Guides
Grammar guides
Guides to the grammar learners ask about most. Each answers the question first, shows the rule in word-by-word breakdowns of real sentences, and ends with exercises you can check.
German
German in Epsylo- German grammar
German word order, explained
German word order explained: the verb second in main clauses, first in questions, last after weil and dass, plus the sentence bracket and TeKaMoLo.
- German grammar
The German cases, explained
The four German cases explained: nominative, accusative, dative and genitive, the article table, two-way prepositions and dative verbs, with examples.
- German grammar
German separable verbs, explained
German separable verbs explained: where the prefix goes, when it stays attached, ge in the participle, and which prefixes never separate.
- German grammar
German adjective endings, explained
German adjective endings explained: why der neue but ein neuer, the weak, mixed and strong tables, the -en shortcut, and no ending after sein.
- German grammar
Wenn vs als vs wann, explained
Wenn vs als vs wann in German: als for one past occasion or period, wenn for whenever, the present, future and if, wann for questions.
Japanese
Japanese in Epsylo- Japanese grammar
Japanese particles, explained
Japanese particles explained: は (wa) vs が (ga), に (ni) vs で (de), を, の and も, with word-by-word breakdowns, common mistakes and exercises.
- Japanese grammar
Japanese keigo levels, explained
Japanese keigo explained: polite teineigo, respectful sonkeigo, humble kenjōgo, the special verbs, inside and outside, and the classic mistakes.
- Japanese grammar
The Japanese te-form, explained
How to make the Japanese te-form for every verb group and adjective, and what it does: linking actions, てください, ている, てもいい and てはいけない.
- Japanese grammar
Japanese transitive and intransitive verbs, explained
Japanese transitive and intransitive verb pairs (自動詞・他動詞): を vs が, the common pairs, how to tell them apart, and ている vs てある.
- Japanese grammar
から vs ので (kara vs node), explained
から vs ので (kara vs node): which Japanese "because" to use, だから and なので after nouns, requests, 〜からです, ますので, mistakes and exercises.
- Japanese grammar
Japanese conditionals: ば, たら, と and なら, explained
Japanese conditionals ば, たら, と and なら: how to form each, what may follow it, a step-by-step way to choose, common mistakes and exercises.
Spanish
Spanish in Epsylo- Spanish grammar
Ser vs estar, explained
Ser vs estar in Spanish: when to use each, the adjectives that change meaning, the rule for events, common mistakes and exercises.
- Spanish grammar
Por vs para, explained
Por vs para in Spanish: when to use each, the forward-and-backward rule and where it fails, fixed phrases, common mistakes and exercises.
- Spanish grammar
Preterite vs imperfect in Spanish, explained
Preterite vs imperfect in Spanish: when to use each past tense, the interrupted-action pattern, signal words, and verbs that change meaning.
- Spanish grammar
The Spanish subjunctive, explained
The Spanish subjunctive explained: when to use it after que, the triggers (wishes, emotion, doubt, cuando), how to form it, mistakes and exercises.
- Spanish grammar
Saber vs conocer, explained
Saber vs conocer in Spanish: facts and skills against people and places, the pairs where both work, supe and conocí, common mistakes and exercises.
Italian
Italian in Epsylo- Italian grammar
Passato prossimo vs imperfetto, explained
Passato prossimo vs imperfetto in Italian: finished events against habits and background, the verbs that change meaning, and the common mistakes.
- Italian grammar
Essere or avere in the passato prossimo, explained
Essere or avere in the passato prossimo: which verbs take which auxiliary, when the past participle agrees, and the verbs that take both. With exercises.
- Italian grammar
Ci and ne in Italian, explained
Ci and ne in Italian: ci for "there" and a + thing, ne for "of it" and quantities, where they go, and ce n’è, me ne vado. With exercises.
- Italian grammar
The Italian subjunctive (congiuntivo), explained
When to use the Italian subjunctive (congiuntivo): opinion vs certainty, the same-subject rule, conjunctions, superlatives and se fossi. With exercises.