How to Express Uncertainty in English (Everything You Need to Know)
Usually, when we say something in English, we’re making either a positive sentence: “My cat likes eating cake.” or a negative sentence: “My cat doesn’t like it when I play […]
Category: Easy English Grammar
Inversion with Negative Adverbials
OK. We’re going to talk about negative adverbials in English. But first, let’s start with Madonna and a line from her song “Into the Groove.” So what’s happening here? “Only […]
Describing Trends in English
Before COVID, I never thought I’d spend so much of my week looking at graphs. But now, we’re all obsessed with them. Watching the numbers go up and down, watching […]
Advanced English Articles: 3 New Ways to Think about “A” and “The”
Today, you have a choice: Do you want a quick overview of how to use articles (a, an, the) in English? Click here. Do you want some new and unusual […]
Like and As: Everything You Need to Know
“Like” and “as”: they seem like such simple little words: But, maybe because they’re so simple, these two words can cause a lot of confusion when you’re learning English. I […]
WTF English? 4 Weird Tricks to Sound More Creative
You know what I like most about language? It’s not that some words look the same forward as they do backwards — like “racecar.” Though that is pretty cool. It’s […]
Some and Any: The Real Difference
OK, I know what you’re going to say. “Some and any? We did this at school! This is easy stuff.” That’s true. But what did they teach you at school? […]
Used to, Be Used to, Get Used to
I get it – “used to” can be a little confusing. Is it “I used to do it?” “I used to doing it?” “I’m used to do it?” “I’m used […]
Are you using ergative verbs unnaturally? I bet you are!
We’re about to take a look at ergative verbs in English. You might also like How to Use “Get” in English. Let’s look at these weird sentences: “Some people in […]
What You Never Knew About English Verbs: A New Way of Looking at Grammar
Note: This post is mostly aimed at teachers of English. However, I think that if you’re a confident learner of English, you can easily enjoy this post and, most importantly, […]
How to Use Get in English
You’re about to learn 12 different ways to use “get” in English. Also check out 27 Different Ways to Say Thank You (And How to Reply). If you went up […]
Order of Adjectives in English: One Simple Hack
You’re about to learn my simple hack for the order of adjectives in English. For more adjective goodness, check out 72 Appearance Adjectives You Need to Describe People in English. […]
7 Little Drawings That Will Help You Remember English Rules Forever
These 7 drawings are from my new book, 102 Little Drawings That Will Help You Remember English Rules Forever (Probably). Click here to get your copy. Some things in English […]
Ways of Comparing in English
Let’s take a look at some ways of comparing English. While you’re here, check out Money Vocabulary: 42 Words to Talk About Money in English. OK. Let’s play that world-famous […]
Causative Verbs: Let, Have, Get, Make and Force
Today, you’re going to learn how to use the causative verbs “let,” “have,” “get,” “make” and “force.” Also check out 11 Little Drawings That Will Help You Remember English Rules Forever. […]
Finally Understand How the Past Perfect Works
In this lesson, you’re going to finally understand the past perfect in English FOREVER (probably). Want more tricky English grammar? Check out Mixed Conditionals in English Made Easy. It doesn’t […]
43 Must-Know Phrases with Keep
You’re about to learn how to use “keep” in English. Also check out 33 New Ways to Say Phrases That You Use Every Day in English. “Keep” is one of […]
5 Common English Verbs You’re (Probably) Saying Wrong
You’re about to find out if you’re using some common English verbs (insist, mention, suggest, reply and discuss) correctly. You might also like 3 Classic Mistakes That English Learners Make. […]
Do You Know How to Use “Will”? Are You Sure?
Today you’re going to learn how to use “will” in 4 ways that you probably haven’t thought of before. Want to talk about the future? Click here. Go ahead — […]
Adding Emphasis in English – 3 Advanced Tricks
You’re about to learn 3 ways to add emphasis in English. For more advanced English tips, check out Inversion with Negative Adverbials. Here’s a common situation for high-level English learners. […]
Word Order in English: Are You Making These Typical Mistakes?
You’re about to find out the 2 typical mistakes that English learners make with word order. Click here for 3 more classic mistakes that learners make. One of the most […]
3 Classic English Mistakes That Learners Make
For more common mistakes that English learners make, take a look at Are You Making These 4 Advanced English Mistakes? You know the expression “we learn from our mistakes,” right? […]
The Big, Fat Clark and Miller English Quiz 2017
Learning English can be great fun. But yes — it can also be annoying. Sometimes the rules don’t make any sense. Sometimes you learn a phrase, then discover that there’s […]
Do You Know This Little English Trick to Make People Laugh?
This is the last of a 3-part series on advanced conditionals in English. Click here for part 1 (mixed conditionals). Click here for part 2 (inverted conditionals). You may have […]
Inverted Conditionals: Have You Mastered This Advanced English Trick?
Let’s take a look at inverted conditionals in English. For more advanced English, check out Are You Making These 4 Advanced English Mistakes? In this post, you’re going to learn […]
Mixed Conditionals in English — Never Get Confused Again
When we learn about conditional sentences in English, we usually learn the four basic types: Type 0 — “If it rains, the ground gets wet.” Type 1 — “If he […]
11 Little Drawings That Will Help You Remember English Rules Forever
This blog post was so popular that I turned it into a book: 102 Little Drawings That Will Help You Remember English Rules FOREVER (Probably). It’s available as an eBook […]
2 Things You’re (Probably) Doing That Make You Sound Unnatural in English
Today, you’re going to learn how to fix 2 unnatural mistakes you’re (probably) making in English. Also check out 4 Simple Changes to Make You Sound More Fluent in English. […]
Are You Making These 4 Advanced English Mistakes? (Hint: You Probably Are!)
We all do it when we learn a language. I’ve done it, and I’m sure you’ve done it, too. You go through years of speaking English using a particular word, […]
4 Hacks That Will Make You Understand Non-Action Verbs (Stative Verbs) Forever
Look at this sign. Is there something wrong with it? This is a derivative of “i’m lovin it” by Leonid Mamchenkov, used under CC BY. Think about it carefully. Because […]
4 Ways to Use the Present Simple and Present Continuous That You (Probably) Didn’t Know
Let’s take a good look at how the continuous tenses work. This lesson is about the present simple and present continuous. Click here for the perfect simple and continuous. Click […]
Perfect Simple and Perfect Continuous: English Grammar for Visual Learners
Let’s take a good look at how the continuous tenses work. This lesson is about the perfect simple and present continuous. Click here for the present simple and continuous. Click […]
Past Simple and Past Continuous: An Easy Way to Look at It
Let’s take a good look at how the continuous tenses work. This lesson is about the past simple and past continuous. Click here for the perfect simple and continuous. Click […]
Why Reported Speech Is a Waste of Time (And What You Should Say Instead)
Have you ever walked away from an English lesson saying, “What?! How?! Why does this language have to be so complicated?!” If you’ve felt like this, you’ve either just walked […]
‘-ing’ or ‘to’? Part 2: subjects, objects and ‘extra information’
This is part 2 of a series of posts on “-ing” and “to,” a.k.a. gerund and infinitive. Click here for part 1. Back in December I introduced you to these lovely people. […]
The Big, Fat English Tenses Overview (With PDF)
Would you prefer to read this post as a PDF? Click here. Also, check out the Ultimate Guide to Numbers in English. First, take a look at this image. It […]
Make your stories more interesting and your goals more real in English
It’s the beginning of a new year! The new year is a time for looking forward and setting goals for the year, and also for looking back and reflecting on […]
‘-ing’ or ‘to’? Everything you need to know (part one: after verbs)
This is part 1 of a series of posts on “-ing” and “to,” a.k.a. gerund and infinitive. Click here for part 2. So you know how to talk about the […]
Future Tenses in English – 10 Alternatives to ‘Will’
You’re about to learn 10 different ways to talk about the future in English. Also check out 17 Free English Lessons: Best of Clark and Miller 2017. There are two […]
“It” and “This”: The Difference Made Easy
Sometimes we get suggestions for the blog from our readers. Last week, Vladimir asked us to explain the difference between “it” and “this.” I have to admit that I’d never really thought […]
One simple hack to master the present perfect
Today, I’d like to talk about a special tense in English. A lot of people have problems learning it because it either doesn’t exist in other languages, or the rules are […]
English grammar tricks that work (part 2)
There are some English grammar points that can drive learners crazy. But the problem isn’t the grammar. Or the learner. You need to change the way you look at the “problem.” Here […]
The Passive in English (One Simple Grammar Hack)
In my 12 years teaching English, I’ve noticed there are some grammar points that can drive learners crazy. But the problem isn’t the grammar. Or the learner. The problem is not […]
A or the? Never get confused again with this smart infographic
Is it “a” or “the”? … or nothing? This is something that every English learner has a problem with, even the most advanced students. Before you can use articles (“a,” […]
English Grammar Tricks That Work (Part 1)
I get it. English can be very confusing sometimes, and the grammar rules can seem crazy and random. Sometimes they are. But a lot of the time, there’s a system […]
How to master first second and third conditionals in English
Are you confused about the first, second and third conditionals (‘if’ sentences) in English? What are they? How do they work? What’s the difference between them? Here’s a simple way to […]
