Learn English Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield Learn English facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. What is the best way to politely disagree with someone in English? → 'I see your point, but I think...' or 'I understand, however...'
2. If you 'sit on the fence,' you are: → Avoiding taking a side in a disagreement
3. What does 'figurative language' mean in a text? → Language that uses non-literal expressions to create meaning
4. Which of the following words is spelled incorrectly? → pronounciation
5. Which sentence uses 'fewer' and 'less' correctly? → There are fewer apples and less water.
6. Which of the following is the correct spelling? → calendar
7. Which adverb best fills the blank? 'Please speak ___ — I'm right next to you.' → softer
8. Which word means to make something worse? → Exacerbate
9. Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon? → She loves to read; she visits the library every week.
10. If you are 'burning the midnight oil,' you are: → Working very late into the night
11. Choose the sentence with the correctly used adverb 'well.' → He did well on the exam.
12. Which sentence uses 'flat' correctly as an adverb? → He sang flat during the concert.
13. What does 'elaboration' mean in the context of writing body paragraphs? → Expanding on evidence with analysis and explanation
14. Please identify the direct object in the next phrase. Sharee presented a pencil to her mother. → Pencil
15. In 'The nearly finished project looks impressive,' which word is an adverb? → nearly
16. What does the word 'benevolent' mean? → Well-meaning and kindly
17. When should 'a' be used instead of 'an' before a word? → Before words that begin with a consonant sound
18. Transitive verbs require another word to fully convey the expression's meaning. → True
19. What is a 'rhetorical question' in speaking or writing? → A question asked for effect that does not require an answer
20. Which sentence contains an adjective used as a predicate adjective? → The dog looks tired.
21. 'Under the weather' is used to describe someone who: → Is feeling slightly ill
22. What does the prefix 'mis-' mean in the word 'misunderstand'? → wrongly
23. Which sentence uses an adverb correctly? → She sings beautifully.
24. Which of the following is the correct spelling? → privilege
25. 'The last straw' in an idiom refers to: → The final problem that makes a situation unbearable
26. What does 'beat around the bush' mean? → To avoid the main topic
27. What is the difference between 'affect' and 'effect'? → 'Affect' is usually a verb; 'effect' is usually a noun
28. Which word best describes something that is 'ambiguous'? → Open to more than one interpretation
29. What does 'steal someone's thunder' mean? → To upstage or take attention away from someone
30. Which sentence correctly uses a dash (—)? → She had one true passion—writing.