For millions of English learners worldwide, the phrase "English Grammar in Use" is synonymous with grammar study. Raymond Murphy's series, published by Cambridge University Press, has sold over 30 million copies and remains one of the most widely recommended grammar references in ESL classrooms around the world. But owning the book is not enough — how you study grammar determines how quickly and effectively you improve.
This guide explores what English Grammar in Use is, how to study grammar effectively regardless of which resources you use, the best grammar books and tools available, and practical exercises that turn knowledge into skill. Whether you are a self-directed learner or enrolled in a structured program like those at Columbia West College (CWC), these strategies will help you build a solid grammatical foundation that supports confident, accurate communication.
What Is English Grammar in Use
English Grammar in Use is a self-study reference and practice book for intermediate learners of English, written by Raymond Murphy and first published in 1985. It has since become the best-selling grammar book in the world, translated into numerous languages and used in classrooms and self-study settings across every continent.
The book is organized into units, each covering a specific grammar point. The left-hand page of each unit presents the grammar rule with clear explanations and examples, while the right-hand page provides practice exercises. This layout makes it easy to study a single grammar point in a focused session and immediately test your understanding.
The series includes three main levels. "Essential Grammar in Use" covers elementary grammar for beginners. "English Grammar in Use" targets intermediate learners, which is the most popular volume. "Advanced Grammar in Use" addresses the subtleties and exceptions that challenge upper-intermediate and advanced students.
What makes the series so effective is its clarity. Murphy's explanations avoid unnecessary linguistic jargon and focus on practical usage. Each grammar point is illustrated with natural, everyday examples rather than artificial sentences. The exercises are straightforward and provide answer keys so learners can self-check.
However, it is important to understand what English Grammar in Use is and what it is not. It is an excellent reference and practice tool for understanding grammar rules. It is not, by itself, a complete language learning solution. Grammar knowledge becomes useful only when you can apply it in real communication — speaking, writing, listening, and reading. This is why pairing self-study with a structured program that emphasizes active use of English is so powerful. Schools like CWC integrate grammar instruction into programs that prioritize speaking, giving students opportunities to apply grammar rules in conversation with real-time feedback from instructors and teaching assistants.
For a comprehensive overview of grammar rules, see English Grammar Rules: The Complete Guide.
How to Study Grammar Effectively
Many learners approach grammar study in ways that feel productive but produce limited results. Reading rules and completing fill-in-the-blank exercises can build knowledge, but knowledge alone does not translate to fluency. Here are evidence-based strategies for studying English grammar in use — both the book and the broader skill.
Study grammar in context, not in isolation. Grammar rules are easier to understand and remember when you encounter them in meaningful contexts. Instead of memorizing the rule for the present perfect tense in the abstract, notice how it appears in articles, podcasts, and conversations. When you see or hear a sentence like "I have lived in LA for three years," the grammar point connects to real communication rather than an abstract rule.
Focus on one grammar point at a time. Trying to learn multiple grammar rules simultaneously leads to confusion and shallow understanding. Dedicate each study session to a single topic — for example, articles, conditionals, or relative clauses. Study the rule, review examples, complete exercises, and then actively try to use the structure in your own speaking or writing before moving on.
Use the noticing technique. After studying a grammar point, spend time actively looking for it in authentic English materials. If you have just studied reported speech, read a news article and highlight every instance of reported speech you find. This trains your brain to recognize the pattern in natural language, which is the first step toward producing it accurately.
Test yourself with production, not just recognition. Fill-in-the-blank exercises test whether you can recognize the correct form, but speaking and writing test whether you can produce it. After completing written exercises, challenge yourself to use the grammar point in conversation or in a short paragraph. This production practice is where real learning happens.
Review regularly. Grammar rules are easily forgotten if you do not revisit them. Use a spaced repetition approach: review a grammar point one day after first studying it, then three days later, then one week later, then two weeks later. Each review session takes less time than the previous one, and the rule becomes more firmly embedded in your memory.
Learn from your errors. Keep a grammar error log where you write down mistakes you make in speaking or writing, along with the correct form. Review this log regularly. Patterns will emerge — you might notice that you consistently struggle with prepositions of time or subject-verb agreement — and you can target those areas in your study.
Combine self-study with guided instruction. Self-study resources like English Grammar in Use are valuable, but they cannot replace the feedback of a qualified teacher. A teacher can explain why a particular usage sounds unnatural, suggest alternative phrasings, and correct errors in real time. Programs that include dedicated speaking practice with instructors who provide immediate correction, such as CWC's ESS program with its teaching assistants, accelerate grammar acquisition by bridging the gap between knowledge and application.
Best Grammar Resources and Books
English Grammar in Use is the most well-known grammar resource, but it is far from the only one. Here is a curated selection of the best grammar books, websites, and tools available to English learners.
Books
"English Grammar in Use" by Raymond Murphy remains the gold standard for intermediate learners. Its clear explanations and extensive practice exercises make it an essential addition to any learner's bookshelf. The companion app allows for on-the-go practice.
"Understanding and Using English Grammar" by Betty Azar is another highly respected series. It covers grammar more comprehensively than Murphy's book and includes more detailed explanations of complex structures. The Azar series is particularly popular in academic ESL programs.
"Practical English Usage" by Michael Swan is a comprehensive reference guide that addresses common errors and questions about English grammar and vocabulary. It is organized alphabetically by topic, making it easy to look up specific issues. It is best suited for intermediate to advanced learners and teachers.
"Grammar in Context" by Sandra Elbaum presents grammar through engaging readings about real-world topics. This approach helps learners see grammar in context rather than in isolation, reinforcing the principle that grammar is a tool for communication.
For beginners, "Basic English Grammar" by Azar or "Essential Grammar in Use" by Murphy provides the foundation needed before tackling intermediate materials. See also Basic English Grammar: Essential Rules for Beginners for an overview of foundational rules.
Online resources
The British Council's LearnEnglish website offers free grammar explanations and interactive exercises organized by level and topic. Grammarly's blog provides accessible explanations of common grammar questions. The Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) is an excellent free resource for grammar in academic and professional writing contexts.
Apps and digital tools
The English Grammar in Use app offers all of the book's content in a mobile-friendly format with interactive exercises. Duolingo and Babbel include grammar instruction within their broader language courses. Anki, a free flashcard app, can be used to create custom grammar review cards using spaced repetition.
Podcasts and YouTube channels
Channels like "English with Lucy," "EngVid," and "BBC Learning English" offer free grammar lessons in video format. These are particularly useful for learners who prefer auditory and visual explanations over text-based ones.
The key is not to collect every resource but to choose a primary resource and use it consistently. English Grammar in Use works well as a core text, supplemented by one or two online resources and, ideally, a structured program that provides guided instruction and speaking practice.
Want to practice grammar with expert guidance? Try CWC's structured programs where grammar instruction is integrated into immersive, speaking-focused classes.
Practice Exercises for Grammar Mastery
Understanding a grammar rule is the first step. Mastery comes from practice — specifically, the kind of practice that requires you to produce language, not just recognize correct forms. Here are practical exercises you can do on your own or with a study partner.
Sentence transformation drills. Take a sentence and transform it according to a specific grammar rule. For example, change active voice sentences to passive voice: "The team completed the project" becomes "The project was completed by the team." Do this with 10 to 15 sentences per session, covering the grammar point you are studying.
Error correction exercises. Find or create sentences with deliberate grammar errors and correct them. This forces you to apply your knowledge analytically. Many grammar books include error correction sections, and you can also use your own writing — review past emails or essays and identify any grammar mistakes.
Dictation practice. Listen to a short audio clip from a podcast or news broadcast and write down exactly what you hear. Then compare your transcription to the original text. This exercise strengthens your ability to recognize grammar patterns in spoken English, including contractions, reduced forms, and connected speech.
Gap-fill exercises with authentic texts. Take a paragraph from a news article or blog post and delete specific grammar elements — for example, remove all articles (a, an, the) or all prepositions. Then try to fill them back in from memory. Compare your answers to the original text.
Controlled writing practice. Write a short paragraph (5 to 8 sentences) that deliberately uses the grammar point you are studying. If you are working on conditional sentences, write a paragraph that includes at least three different conditional forms. Share it with a teacher or study partner for feedback.
Conversation practice with grammar targets. Set a speaking goal for a conversation: for example, use the present perfect at least five times during a 10-minute discussion. This forces you to actively apply grammar rules in real-time communication, which is where many learners struggle most. This kind of targeted speaking practice is a core feature of programs at schools like CWC, where teaching assistants provide real-time error correction during 80-minute daily speaking classes.
Grammar journaling. Keep a daily journal in English. At the end of each entry, review what you wrote and underline examples of the grammar point you are currently studying. If you did not use it naturally, rewrite one or two sentences to incorporate it. Over time, you will see your grammar accuracy improve in spontaneous writing.
Quiz yourself with flashcards. Create flashcards with a grammar prompt on one side and the correct structure on the other. For example, one side might say "Third conditional: If I / study harder / pass the exam" and the other side shows "If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam." Review these using spaced repetition.
The most effective grammar practice combines controlled exercises (like those in English Grammar in Use) with communicative activities (like conversation practice and free writing). This dual approach ensures that you both understand the rules and can apply them when it counts. For ready-to-use practice drills, see our English Grammar Exercises: Practice Tests and Drills.
For additional vocabulary development that supports grammar learning, see English Vocabulary: Complete Learning Guide.
FAQ
Is English Grammar in Use good for beginners?
The intermediate-level "English Grammar in Use" by Raymond Murphy is designed for learners who already have a basic foundation in English. True beginners may find some units challenging. However, the series includes "Essential Grammar in Use," which is specifically written for elementary learners and covers foundational grammar points like basic verb tenses, simple sentence structures, and common prepositions. If you are starting from scratch, begin with the Essential edition and move to the intermediate book once you feel comfortable with basic structures. Many teachers recommend completing the elementary level in three to six months before progressing.
How long does it take to complete Grammar in Use?
The intermediate "English Grammar in Use" contains 145 units. If you study one unit per day, you can complete the book in approximately five months. However, most learners do not study every day, and some units require more time than others. A realistic timeline for self-study is six to twelve months, depending on your pace and how much review you include. Completing the book does not mean you have mastered all the grammar points — mastery requires ongoing practice and application in real communication. Many learners go through the book multiple times, focusing on different sections each pass.
What is the best way to practice English grammar?
The best way to practice English grammar is to combine structured exercises with communicative practice. Use a reference book like English Grammar in Use for explanations and written exercises, then actively apply each grammar point in speaking and writing. Keep an error log to track your common mistakes and review it regularly. Practice with authentic materials like news articles, podcasts, and conversations rather than relying solely on textbook exercises. Getting feedback from a qualified teacher or conversation partner is essential because it helps you catch errors you might not notice on your own. Enrolling in a program that integrates grammar with daily speaking practice, such as those offered at CWC, provides the structured feedback loop that self-study alone cannot replicate.
Master grammar through immersive learning — explore CWC's English courses and build accuracy and fluency with expert guidance and daily speaking practice.
