

Learning English Grammar
BBC Radio
Learn English grammar with these short programmes. Each episode explores a new piece of grammar you need to improve your English. Find more at bbclearningenglish.comFollow us at
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Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 16, 2025 • 8min
Holiday habits
Pippa and Phil dive into the world of holiday planning, exploring whether you're a detailed planner or a spontaneous traveler. They cover the nuances of using 'tend to,' 'will,' and 'might' in everyday conversation. Georgie breaks down the grammar behind these phrases, explaining how they relate to habitual behaviors and possibilities. Listeners engage with a fun game to practice these concepts. Discover how your travel habits reflect who you are and enrich your understanding of English grammar!

5 snips
Dec 9, 2025 • 7min
Gossip
Gossiping is both fun and complex! The hosts delve into office gossip and the art of speculation. Learn about using 'may' and 'might' to express uncertainty in different contexts, including past events. The distinction between reported speech and direct quotes is essential in conveying the right message. Plus, there's a playful game to practice these grammar points in everyday scenarios. Tune in for juicy stories and grammatical insights that make gossip even more intriguing!

Dec 2, 2025 • 9min
Learning to cook
Ever wondered what culinary skills you had before actually learning to cook? Hosts dive into their personal cooking memories and share amusing anecdotes. They explore the past perfect tense, showing how it relates to past cooking experiences. Our grammar expert clarifies how to use adverbs like 'previously' and 'properly' with the past perfect. The conversation wraps up with a fun practice session correcting sentences, making grammar engaging and tasty!

Nov 25, 2025 • 8min
Secrets and surprises
Uncover the language of curiosity as the hosts dive into personal surprises, from a friend's unexpected chicken order to a doppelgänger sighting in Barcelona. Listen in as Pippa shares her boyfriend's odd behavior that leads to a romantic proposal, while Phil recounts a surprise birthday revelation involving sneaky phone searches. The grammar guru Georgie clarifies how to use sense verbs effectively, with practical examples and a fun game to practice noticing unusual behaviors. It's a delightful blend of stories and grammar tips!

Nov 18, 2025 • 8min
Life advice
Discover the art of giving advice through engaging examples! The hosts share their best life tips while exploring the grammar of 'try.' Learn when to use 'try to' versus 'try + -ing,' with insights from various guests. Hear a memorable story about waiting for the next train that highlights the value of patience. A fun practice game helps reinforce the grammar in practical scenarios. Wrap up with a recap of the key rules for using 'try' effectively!

Nov 11, 2025 • 8min
Emotions
The hosts dive into the intricacies of emotions and the grammar to express them. They share personal anecdotes about laughter and tears, including a hilarious story about anger interrupted by dog poo. Everyday frustrations, like feet on seats in public transport, spark discussions on common triggers. Grammar guru Georgie breaks down phrases like 'make someone do something,' 'on the verge of,' and 'about to,' ensuring listeners grasp their usage through engaging quizzes and shared stories.

6 snips
Nov 5, 2025 • 8min
Asking strangers
Discover the art of asking questions politely, with tips on phrasing like 'I was wondering' and 'excuse me, could you tell me?'. Explore how to navigate tricky situations, such as asking strangers for help when lost. Learn the subtle differences between 'if' and 'whether', and grasp the structure of indirect questions. Engage in a fun game that transforms direct requests into polite inquiries. This enlightening discussion equips you with the grammar skills to communicate respectfully in any situation!

Oct 28, 2025 • 8min
Describing a job
What's the most interesting job you've ever had? What did you have to do? Neil and Beth talk about the most interesting jobs they've had while grammar guru Georgie explains how to use whose to make relative clauses.TRANSCRIPT AND WORKSHEET Find a full transcript for this episode and a worksheet ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/learning-english-grammar/251028 THE READING ROOM: Practise your reading skills here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/the_reading_room FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE:
Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including:
✔️ 6 Minute English
✔️ 6 Minute Vocabulary
✔️ The English We Speak They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

Oct 21, 2025 • 8min
Choosing a home
Do you want a house that's a bit, sort of or a lot bigger? Neil and Pippa talk about why they chose to live where they do, while grammar guru Georgie explains how to use 'a bit', 'sort of' and 'a lot' with comparisons, as well as how to compare something to a clause. TRANSCRIPT AND WORKSHEET Find a full transcript for this episode and a worksheet ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/learning-english-grammar/251021THE READING ROOM:
Practise your reading skills here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/features/the_reading_roomFIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE:
Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followusLIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including:
✔️ 6 Minute English
✔️ 6 Minute Vocabulary
✔️ The English We SpeakThey're all available by searching in your podcast app.

Oct 14, 2025 • 9min
Things you have to do
Beth, a participant who shares her experiences with social obligations, joins Neil to discuss the challenges of fulfilling duties we often dread. They delve into the nuances of expressions like 'have to,' 'be meant to,' and 'be supposed to.' Personal stories about avoiding parties and the awkwardness of small talk highlight these grammar points. The conversation also touches on feelings of guilt when opting out and explores hypothetical scenarios using the second conditional to express emotional outcomes.


