English Grammar Mini-Lessons

Whether you are new to the English language or have a child/student struggling to learn the rules in school, English grammar mini-lessons can reinforce the basics of clear communication.

yourDictionary's English Grammar Resources

The yourDictionary.com website provides a number of English resources to aide in mastering grammatical rules. Visit the Library section to find over fifteen English Grammar Rules and Usage Articles. The Grammars area offers a variety of Grammar and Language Courses in English for help with the language.

One resource listed is Free On-line English Lessons from Englishpage.com. Mini-lessons in grammar are available at this resource, under "http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/index.htm">Mini-Tutorials. Seven topics are listed, including the subjunctive, adverbs/adjectives/linking verbs, and who/whom/whose. These tutorials offer short mini-lessons with examples of correct and incorrect rule usage. At the bottom of each page is a link to exercises relating to the lesson. In-depth tutorials are also available in subjects like vocabulary, verb tense, and prepositions.

English Mini-Lessons in Grammar

Mini-lessons can help bolster students in areas in which they struggle. Short and to the point, these lessons often give concise explanations of the rules, examples, and links to worksheets or exercises.

Lessons are truly for anyone. Teachers often have a curriculum that can be supplemented by mini-lessons, while college students might need refreshers on certain points when writing essays. Even business professionals can benefit from brushing up on their English grammar.

Resources for English grammar mini-lessons geared towards beginning students include:

  • English-Zone.com: The Grammar Zone of this website features 13 topics with well over 50 various lessons available. This website offers most lessons with paid membership only, although there are a few that guests can access.
  • InstructorWeb English Grammar Lesson Plans and Worksheets: Short lessons plans aimed at elementary students are offered to teachers, tutors, and parents on this website. Objectives, procedures, and printables are available for most of the topics listed. Sentence structure, verbs, homophones, conjunctions and interjections, and adverbs are among the topics covered.
  • Language Arts Mini-Lessons: Get lesson ideas from real teachers. Most lessons are aimed at elementary students, although some lessons can be used for junior high and high school levels. The writing activities listed can be reformulated to work with a number of grammar lessons students learned previously.
  • The Lesson Plans Page: Scroll down to the section entitled Parts of Speech. Here, an abundance of mini-lessons related to grammar can be found. A short explanation of the lesson, along with the grades it is geared towards is given. You can use the creative ideas on this website for elementary through high school kids, although some may even be appropriate for English-as-Second-Language learners.
  • Grammar Monster: Short lessons online that are colorful and easy to read on topics from common errors to the eight parts of speech can be found here. Click on the grammar topic you need help with, and then read the rule, explanations, and examples provided. An interactive online test follows the mini-lesson.

Advanced English students are not immune to making grammatical mistakes. Even professional writers have editors to double check their work. Therefore, reviewing mini-lessons at a collegiate level can aide college students, adults, and business people in their daily writing activities. Use these sources for advanced grammar mini-lessons:

  • The Writing Center at KSU: Topics from thesis statements to APA documentation to the ellipsis are covered in printable documents in MS Word format. Depending on the speed of your Internet connection, it may take a minute or two to download the lessons. However, they are well written and easy to understand.
  • Grammar Mini-Lessons from Houghton Mifflin's College Division: Nine short college-level lessons are covered by the textbook printing company. Semicolons, dangling modifiers, and correlative conjunctions are among the featured topics. Some lessons appear in pop-up menus, while others redirect you to a new page.

Using the English language properly is a skill to be mastered. Even first-language English speakers and writers have, at times, difficulty with following certain rules. Use mini grammar lessons to keep your writing clean and sharp.