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. What does 'figurative language' mean in a text? → Language that uses non-literal expressions to create meaning
3. Which of the following words is spelled incorrectly? → pronounciation
4. Which of the following is the correct spelling? → calendar
5. Which word means to make something worse? → Exacerbate
6. Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon? → She loves to read; she visits the library every week.
7. What does 'elaboration' mean in the context of writing body paragraphs? → Expanding on evidence with analysis and explanation
8. Please identify the direct object in the next phrase. Sharee presented a pencil to her mother. → Pencil
9. What does the word 'benevolent' mean? → Well-meaning and kindly
10. When should 'a' be used instead of 'an' before a word? → Before words that begin with a consonant sound
11. Transitive verbs require another word to fully convey the expression's meaning. → True
12. What is a 'rhetorical question' in speaking or writing? → A question asked for effect that does not require an answer
13. Which of the following is the correct spelling? → privilege
14. What is the difference between 'affect' and 'effect'? → 'Affect' is usually a verb; 'effect' is usually a noun
15. Which word best describes something that is 'ambiguous'? → Open to more than one interpretation
16. Which sentence correctly uses a dash (—)? → She had one true passion—writing.
17. Which word is spelled correctly? → achieve
18. I've been suffering from several headaches ___. → lately
19. What does 'tedious' mean? → Long, slow, and boring
20. When should you use an apostrophe in a word? → To show possession or indicate a contraction
21. What is a 'conclusion' in a reading passage? → The final section that wraps up the text's ideas
22. When a question asks for the 'theme' of a story, what should you identify? → The central message or lesson about life
23. What punctuation introduces a parenthetical or non-essential phrase within a sentence? → Commas or parentheses
24. What does 'point of view' mean in a narrative text? → The perspective from which the story is told
25. What does 'scanning' a text mean? → Looking quickly for specific information
26. Which of the following is the correct spelling? → necessary
27. When is it correct to use 'its' vs. 'it's'? → 'It's' is a contraction of 'it is'; 'its' shows possession
28. What type of essay presents both sides of an issue and then takes a position? → Argumentative essay
29. What is 'tone' in a piece of writing? → The author's attitude toward the subject
30. What is 'diction' in writing? → The choice and use of words