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Tricky English Grammar

Tamy Chapman, Helen Nam, and Brad Gilpin

English is a difficult language to learn because of its many obscure grammatical rules, which are fairly easy to mess up--even for native speakers. While it’s easy for non-native speakers to get overwhelmed by confusing grammar rules, in this course, we'll provide you with tips that will help you understand the rules more easily and give you lots of practice with the tricky grammar of everyday English.

Please note that the free version of this class gives you access to all of the instructional videos and handouts. The peer feedback and quizzes are only available in the paid version.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Welcome

This is the third course in the Learn English: Intermediate Grammar specialization. Learning English can be tricky, and in this class you'll focus on some of those tricky issues. You'll get clear explanations about the difficult grammar points and practice in using them correctly.

Nouns, Articles, and Quantifiers

This week, you'll learn about tricky nouns, articles, and quantifiers. When should you put "a" or "the" in front of a noun? When should you put nothing in front of the noun? In this module, you'll find the answers to these questions, and you'll get lots of practice to help you use nouns and articles correctly.

Gerunds, Infinitives, and Requests and Permission

This week will not be as intense as last week was, but you will still have the chance to learn about some tricky grammar. First, you'll learn about using gerunds and infinitives correctly. Then you'll learn about making requests and asking for permission, something that English learners often misuse.

Confusing Word Forms

You've learned about some tricky grammar, but there are other things that make English hard to learn. This week, you'll learn about some word forms that cause confusion. You'll soon understand the difference between some pairs of words that always seem tricky.

Phrasal Verbs and Collocations

There are a few more tricky English points that we want you to learn. In the final week, you will learn about phrasal verbs and collocations. These are two big grammar points that often give language learners difficulty, but you will get lots of practice with them. Finally, you’ll have a review lesson of all of the tricky English grammar that you have learned in this course.

Good to know

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Provides clear explanations about difficult grammar points and practice in using them correctly

Designed for non-native speakers who want to improve their understanding of English grammar

Covers a variety of tricky grammar points commonly misused by language learners

Offers lots of practice to help learners use nouns and articles correctly

Taught by experienced instructors who provide clear explanations and guidance

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Reviews summary

English grammar for tricky situations

Learners say this is a largely positive course that provides engaging assignments and helpful explanations of English grammar. The course covers a range of tricky topics, including confusing words, prepositions, and gerunds. Students especially appreciate the clear and concise explanations provided by the instructors. Overall, this course is well received by learners and is recommended for anyone looking to improve their English grammar skills.

Instructors provide clear and concise explanations of tricky grammar concepts.

"In an excellent English course, I learned a lot of new rules and ways to use words and grammar."

"I have improved my English grammar skills through this course, and I am very grateful for such a platform and such a valuable learning experience."

Coursework includes engaging assignments that help reinforce grammar concepts.

"The tasks don't make you feel tired but inspire you in a way instead. You feel like learning more and more."

"I got benefited a lot from your amusing work that you had given here."

Course is helpful for non-native English speakers.

"Thanks to the University of California, Irvine, for the opportunity to learn English grammar from professionals."

"Es un gran curso para aprender inglés. Realmente conozco cosas que nunca me habían enseñado antes, sería bueno si pudieran explicar mejor los phrasal verbs, fue un poco difícil entenderlo con tan pocos ejercicios"

Course focuses specifically on tricky areas of English grammar.

"Tricky English Grammar is really helpful and exciting course."

"I realmente me ayudó mucho en aprender cuales son mis errores gramaticales, todos los videos fueron muy buenos y los ejemplos muy claros, además los exámenes eran rápidos y muy enfocados en cada lección."

Some presentations are low-quality.

"It's a good course. I'm just a little cringed by the low-quality presentations they usually show."

Course includes peer-graded assignments.

"The content of the course is great. The presentation of it is bad, but it is a non-blocking issue for me.HOWEVER!!! I have to stop because of the stupidest peer-graded assessments!"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Tricky English Grammar with these activities:

Read 'Intermediate English Grammar' by Raymond Murphy

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Gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of English grammar rules and their usage.

View Basic Grammar in Use Book with Answers and... on Amazon

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Purchase or borrow a copy of the book.
Read through the book at a steady pace.
Take notes on the key grammar concepts.
Complete the exercises at the end of each chapter.
Review the material regularly.

Quizlet Practice

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Engage in interactive practice to enhance your understanding and retention of English grammar.

Browse courses on English Grammar

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Create a Quizlet account.
Find or create a grammar quizlet set.
Study the quizlet set using flashcards, games, or other activities.

Organize a Grammar Study Group

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Collaborate with fellow students to review and practice English grammar concepts.

Browse courses on English Grammar

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Find a group of students who are also interested in improving their grammar skills.
Set up a regular meeting time and place.
Create a study plan that covers the grammar concepts you want to review.
Take turns leading the study sessions.
Work together to solve grammar problems and improve your understanding.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Conjugation Drills

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Improve your ability to conjugate English verbs correctly by completing regular practice drills.

Browse courses on English Grammar

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Identify the subject of the sentence.
Determine the tense of the verb.
Conjugate the verb according to the subject and tense.

Participate in Online English Grammar Forums

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Engage in discussions with native English speakers to improve your understanding and fluency.

Browse courses on English Grammar

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Find an active online English grammar forum.
Join the forum and create a profile.
Participate in discussions by asking questions, answering questions, and providing feedback.

Write Blog Posts on English Grammar

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Strengthen your knowledge and understanding of English grammar by teaching it to others.

Browse courses on English Grammar

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Choose a specific grammar topic or concept.
Research the topic thoroughly.
Write a blog post that explains the topic clearly and concisely.
Proofread your blog post and publish it.
Share your blog post with others and ask for feedback.

Create a Grammar Presentation

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Deepen your understanding of English grammar by presenting it to others.

Browse courses on English Grammar

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Choose a specific grammar topic or concept.
Research the topic thoroughly.
Create a PowerPoint presentation that explains the topic clearly and concisely.
Practice your presentation.
Deliver your presentation to your classmates, friends, or family.

Career center

Learners who complete Tricky English Grammar will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Writer

Writers create content for a variety of purposes, including informing, educating, entertaining, or persuading. They may specialize in a particular type of writing, such as fiction, nonfiction, journalism, or technical writing. This course can help writers improve their grammar and usage, which is essential for producing clear, concise, and effective writing. The course also covers topics such as word choice, style, and tone, which can help writers develop their voice and create a consistent brand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Writer

Editor

Editors review, edit, and revise written material. They may work for a variety of organizations, including publishing houses, magazines, newspapers, and businesses. This course can help editors improve their grammar and usage, which is essential for producing polished and error-free content. The course also covers topics such as style, tone, and organization, which can help editors ensure that written material is clear, concise, and effective.

See salaries and explore the career path for Editor

Journalist

Journalists gather, analyze, and report on news and current events. They may work for a variety of organizations, including newspapers, magazines, television, and radio stations. This course can help journalists improve their grammar and usage, which is essential for producing clear, concise, and accurate reporting. The course also covers topics such as research methods, interviewing techniques, and writing for different audiences.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Public Relations Specialist

Public relations specialists manage the public image of organizations and individuals. They may develop and implement public relations campaigns, write press releases, and give presentations to the media. This course can help public relations specialists improve their grammar and usage, which is essential for producing clear, concise, and persuasive communication. The course also covers topics such as media relations, crisis communication, and social media management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist

Marketing Manager

Marketing managers develop and implement marketing campaigns to promote products or services. They may work for a variety of organizations, including businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. This course can help marketing managers improve their grammar and usage, which is essential for producing clear, concise, and persuasive marketing materials. The course also covers topics such as market research, advertising, and public relations.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Sales Manager

Sales managers lead and motivate sales teams to achieve sales goals. They may work for a variety of organizations, including businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. This course can help sales managers improve their grammar and usage, which is essential for producing clear, concise, and persuasive sales presentations. The course also covers topics such as sales techniques, customer relationship management, and negotiation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Customer Service Representative

Customer service representatives provide assistance to customers by phone, email, or chat. They may work for a variety of organizations, including businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies. This course can help customer service representatives improve their grammar and usage, which is essential for providing clear, concise, and helpful assistance to customers. The course also covers topics such as customer relations, problem-solving, and conflict resolution.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Service Representative

Administrative Assistant

Administrative assistants provide administrative and clerical support to executives and other professionals. They may work in a variety of settings, including offices, schools, and hospitals. This course can help administrative assistants improve their grammar and usage, which is essential for producing clear, concise, and professional correspondence. The course also covers topics such as office management, scheduling, and presentation software.

See salaries and explore the career path for Administrative Assistant

Teacher

Teachers plan and deliver instruction to students in a variety of settings, including schools, colleges, and universities. They may specialize in a particular subject area, such as English, math, or science. This course can help teachers improve their grammar and usage, which is essential for communicating effectively with students. The course also covers topics such as lesson planning, classroom management, and assessment.

See salaries and explore the career path for Teacher

Librarian

Librarians help patrons find and access information. They may work in a variety of settings, including public libraries, school libraries, and academic libraries. This course can help librarians improve their grammar and usage, which is essential for providing clear and helpful assistance to patrons. The course also covers topics such as library science, research methods, and information literacy.

See salaries and explore the career path for Librarian

Paralegal

Paralegals assist lawyers with legal research, document preparation, and other legal tasks. They may work in a variety of settings, including law firms, corporate legal departments, and government agencies. This course can help paralegals improve their grammar and usage, which is essential for producing clear and concise legal documents. The course also covers topics such as legal research, legal writing, and ethics.

See salaries and explore the career path for Paralegal

Interpreter

Interpreters translate spoken language from one language to another. They may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, and courts. This course can help interpreters improve their grammar and usage, which is essential for communicating accurately and effectively between different languages. The course also covers topics such as interpreting techniques, ethics, and cultural awareness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interpreter

Translator

Translators translate written text from one language to another. They may work in a variety of settings, including publishing houses, translation agencies, and businesses. This course can help translators improve their grammar and usage, which is essential for producing accurate and clear translations. The course also covers topics such as translation techniques, ethics, and cultural awareness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Translator

Reading list

We've selected 27 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Tricky English Grammar.

English Grammar in Use Book with Answers OeBV...

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Comprehensive guide to English grammar for intermediate learners. It provides clear explanations of grammar rules, with plenty of practice exercises to help you improve your understanding and usage of English grammar.

Tricky English Grammar

Two deals to help you save

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Reviews summary

English grammar for tricky situations

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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