ESL Practice Worksheets

Worksheet 1

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs & Modal Verbs

Instructions: Study each section carefully. Complete the exercises at the end. Use the examples to understand how each phrase or verb is used in context.

Common Idioms

What is an idiom? An idiom is a phrase where the meaning is different from the individual words. You cannot understand it by translating word-by-word. Idioms are commonly used in everyday English!
🍰 Piece of cake
Meaning: Very easy to do
"The math test was a piece of cake. I finished in 10 minutes!"
❄️ Break the ice
Meaning: Make people feel comfortable in a social situation
"He told a joke to break the ice at the meeting."
🔨 Hit the nail on the head
Meaning: Say or do something exactly right
"You hit the nail on the head with your analysis of the problem."
💰 Cost an arm and a leg
Meaning: Very expensive
"That new phone costs an arm and a leg!"
☁️ Under the weather
Meaning: Feeling sick or unwell
"I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so I'll stay home."
⏰ Once in a blue moon
Meaning: Very rarely; almost never
"I only eat fast food once in a blue moon."
🌧️ It's raining cats and dogs
Meaning: Raining very heavily
"Don't forget your umbrella! It's raining cats and dogs outside."
🔔 Ring a bell
Meaning: Sound familiar; remind someone of something
"Does the name John Smith ring a bell?"

Common Phrasal Verbs

What is a phrasal verb? A phrasal verb combines a verb with a preposition or adverb (or both). Together, they create a new meaning different from the original verb. Phrasal verbs are essential for natural English!
Get up
Meaning: Rise from bed; stop sleeping
"I get up at 7 AM every morning to go jogging."
Look after
Meaning: Take care of someone or something
"Can you look after my cat while I'm on vacation?"
Give up
Meaning: Stop trying; quit
"Don't give up! You're doing great and you'll succeed."
Turn on/off
Meaning: Start/stop a device or machine
"Please turn off the lights when you leave the room."
Find out
Meaning: Discover information; learn
"I need to find out what time the store closes today."
Put off
Meaning: Postpone; delay
"We had to put off the meeting until next week."
Run into
Meaning: Meet by chance; encounter unexpectedly
"I ran into an old friend at the supermarket yesterday."
Call off
Meaning: Cancel an event or plan
"They called off the wedding at the last minute."

Modal Verbs Guide

What are modal verbs? Modal verbs are helper verbs that express ability, possibility, permission, obligation, or advice. They are used before main verbs and don't change form (no -s, -ed, or -ing endings).
Modal Use Example Sentences
Can Ability / Permission / Possibility "I can speak three languages." / "Can I use your phone?"
Could Past ability / Polite request "I could swim when I was five." / "Could you help me?"
Should Advice / Recommendation "You should see a doctor if you feel sick."
Must Strong obligation / Certainty "You must wear a seatbelt." / "He must be tired after working all day."
May Permission / Possibility (formal) "You may leave early today." / "It may rain tomorrow."
Will Future / Promise / Decision "I will call you later." / "It will be sunny tomorrow."
Would Polite request / Hypothetical "Would you like some coffee?" / "I would travel if I had money."

Practice Exercises

A. Fill in the blanks with the correct idiom:

1. The exam was a . I finished it quickly!

2. It's outside. You'll need an umbrella!

3. She goes to the gym . Maybe twice a year.

B. Complete with the correct phrasal verb:

1. I (meet by chance) my teacher at the mall.

2. Please (stop) the TV before you go to bed.

3. They had to (cancel) the concert due to bad weather.

C. Choose the correct modal verb:

1. You (should/might/will) study harder if you want to pass.

2. (May/Must/Would) I borrow your pen, please?

3. She (can/could/must) speak five languages fluently!

Answer Key

A: 1. piece of cake, 2. raining cats and dogs, 3. once in a blue moon

B: 1. ran into, 2. turn off, 3. call off

C: 1. should, 2. May, 3. can

Worksheet 2

Grammar Essentials: Tenses, Articles & Prepositions

Instructions: Review each grammar rule. Pay attention to the examples. Practice makes perfect!

Essential Verb Tenses

Why are tenses important? Verb tenses tell us WHEN an action happens: past, present, or future. Using the correct tense helps others understand exactly what you mean!
Tense Structure When to Use Example
Simple Present Subject + base verb (+s/es) Habits, facts, general truths "She works at a hospital."
Present Continuous am/is/are + verb-ing Actions happening now "I am studying English right now."
Present Perfect have/has + past participle Past action with present relevance "I have visited Paris three times."
Simple Past Subject + past tense verb Completed actions in the past "We went to the beach yesterday."
Past Continuous was/were + verb-ing Actions in progress at past time "I was sleeping when you called."
Simple Future will + base verb Predictions, decisions about future "It will rain tomorrow."

Articles: A, An, The

What are articles? Articles are small words (a, an, the) that come before nouns. They show if we're talking about something specific or general.
A (indefinite article)
Use before consonant sounds, for singular non-specific nouns
"I need a pen." (any pen) / "She is a teacher."
An (indefinite article)
Use before vowel sounds (a, e, i, o, u)
"He is an engineer." / "It takes an hour."
The (definite article)
Use for specific nouns that both speaker and listener know
"Please close the door." / "The sun rises in the east."
No Article (Zero Article)
Use with plural/uncountable nouns when speaking generally
"Cats are independent." / "I love music."

Common Prepositions

What are prepositions? Prepositions show relationships between words, usually involving time, place, or direction.
Time Prepositions
at, on, in, for, since, during, by
• at 3 PM, at night
• on Monday, on June 15th
• in 2024, in summer, in the morning
• for two hours
• since Monday
• by Friday (deadline)
Place Prepositions
in, on, at, under, above, beside, between
• in the room, in London
• on the table, on the wall
• at the door, at school
• under the bed, above the clouds

Practice Exercises

A. Choose the correct tense:

1. She (go/goes/is going) to school every day.

2. I (have lived/lived) here for ten years.

3. They (will arrive/arrived) tomorrow.

B. Fill in with a, an, the, or ø (no article):

1. I saw elephant at the zoo.

2. She wants to be doctor.

3. sun is very bright today.

C. Complete with the correct preposition:

1. The meeting is Monday 3 PM.

2. I live London.

Answer Key

A: 1. goes, 2. have lived, 3. will arrive

B: 1. an, 2. a, 3. The

C: 1. on / at, 2. in

Worksheet 3

Vocabulary Builder: Word Families & Collocations

Instructions: Expand your vocabulary by learning word families and common collocations. Build your word power!

Word Families

What are word families? Word families are groups of words that share the same root but have different forms (noun, verb, adjective, adverb).
Verb Noun Adjective Adverb
succeed success successful successfully
educate education educational educationally
create creation / creativity creative creatively
decide decision decisive decisively
Example: SUCCEED family
• Verb: "I want to succeed in my career."
• Noun: "Her success came from hard work."
• Adjective: "He runs a successful business."
• Adverb: "She successfully completed the project."

Common Collocations

What are collocations? Collocations are words that are often used together. Learning collocations makes your English sound more natural!
MAKE
Common Collocations
• make a decision
• make a mistake
• make money
• make progress
• make an effort
• make sense
DO
Common Collocations
• do homework
• do business
• do your best
• do the dishes
• do exercise
• do research
TAKE
Common Collocations
• take a break
• take a chance
• take a photo
• take time
• take notes
• take care
HAVE
Common Collocations
• have fun
• have a good time
• have breakfast
• have a conversation
• have an idea
• have trouble
GET
Common Collocations
• get ready
• get married
• get angry
• get home
• get a job
• get better
PAY
Common Collocations
• pay attention
• pay a visit
• pay a compliment
• pay respect
• pay back
• pay in cash

Useful Synonyms

What are synonyms? Synonyms are words with similar meanings. Using synonyms makes your English more interesting!
HAPPY
joyful, cheerful, delighted, pleased, thrilled
"I'm happy to see you!" → "I'm delighted to see you!"
BIG
large, huge, enormous, massive, gigantic
"That's a big building!" → "That's an enormous building!"
GOOD
excellent, great, wonderful, fantastic, superb
"That was a good movie!" → "That was a fantastic movie!"
IMPORTANT
significant, crucial, vital, essential, critical
"This is an important decision." → "This is a crucial decision."

Practice Exercises

A. Complete the word family:

1. Verb: decide → Noun: → Adjective:

2. Verb: create → Noun: → Adjective:

B. Choose the correct collocation (make/do/take/have):

1. a decision

2. homework

3. a break

C. Replace with a better synonym:

1. The movie was very good. →

2. That's a big problem. →

Answer Key

A: 1. decision, decisive 2. creation/creativity, creative

B: 1. make, 2. do, 3. take

C: 1. excellent/fantastic/wonderful, 2. huge/enormous/major