The weekly column
Article 45, January 2001
Grammar Online
By Leyla Tercanlioglu
Abstract
This paper outlines some of the web pages used to learn and teach English
Grammar available on the Internet.
Introduction
Over the past few years global computer networking has developed into
a powerful tool for anyone who has the ability to access it. This new
and rapidly growing form of communication has the potential to expand
access to knowledge well past the point of any individual discipline,
library, or other information repository. It is also one of the most powerful
research and educational tools yet developed. The largest of the international
computer networks is The Internet, which enables more contact by more
people across greater distances, with more emerging collaboration.
This paper will discuss some of the tools currently available on the Internet which can be of use to those who learn or teach English Grammar. The idea behind is to give easy access to exercise and reference material available on the World Wide Web and to suggest a way of using electronically available texts as a grammar resource bank.
Study English Grammar Online
An online Grammar course will help you promote yourself with better grammar.
There are web sites that focus on English grammar, style, usage, plain
language, words, reference sources, online writing experts, word play
and books on writing. These web sites offer online writing courses, conversation
and grammar lessons, newsletter, and other resources. Furthermore, there
are online services for checking and correcting the grammar, spelling,
punctuation of English language text.
This section provides an assortment of WWW addresses where you can find helpful grammar lessons, including explanations, exercises, and answers, ranging from very elementary to more advanced:
http://www.edunet.com/english/grammar/index.cfm
[Editor's note: clicking this and all subsequent links will open a
new browser window]
Edunet.com offers online grammar search by alphabetical letter. It is
easy to use. Besides, it has keyword search.
http://www.chompchomp.com/
Grammar Bytes offers English grammar explanations, handouts for students
and teachers, and interactive grammar exercises.
http://www.English4us.com
You can learn grammar through Real Audio. There are exercises on a wide
range of topics. Furthermore, you can record your performance and append
the questions to your personal diary.
http://online.ohlone.cc.ca.us/~mlieu/
You can review English grammar on the World Wide Web. GrammarONLINE uses
the WWW to bring helpful grammar lessons. These lessons include explanations,
exercises, and answers. Some of the grammar can be done on the computer
screen. However, you will do some of the work using pencil/pen and paper.
http://deil.lang.uiuc.edu/web.pages/GrammarSafari/journal_index.html
Grammar Safari helps you to explore English Grammar and Vocabulary on
the Web.
http://www.garbl.com
This is an annotated directory of Web sites focusing on creativity, the
writing process, English grammar, style and usage, reference sources,
words, plain language, active writing, online writing experts, word play,
books on writing and favorite fiction writers.
http://www.bettergrammar.org/
This website aims to help promote yourself with better grammar. The grammar
is explained in three sections: Parts of Speech, Sentence and Writing.
At the end of each sections there are practice questions and answers to
practice questions
http://www.englishonline.net/
This website has three sections: Write, learn and have fun. The learn
section especially is very useful for those who study grammar. This section
offers basic, intermediate and advance grammar lessons.
http://www.aci-plus.com/tips/
This website offers a collection of materials and resources to help them
with your writing.
http://www.niflheim.demon.co.uk/index.html
This website offers English correction service. It provides a professional,
low cost service for checking and correcting written English.
http://www.englishpage.com/
This website offers free online English lessons
http://ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/index.htm
This website is a guide to grammar and writing on three levels: Sentence
level, paragraph level and essay level. It has also ask grammar section
which allows you to submit a question about English usage or grammar.
http://www.englishlearner.com
EnglishLearner.Com offers English lessons by e-mail at three levels every
week - completely free. Furthermore, learners of English will find all
types of interactive tests and exercises on grammar, vocabulary and reading
http://www.homeworkhelp.com/homeworkhelp/member/text/english/high/topic01.php#01
Homeworkhelp.com offers grammar Lessons for high school students which
come with engaging multimedia enhancements, such as interactive animations,
audio and video lessons, quizzes, and exercises. The topics are Simple
Sentence, Verb Forms, Phrases, More Types of Pronouns and Adjectives,
Clauses, Sentence Sense and Punctuation.
http://web.gc.cuny.edu/library/research/engl.htm
This site offers a lot of links to other useful web sites such as American
Heritage Book of English Usage, Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation,
Common Errors in English, Grammar Handbook, Guide to Grammar and Style,
Guide to Grammar and Writing and History of the English Language.
http://www.yourdictionary.com/grammars.html
Here you will find grammars where you can look up the rules of a language
and language courses where you can learn a new language. Additional language
resources such as newspapers and on-line radio stations are linked to
the appropriate language. Some of these links are: An Elementary Grammar
by The English Institute (for speakers of French), Free English (in English,
Chinese, Portuguese, and Spanish) and Internet Grammar of English
http://www.usg.edu/galileo/internet/arts/language.html
The Languages and Linguistics website has very useful sections like Language
Surveys, Dictionaries, Thesauri , Grammar , and Translation.
Online Dictionaries
http://www.yourdictionary.com
yourDictionary.com provides the world's most comprehensive, and authoritative
portal for language, and language-related products and services on the
world wide web. It has the widest and deepest set of dictionaries on the
web. It has more than 1500 dictionaries representing more than 230 languages.
http://www.Dictionary.com
Dictionary.com offers free online English dictionary, thesaurus and reference
guide, crossword puzzles and other word games, online translator and Word
of the Day.
http://www.link.cs.cmu.edu/dougb/rhyme-doc.html
Semantic Rhyming Dictionary will help you to find words that rhyme with,
almost rhyme with, or sound exactly the same as a certain target word
along with many other variants.
http://www.vocabulary.com/
Vocabulary.com is an online web Dictionary and Thesaurus linking
reference tool. It transforms any webpage into easy convenient links to
definition and word lookups.
Online English Grammar Tests
How's your grammar? How would you rate your grammar skills? Take online
grammar tests to evaluate your English language skills.
Example 1:
Can you help me? I _____ a post office.
am looking for
look for
am look for
looking for
If you are not sure about your answer you click on Show my details, and
it says if your is correct or wrong and why.
Example 2:
I ___ the book but when I heard what the critics said I changed my mind.
[ ] (a) was going to buy
[ ] (b) would have bought
[ ] (c) was buying
[ ] (d) am going to buy
Here are some web addresses where you can test your English grammar yourself.
http://www.anglolang.co.uk/cgi-bin/web_test.cgi/grammar.html
http://www.aitech.ac.jp/~iteslj/quizzes/grammar.html
http://www.testwise.com/
http://www.clta.on.ca/ce.htm
http://www.englishlearner.com/tests/test.html
http://www.tokaigakuen-c.ac.jp/~aoyama//cgibook/ex5/eigo.html
http://www.nylcedu.com/english/test.htm
http://www.Swandean.co.uk
http://www.Burza.sk/testy
http://englishtest.berlitz.com
http://www.access.be/langtest/eng/eng-gram.htm
Conclusion
There are many advantages of using the Internet in learning English Grammar.
The most important advantages are:
- it encourages active learning
- it adapts to individual learning styles
- it supports inquiry and constructivist theories of learning
- it offers a student-centered environment
- it enhances research skills
The uses in education for the Internet are only bound by the imagination of the users. There are many sources of educational software on the Internet. Both students and teachers may download these programs to enhance both learning and teaching. Besides, the use of newsgroups and email can both be incorporated into foreign language education. The educators who use and allow students to use it will greatly increase the resources available.
About the Author
Leyla TERCANLIOGLU is an assistant professor at Ataturk University. Her
interests include English Teacher Education, CALL and Reading in
a Foreign Language.
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