Alex Jude —

ESL Specialist & CEO at Online Teachers UK

Alex Jude is the Founder & CEO of Online Teachers UK. He holds a BA hons degree in Linguistics from The University of Manchester and is a life-long English teacher. Following graduation, he spent 2002-2012 living and teaching in Russia, where he lectured in General Linguistics and Translation Studies. Alex is a fluent Russian speaker and worked with the BBC at the World Cup in 2018. In his spare time, he enjoys camping/bushcraft, playing guitar and watching rugby league.

Posts by Alex Jude —

Present Simple Tense: How To Use It Correctly (With Examples)

The present simple tense is probably the first tense that you learned when studying English at school. While most learners know that this tense is commonly used for describing actions that happen in the present moment, it also has many other usages! In this post, we will explore the correct uses of the present simple tense and explain how you can avoid common mistakes with it. Check out the interactive quiz at the end to test your knowledge!

Difference Between: It’s vs. Its

It’s is a short form (contraction) of ‘it is’ or ‘it has’. The apostrophe replaces the missing letters. E.g. It’s (it is) cold outside. Its is a possessive pronoun (like ours or hers) for nouns without gender. We never use an apostrophe with a possessive pronoun. E.g. The dog is in its bed. Both words sound the same.

Difference Between: There vs. Their vs. They’re

There, their and they’re all sound the same. What’s the difference? There shows location (over there, I’m there for you) or introduces a subject (there are too many cars). Their indicates possession or connection (their house is huge). They’re is the short form of ‘they are’ (they’re always happy).

Difference Between: Effect vs. Affect

Effect is a noun that means ‘result, consequence of change’ – e.g. cause and effect. Affect is a verb that means ‘influence, make a difference to’ – e.g. The accident affected her health. We confuse the spellings of these words because their pronunciation and meanings are very close. Simple rule: Effect (End result) vs. Affect (Action).

How To Use Modal Verbs In English (The Complete Guide)

Modal verbs in English can be confusing! In this guide, we’ll explain what they are, why and how we use them correctly, and give you examples to improve your understanding. Mastering modals like should, would, may and might will help you express yourself clearly in the English. Don’t forget to download the pdf so you can study more at home!

Adverbs of Frequency: Full List with Examples & Exercises

Adverbs of frequency tell us how often we do things or how often things happen. They can either describe definite frequency (daily, every week, annually) or indefinite frequency (always, usually, never). For example: I go swimming every week vs. I never go swimming.

Teaching Kids To Speak English At Home (The Complete Guide)

In this detailed guide, we will share simple strategies and resources to bring more English into your home! This will help your children to speak English daily and make progress with their spoken fluency. We will show you how to build vocabulary, improve pronunciation and help your kids to gain confidence with their English speaking skills. This guide is for parents of children between 5-12 years old and all of the recommended resources are available online (and mostly free of charge).

35 Comparative And Superlative Adjectives | List With Examples + Exercises

Confused by comparative and superlative forms in English? No problem! Check out our list of the 35 most common adjectives with examples to see exactly how these words are used in context. Use the exercises at the end to practise and don’t forget to download your copy of this free study guide!

How To Prepare For IELTS Online: 25 Best Resources

There’s so much written online about the IELTS test that it can be hard to know where to start! In this guide, we will walk you through the best online resources to help you prepare for your IELTS test at home. We have divided this up by section (Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing) and each of these provides links to the best tips, advice, YouTube videos, preparation material and practice tests.

A-Z of English Idioms: 150 Most Common Expressions

What are the most common English idioms used today? This post lists the 150 most popular idiomatic expressions to help you sound more like a native English speaker! Our A-Z of idioms gives you the meaning of each expression, along with example sentences. Don’t forget to download your free pdf copy of this guide and to practise your skills with the exercises at the end!

How To Use: Some Any, Much Many, Little Few

When do you use some and when do you use any? Is it much or many? And what’s the difference between few and little? In this post we will show you how to use these words correctly. We will explain the rules for each pair and give you real example sentences so you can see how to use them in context. Don’t forget to try the practice exercises at the end to test your understanding!

19 English Phrasal Verbs With Get

Phrasal verbs are commonly used by native speakers in everyday conversation so it’s important to learn them if you want to sound more natural in English. In this study guide, we will teach you 19 phrasal verbs with ‘get’. You will learn all of their meanings through clear explanations and example sentences. Don’t forget to test your knowledge with the exercises at the end!

17 English Phrasal Verbs With Call

In this study guide, we will teach you 17 common phrasal verbs with ‘call’. Keep reading to find out their many meanings, explore real native examples of phrasal verbs in context, and try our exercises at the end to test your understanding!

11 English Phrasal Verbs With Break

In this study guide, we will teach you 11 common phrasal verbs with ‘break’. Learn their many meanings, explore real native examples of phrasal verbs in context, and try our exercises at the end to test your understanding. You can even save a pdf copy of this guide to use later. Ready? Let’s look at the list!

16 English Phrasal Verbs With Bring

In this study guide, we will teach you 16 common phrasal verbs with ‘bring’. Learn their many meanings, explore real native examples of phrasal verbs in context, and try our exercises at the end to test your understanding. You can even save a pdf copy of this guide to use later. Ready? Let’s take a look at the list!

16 English Phrasal Verbs With Take

In this study guide, we will teach you 16 common phrasal verbs with ‘take’. Learn their many meanings, explore real native examples of phrasal verbs in context, and try our exercises at the end to test your understanding. You can even save a pdf copy of this guide to use later. Ready? Let’s take a look!

How to learn English at home: 35 tips for faster results

Want to improve your English at home? Making slow progress with your solo studies? In this home study guide, we will share with you 35 effective strategies to help you get faster results by using the best ESL resources and websites. Ready? Let’s take a look!

Make vs. Do: Learn The Difference With 140+ Expressions And Examples

Confused about how to use the words ‘make’ and ‘do’ in English? No problem! In this study guide, we will show you 140+ expressions and examples to demonstrate the practical differences between make vs. do. Ready? Let’s jump in!