Here is a famous joke that depicts the humour in language usage. When former Japanese Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori was supposed to meet President Barack Obama, he was given a few introductory English lessons to greet the American president before his Japanese translators would take on. But when Mori met Obama instead of “How are you”, he said, “Who are you”. A shocked Obama answered in good humour “I am Michelle’s husband, ha ha ha”. Like Amitabh Bachchan famously said in the movie Namak Halal, “English is a funny language”. It will do you good if you know how to use it properly. Gain a few insights into English grammar and ways to improve your testability in the language on www.esl-lounge.com/student/guide.php.

The website has a grammar guide and offers exercises in listening, reading, vocabulary and phrasal verbs. Before you start exploring the site attempt the level test that will tell you your current level of English. Start grammar lessons from that level. The four levels are elementary, pre-intermediate, intermediate and advanced.

Beginners can start at the elementary level that informs readers about the basics of English grammar. This section explains several introductory grammar fundamentals, including adjectives, pronouns, present simple structure, adverbs, present continuous structures, comparatives, superlatives and prepositions of time. There are examples in each sub-section to make it easier for students to comprehend these concepts.

The pre-intermediate section has similar explanations with examples on articles, past continuous structure, past continuous use, quantifiers, compound nouns, introduction to phrasal verbs, how to use should, may, might, for, since and ago. In the intermediate section, learn about present perfect continuous structure, present perfect continuous use, passive overview, past perfect use, relative clauses, subject and object questions among several other grammar terms. The advanced section has mixed conditional, reported speech, gerund or infinitive, the comparatives, relative clauses, difference between British and American English.

The Esl lounge student website also has a complete page on phrasal verbs. These verbs are frequently used in spoken and written English. However, phrasal verb usage is confusing and is used incorrectly on several occasions. The site has definitions and examples of hundreds of phrasal verbs categorised alphabetically.

After exploring your grammar quotient, get cracking on some online exercises. The tests are available for all four levels. While attempting an exercise you will find related grammar guide links. For instance, when you try a test on indefinite articles a small box on top will link you to the grammar guide on articles. At the end of each test you will be graded according to your performance.

There are grammar exercises to improve vocabulary, listening and reading skills. Each exercise has a code to help you understand the number and type of test you are attempting. For example, 1V4 means you are attempting a vocabulary exercise number four at the elementary level, 1 stands for elementary, V for vocabulary and 4 is the number of exercise you have tried till now. The site also offers a mix of fun and learning on its games page. There are word search puzzles, crosswords, hangman games and storyboard reconstruction games. All the games are categorised according to different levels of difficulty.

Esl lounge has a clean and fuss-free design with few sections making it an easily navigable site. However, the portal could do with some images and graphics to aid the grammar explanations that are sometimes too crisp to comprehend. Nevertheless, the website has several positive points to boost a satisfactory English learning experience. For you would find definitions of several grammar concepts at one place. Additionally, you get to hone your skills through various exercises. The grades in turn will tell you where you stand and how much you need to improve.

The categorisation of the exercises according to difficulty levels also makes it easier for learners to know their progress over time as they move from one level to the other. Most of all it is a perfect site to refer to if you are preparing for competitive exams that attempts to test your knowledge of English.