org breaks grammar down into manageable sections, making it easy to review before a lesson or pull up an example mid-class.
- Simple explanations of core grammar topics, from articles to adverb clauses.
- Practice exercises and quizzes to reinforce learning.
- Downloadable grammar lessons that work well for both teacher prep and student assignments.
Great for teachers who want a quick refresher and learners who prefer a traditional layout without flashy distractions.
📘 Grammar Monster
Don’t be fooled by the dated design — Grammar Monster is a surprisingly rich resource. It shines when it comes to clarifying confusing terms and tackling common grammar mistakes that even native speakers struggle with.
- Features a well-organized glossary of grammar terms, ideal for brushing up on technical vocabulary.
- Tackles confusing pairs like its vs. it’s or fewer vs. less with clear, to-the-point examples.
- Includes interactive quizzes, perfect for a last-minute warm-up or informal assessment.
If you're looking for a site that feels like a grammar dictionary with a bit of personality, Grammar Monster belongs in your bookmarks.
Practice Makes Perfect: Grammar Exercises & Student Worksheets
Once students understand a grammar concept, the next step is practice — and lots of it. These sites provide structured exercises and printable worksheets you can use for homework, review, or in-class activities.
📝 Perfect English Grammar
Perfect English Grammar lives up to its name with clear, focused practice activities. Whether you're teaching first conditionals or reported speech, this site has a worksheet ready to go.
- Exercises are neatly organized by topic: tenses, modal verbs, conditionals, etc.
- Most pages come with downloadable PDFs, making them easy to print and distribute.
- Excellent for intermediate to advanced learners who need repetition and precision.
Tip: Bookmark the "all grammar exercises" index — it's a great one-stop resource when lesson planning.
🧪 GrammarBank
GrammarBank is a solid all-rounder for teachers looking to assess student progress or assign extra practice outside the classroom.
- Offers diagnostic grammar tests — great for evaluating student levels.
- Practice quizzes are printable or available online.
- Sections are sorted by CEFR levels, which makes it easier to target the right difficulty.
Bonus: There's even a section for academic grammar, useful for IELTS prep or university-bound students.
Gamify and Simplify: Grammar for Young Learners and Teens
When you're teaching kids or younger teens, worksheets alone won’t cut it. You need engaging, colorful activities that turn grammar into play — and these sites are built for exactly that.
🎮 ESL Games Plus
Designed with young learners in mind, ESL Games Plus combines grammar practice with interactive game formats that students actually enjoy.
- Grammar games range from basic sentence-building to parts of speech and verb tenses.
- Smartboard-compatible, making it great for classrooms with tech.
- Also works well for individual use — especially for early finishers or online lessons.
If you're teaching a group of energetic primary students, this site can be a lifesaver.
🧸 Fun English Games
This site blends grammar puzzles, quizzes, and word games in a way that’s both educational and playful.
- Offers grammar crosswords, sentence scramble games, and beginner-level quizzes.
- Excellent for warm-ups or homework that doesn’t feel like homework.
- Clean layout makes it student-friendly even for low-level readers.
It's not as comprehensive as some other sites, but for bite-sized fun, it's a great addition to your toolkit.
Grammar in Context: Vocabulary and Real-Life Usage
Sometimes grammar needs to be more than just rules and drills. These sites help teachers weave grammar into broader lessons — with vocabulary, pronunciation, listening, and real-life context included.
📚 EnglishClub
EnglishClub is a goldmine for teachers who want to create well-rounded, themed lessons. It's not just grammar — it's how grammar fits into everything else.
- Covers grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and listening.
- Features themed vocabulary lists, slang, and idioms — perfect for contextual grammar practice.
- Includes a dedicated teacher section with printable materials and activity ideas.
Ideal for building immersive lessons around real-life language use.
🌍 British Council: Learn English
This learner-focused site by the British Council is also an incredible resource for TEFL teachers — especially beginners or those looking to simplify tricky grammar.
- Grammar topics are broken down clearly by skill (reading, writing, etc.) and CEFR level.
- Activities include games, videos, and interactive exercises.
- Great for assigning extra student practice or using in blended learning.
Also check out TeachingEnglish by British Council for teacher development and classroom resources.
Bonus Picks for Teacher Development
Even the best teachers need to brush up from time to time — and these resources are perfect for quick refreshers, smart writing help, or expanding your own grammar confidence.
🧠 Grammar Girl
Hosted by Mignon Fogarty, Grammar Girl breaks down tricky concepts in a voice that’s friendly, clever, and practical.
- Blog articles and podcast episodes on common grammar issues.
- Focuses on everyday usage and writing style.
- Great for native speaker teachers who never formally studied grammar.
Perfect for the “wait, what’s a gerund again?” moments.
✍️ Grammarly
Grammarly is more than a grammar checker — it's a real-time teaching tool for your own writing. While it’s not designed for classroom use, it’s hugely useful for EFL teachers.
- Identifies grammar mistakes and explains corrections as you type.
- Helps you polish worksheets, lesson plans, and student feedback.
- Free browser extension and desktop app available.
Also great for non-native speaker teachers who want an extra layer of proofreading support.
How to Use These Tools in Your Lessons
It’s one thing to bookmark resources — it’s another to actually use them well. Here’s how to mix and match these grammar sites into your EFL classes in a way that boosts learning and keeps things engaging.
- Use Perfect English Grammar or GrammarBank to assign focused practice. Choose exercises that match your lesson objectives and CEFR level.
- Bring in ESL Games Plus or Fun English Games when teaching kids or to lighten the mood during grammar-heavy weeks.
- Refer to Grammar Monster or Grammar Girl when you need a quick refresher—or to explain those tricky grammar terms students often ask about.
- Share student-friendly links from British Council Learn English or EnglishClub as homework or for flipped classroom assignments.
Combining these tools gives you a balance of explanation, practice, and fun — the holy trinity of successful grammar lessons.
Final Thoughts: Becoming Grammar-Confident as a Teacher
Whether you're new to teaching or just brushing up, grammar can feel intimidating — but you don’t need to master it all at once. Use these resources to build your knowledge, boost your confidence, and give your students a strong foundation.
- Focus on clarity over complexity.
- Keep your explanations simple, your examples real, and your practice varied.
- And remember: even experienced teachers still look things up!
Grammar doesn’t have to be dry or difficult — with the right tools, it becomes something you and your students can actually enjoy.
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