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Step 1: find your level (free)
Take our free English level test. It takes about 10 minutes and gives you a level from A1 to C2. The books below use the same levels. Then try our free grammar lessons for your level. If you'd like more exercises, or you prefer paper, choose one book below.
Beginner to pre-intermediate (A1–B1): Essential Grammar in Use
Who it suits: adults who are starting out, or who can get by but make basic mistakes with tenses, questions and word order.
What's inside: Raymond Murphy's elementary grammar book, now in its 4th edition. Each unit is two pages: a clear explanation with examples on the left, and exercises on the right. The "with answers" edition has a full answer key.
How to use it: one unit a day, about 20 minutes. When a unit feels easy, try the same topic in our free grammar lessons to check.
Get Essential Grammar in Use (paid link).
Intermediate (B1–B2): English Grammar in Use
Who it suits: intermediate learners, including most people preparing for IELTS band 6–7 or PTE.
What's inside: the same two-page format, for intermediate grammar: all the tenses, the passive, conditionals, articles, prepositions and more. The current one is the 5th edition.
How to use it: don't start on page one. Look at the mistakes you make most often in writing, and do those units first.
Get English Grammar in Use (paid link).
Advanced (C1–C2): Advanced Grammar in Use
Who it suits: upper-intermediate and advanced learners who want accurate, natural grammar for university, professional writing, IELTS band 8 or C1 Advanced.
What's inside: Martin Hewings's advanced book, now in its 4th edition, with the same two-page units for more complex grammar.
How to use it: use it for accuracy in writing. Pick a unit, then use that structure three times in your next piece of writing.
Get Advanced Grammar in Use (paid link).
A learner's dictionary (all levels from intermediate)
A learner's dictionary explains words in simple English, shows example sentences, and tells you which grammar goes with each word (for example, interested in, not interested on). That makes it a grammar tool as well.
Our pick: the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Oxford also has a free learner's dictionary website, so try that first. Buy the book if you like reading on paper.
Get the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary (paid link).
For complete beginners: Oxford Picture Dictionary
Who it suits: adults at the very beginning, or learners who find a text-only dictionary hard.
What's inside: everyday words shown in pictures, topic by topic (home, food, work, health, transport). The 3rd edition uses American English, so a few words differ in Australia: an apartment is often a unit or flat, and a zip code is a postcode.
Get Oxford Picture Dictionary (paid link).
One book is enough
Choose the one book for your level and use it regularly. Ten minutes a day helps more than a pile of books you never open.
Frequently asked questions
Which grammar book is best for adults?
The Grammar in Use series from Cambridge is written for self-study, with clear explanations, exercises and answers. Pick the book for your level: Essential (A1–B1), English (B1–B2) or Advanced (C1–C2).
How do I know my level?
Take our free English level test. It takes about 10 minutes and gives you a level from A1 to C2, which matches the levels on the books.
Should I buy the edition with answers?
Yes, if you are studying on your own. The answers let you check every exercise straight away.
Do I need a grammar book at all?
No. Our free grammar lessons cover the main points. A book is useful if you like studying on paper or want more exercises.
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