English Language Proficiency

These resources address basic grammar for improving your students' English Language Proficiency.

There are also sections on this website with academic writing resources including the writing process, and on writing for specific assignment formats). 

• Use the table of contents to the right to find the category and type of resource which you want for your class. 
• You can also browse an online folder of all the general resources on reading in alphabetical order.
• If you wish to find a resource addressing a specific teaching point, you can also use a term or word to search the search the database of all Language and Literacies resources. 

Sentence structure 

1. Sentence structure 1 Presentation for students

Lesson plan and PowerPoint slides for a class session looking at clauses, simple and compound sentences, complex sentences. Includes student exercises and sample answers. 

Download the slides  (436 KB) 

Download the pdf version of the slides (569 KB)

Download the lesson plan   (33 KB)

2. Sentence structure 2 Presentation for students

Lesson plan and PowerPoint slides for a class session covering noun phrases, verb phrases, preposition phrases, other basic principles and patterns, subjects, direct objects, object verbs, complements and complement verbs, adverbials.

Download the slides  (660 KB)

Download a pdf version of the slides  (784 KB)

Download the lesson plan  (37 KB)

Browse all the ELP resources 

Grammar 

1. Making grammar feedback work for you Lesson plan

Lesson plan, PowerPoint presentation slides and two class exercises for a session covering various grammatical points, including:

• Fragments
• Run-on sentences
• Subject-verb agreement
• Indefinite pronouns as subjects
• Collective nouns as subjects

Download the slides  (451 KB) 

Download a pdf version of the slides  (490 KB)

Download the lesson plan  (31 KB)

Download class exercise 1  (14 KB)

Download class exercise 2   (24 KB)

Browse all the ELP resources 

Verbs and prepositions 

1. Using prepositions in academic contexts Lesson plan 

PowerPoint slides and lesson plan for a session which covers appropriate use of prepositions in writing, including:

• Common prepositions
• Common errors associated with usage
• Compound prepositions
• Phrasal verbs
• Prepositional phrases

Download the slides  (608 KB)

Download the lesson plan  (12 KB)

2. Verb tenses Class presentation

Presentation slides for a session which looks at the confusion which can be caused by inappropriate verb tenses. It covers time references, and how to work out the appropriate tense. 

Download the slides  (1.9 MB)

Browse all the ELP resources 

Articles

1. Articles: Basic rules Student handout

Word document for students outlining the basic rules about using articles (a, an, the).

Download the handout  (41 KB) 

2. Articles: Overview Student handout

Word document for students introducing articles (a, an, the) and demonstrating their use in sentences.

Download the handout  (37 KB)

3. Articles: Rules of thumb Student handout 

Word document for students listing some of the rules of thumb about the use of articles (a, an, the).

Download the handout  (42 KB)

4. Articles: Sub rules Student handout

Word document for students introducing some sub-rules related to the use of articles.

Download the handout (37 KB)

Browse all the ELP resources