Academic Grammar Lessons for English Students

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Academic Grammar

What is academic grammar? These are the specific grammatical constructions, such as complex noun phrases, relative clauses, hedging devices, depersonalising structures, passives, and specific linking and signposting language which is evident when examining the language used in academic articles and essays.

FREE: Tense Review

This is a great lesson to introduce / revise English Tenses. The lesson includes tense & reason for use, gap fills, writing tenses to a set of questions and small paragraph writing using specific tenses. An example of the worksheet (here) / Level ***** (B1, B2,C2)

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1.Academic Grammar : the four most common tenses in academic English

This lesson focuses on the four tenses: past simple, present simple, present perfect simple and future simple (will). It includes a language review of each tense, sentence level and paragraph level practice exercises. It also includes a freer writing practice at the end (with example paragraph). An example of the worksheet (here) / Level ***** (B1/B2/C2).

2. Conditionals

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of conditionals. It focuses on the five main conditional clauses of zero, first, second, third and mixed conditionals. It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. An example of the worksheet (here) / Level ***** (B1,B2,C2).

3. Modal Auxiliary Verbs

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of modal verbs. The main modal verbs are will, may, might, can, could, must, should, need to, and have to. It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. An example of the worksheet (here) / Level ***** (B1,B2,C2).

4. Passive Structures

A general overview of the passive, rules and tense activities. Then a focus the impersonal passive structure ‘it is said that…’ , to infinitive passive form ‘ it is claimed to be…’. and a variety of writing practice exercises. The impersonal passive is an important tense in making your writing more formal and academic. An example of the worksheet (here) / Level ***** (B2-C2).

5. Defining and Non-defining Relative Clauses

This lesson is to support students in their understanding and use of defining & non-defining relative clauses. The lesson focuses on the key rules of both defining and non-defining relative clauses and includes four tasks of guided practice and two tasks of freer practice. An example of the worksheet (here) / Level ***** (B1,B2,C2).

6. Sentence Structure 1: simple, compound, complex and complex-compound

This lesson is to support students in their understanding and practice of the four types of sentence structures: simple, compound, complex and complex-compound. It includes noticing, guided and freer practice. An example of the worksheet (here) / Level ***** (B1,B2,C2).

7. Sentence Structure 2: fragments, run-ons and comma splice sentences

This lesson helps improve students’ sentence structure through identifying and practising fragments, run-ons and comma splice sentences. It includes noticing, guided and freer practice. An example of the worksheet (here) / Level ***** (B1,B2,C2).

8. Verb Patterns: verb + infinitive, verb + to infinitive, verb + gerund, verb + that clause, verb + wh-clause

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of verb patterns (verb + infinitive, verb + to infinitive, verb + gerund, verb + that clause, verb + wh-clause) . It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. An example of the worksheet (here) / Level ***** (B1,B2,C2).