English Language Reference
Our reference section provides a handy resource for learners and teachers of the English language, particularly those studying English as a Second Language (ESL).
We offer a wealth of materials to assist you in improving your English language skills, including dictionaries of idioms, phrasal verbs, and irregular verbs, as well as an extensive glossary of grammatical terms. If you are looking to expand your vocabulary, perfect your grammar, or simply improve your overall English proficiency, our collection of reference resources has something for you.
Check out these links to our extensive dictionaries, or browse through our glossary of terms below:
Idioms
Dictionary of current English idioms and idiomatic expressions.
Phrasal Verbs
Dictionary of English Phrasal Verbs, with definitions and examples
Irregular Verbs
Irregular verb list, including definitions of rare and antiquated forms.
Glossary of English Grammar Terms
Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, our comprehensive glossary of linguistic and grammatical definitions provides clear explanations of each term and are cross-referenced to other relevant entries. Perfect for both native speakers with an interest in language and linguistics, and students of English as a second language (ESL, EFL, ESOL, and EAP), our glossary will broaden your understanding of the English language.
Browse by Category
Communication and Context
Complement & Object
Direct & Indirect Speech
Functions & Text
General
Gerunds and Infinitives
Learning and Teaching
Literature
Prefixes & Suffixes
Sentence Structures and Types
Spelling and Punctuation
Varieties and Dialects
Verbs and Tenses
- Action Verbs
- Active
- Agents
- Ambitransitive Verbs
- Aspect
- Auxiliary Verbs
- Base Form
- Causative Verbs
- Continuous Verbs
- Copula Verbs
- Declarative Mood
- Denominal Verbs
- Ditransitive Verbs
- Dynamic Verbs
- Emphatic Forms
- Ergative Verbs
- Finite Verbs
- Future Perfect
- Future Perfect Progressive (Future Perfect Continuous)
- Future Progressive (Future Continuous)
- Helping Verb
- Historic Present
- Imperatives
- Inchoative Verbs
- Intransitive Verbs
- Irregular Verbs
- Linking Verb
- Main Verbs
- Middle Verbs
- Mood
- Non-Finite Verbs
- Participles
- Passive Voice
- Past Participles
- Past Perfect
- Past Perfect Progressive (Past Perfect Continuous)
- Past Progressive (Past Continuous)
- Past Simple (Simple Past)
- Perfect
- Perfect Aspect
- Performative Verb
- Phrasal Verbs
- Present Participle
- Present Perfect
- Present Perfect Progressive (Present Perfect Continuous)
- Present Progressive (Present Continuous)
- Present Simple Tense
- Progressive Aspect
- Regular Verbs
- Stative Verbs
- Subjunctive
- Tense
- Transitive Verb
- Verb Group
- Verb Phrase
- Voice
Vocabulary
- Antagonyms
- Antonyms
- Autoantonym
- Bilingual Dictionaries
- Cliche
- Cognate
- Colligation
- Collocations
- Contranyms
- Crossword Dictionaries
- Dictionaries
- Dictionaries of Contemporary English
- Dictionary Types
- Eggcorn
- Etymological Dictionaries
- Etymology
- Euphemisms
- False Cognate
- Glossary
- Homonyms
- Hyponyms
- Idioms
- Illustrated Dictionaries
- Inductive Antonomasia
- Jargon
- Loan Words
- Malapropisms
- Metonymy
- Minced Oath
- Mini-Dictionaries
- Monolingual Dictionaries
- Morphemes
- Neologisms
- Palindromes
- Pocket Dictionaries
- Polysemy
- Portmanteau Word
- Rhyming Dictionary
- Slang
- Superordinate
- Swear Words
- Synecdoche
- Synonyms
- Thesaurus
This English grammar glossary is under continual development. If you wish to suggest a glossary entry that you know should be listed here, please use our online form to let us know about it.