15 Free ESL Exercises for English Language Learners

15 Epic ESL Exercises for English Education

These ESL exercises are a controlled way to practice a particular language aspect.

For example, we focus on the parts of speech that include nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs, prepositions, and more.

Because when students learn from guided ESL exercises, it can truly resonate in memory with a sense of precision and accomplishment.

Ready to get started? And don’t forget that all our worksheets are 100% free to use in your classroom today.

1. Countable Nouns vs Uncountable Nouns

In this plural nouns worksheet, we test students knowledge on plural nouns. In addition, we assess their knowledge on countable nouns and uncountable nouns.

A plural noun suggests more than one person, place, or thing. Plural nouns can be countable or uncountable.

For example, we can specify a count for countable nouns such as 5 carrots. But for uncountable nouns, we can’t assign a number like rice.

2. Daily Routines – Present Verb Tense

What are your daily and weekly routines? Are the activities in the Daily Routines Worksheet part of your routine? In the Daily Routines Worksheet, students explore the present verb tense by thinking of what they do every day or week.

First, put students in pairs. Next, they review each of the daily routine examples in the worksheet. Using the present verb tense, they ask each other what their daily routines are?

For example, do they wash their hands every day? Can they think of other daily routines they have? How about weekly or monthly routines?

3. Prepositions of Location

Prepositions of location describe the location of an object. For example, is the object under, on top, next to, behind or in front?

In this preposition practice worksheet, students practice prepositions by writing down the location of the ball in each scene.

Where is the apple in relation to the box(es)?

4. Adverbs of Frequency

Adverbs of frequency express “how often” something takes place. In other words, it explains the occurrence that an event happens.

In this adverb activity, you have to fill in the adverb of frequency that is true to yourself. For example, I always eat breakfast before I go to class. The most common adverbs of frequency are never, hardly ever, rarely, seldom, occasionally, sometimes, often, frequently, usually, and always. They are usually in this form for sentences: Subject + Adverb + Verb.

5. Emotions Vocabulary: Personality Adjectives

Our emotions always change in life. They’re different day to day. So that’s why we have to have a good bank of emotions vocabulary.

In pairs, place a pin in the center of the chart and spin it. The pin will point to a specific emotion. Have you ever felt that emotion? When would you feel this emotion in your life? Discuss with your partner.

Of all worksheets, this is the most in-depth vocabulary for emotions. Because students always need help explaining how they feel, their emotions vocabulary should significantly increase with this activity.

6. Singular and Plural Nouns

In this singular and plural nouns worksheet, students have to make the plural form from singular nouns.

Instead of our more challenging irregular nouns worksheet, these are regular plural nouns where they end with “-s” or “-es”.

For example, the plural of “balloon” is “balloons”. When there’s more than one, in this case, they add -s. Simple as that.

7. Irregular Past Tense Verbs

This worksheet tests students knowledge for writing the irregular past tense for 10 verbs. In addition, it has basic matching with each irregular verb.

First, students have to complete the sentence by conjugating the verb in the Irregular Past Tense Verbs Worksheet. At the end of each sentence, it has the verb they have to use.

After completing this, they have to match each sentence with the image below. Simply, they have to write the number in the box. Finally, can they think of any other irregular verbs? In pairs, they can write a list of other irregular past tense verbs on a separate piece of paper.

8. Opposite Adjectives: Find the 2 Opposites

Opposite words contrast each other. In other words, they are antonyms of each other. For example, black and white are complete opposites because they are the opposite ends of the spectrum for colors.

In this opposite for kids worksheet, students have to find the 2 opposites in each group of 3. After they find the opposites, they have to circle them.

From start to finish, they have to find the opposites. When they have completes the opposite adjectives worksheet, instructors will have to verify they are correct.

9. Comparative Adjectives Worksheet

In this comparative adjectives worksheet, students write sentences for each image. In addition, they have to use the words in each image to create sentences.

Comparative adjectives contrast differences (bigger, faster, higher, etc) between two or several people, places, or things. For example, it usually follows this pattern of the sentence:

Noun (subject) + verb + comparative adjective + than + noun (object)

10. Compound Words: The Matching Game

In this compound words matching exercise, students have to match two words and form compound words. There are 10 compound words with only one answer.

First, connect the dots in each column. Next, think of additional compound words on an additional piece of paper. Finally, review them as a class.

If you want to teach compound words to kids, then this is a great introductory lesson. Along with 3 compound word worksheets and activities, this will put students on a solid footing of forming their own.

11. Minimal Pairs: Pronunciation Pyramid

Minimal Pairs are words that sound similar but one phonological element is different in the two words. For example, glamour and grammar sound extremely similar. But they are different with the /r/ and /l/ sounds.

In the pronunciation game, students have to keep a keen ear in what they hear. For example, we use minimal pairs which are similar sounding words with one different phonological element.

First, they start at the top of the pyramid. Next, the teacher says the word, and students have to circle it. Meanwhile, this process continues until everyone reaches the bottom. Finally, there’s only one spot where everyone should finish.

As the teacher, you have to keep track of where the final landing spot should be. Check your students understanding. Finally, review the minimal pairs by practicing each sound as a classroom.

12. Picture Rhymes Worksheet

If you’re practicing to listen and speak in English, then we all know how important vocabulary and pronunciation can be.

Whether you focus on syllable segmentation or mouth anatomy, this list of rhyming worksheets can help put the concepts into practice.

For most, this is one of the best rhyming worksheets. Not only does it helps students practice pronunciation, but they also learn to rhyme. For the picture rhymes worksheet, each picture is a rhyme. What is it?

13. Compound Nouns in Pictures

When you put two words together to form another word, you create compound words. In this compound words activity, it’s visual and gets students thinking of how to form compound words.

First, students examine each picture. After they figure out the compound word in the picture, they write it in the box below. After students finish all the compound words, they draw a compound word in the empty box. Finally, their friends guess what it is until they are correct.

A two-word combo in one is a compound word. Overall, they are a lot of fun to learn about the origin of the word. Below the compound words in words worksheet, we have provided answers to each question.

14. Common and Proper Nouns Worksheet

In this common and proper nouns worksheet, students have to brainstorm types of proper nouns. Answers should vary among students.

For example, if the common noun is a mountain, they have to think of a proper noun like Mount Everest. Notice how the proper noun is capitalized but the common noun isn’t.

This is because common nouns are just general names. But proper names are specific and require the first letter to be capitalized.

15. Irregular Plural Nouns Worksheet

For regular plural nouns, you can simply take the noun and add -s or -es to make it plural. But for irregular plural nouns, you will have to change the vowel, word, or add a different ending than -s or -es.

For example, “men” is an irregular plural noun for “man”. Because we change the vowel from “a” to “e”, this makes it irregular.

In this irregular plural nouns worksheet, students have to convert each singular noun to plural irregular nouns. Ranging from easy to difficult, feel free to use it in your classroom for free.

It’s Time to Shine

These ESL exercises have structure and teach a particular aspect of language learning.

Because when you guide students with these ESL exercises, all the pieces of the teaching puzzle start fitting together.

And students go from just good towards greatness.

Which ESL activities do you like most in this list. Please let me know with a comment below.