Welcome to the Purdue OWL

ESL Instructors and Students

For access to all OWL resources, click here. Please click on the links below to access resources for ESL instructors and students:

Grammar and Mechanics

Adjective or Adverb - This worksheet discusses the differences between adjectives and adverbs. It defines adjectives and adverbs, shows what each can do, and offers several examples of each in use.

How to Use Adjectives and Adverbs - This resource provides basic guidelines of adjective and adverb use.

How to Use Articles (a/an/the) - This handout discusses the differences between indefinite articles (a/an) and definite articles (the).

Irregular Verbs - This handout contains a list and discussion of common irregular verbs.

Numbers - This section discusses numbers, how to write them correctly, and when to use numerical expressions instead.

Prepositions - This section deals with prepositions and their standard uses.

Relative Pronouns - This handout provides detailed rules and examples for the usage of relative pronouns (that, who, whom, whose, which, where, when, and why).

Sentence Punctuation Patterns - This handout describes eight sentence punctuation patterns with examples.

Subject/Verb Agreement - This handout will help you understand the common grammar problem of subject/verb agreement.

Two-Part (Phrasal) Verbs (Idioms) - This resource provides an overview and lists of phrasal/two part verbs.

Verb Tenses - This handout explains and describes the sequence of verb tenses in English.

Verbals: Gerunds, Participles, and Infinitives - This handout provides a detailed overview (including descriptions and examples) of gerunds, participles, and infinitives.

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity

Plagiarism and ESL Writers: An Overview - This resource provides a general look at plagiarism and ESL Writers. It offers a definition of plagiarism and strategies to avoid plagiarism.

Practice and Exercises

ESL Teacher Resources - The professional resources listed here are both theoretical and practical. The list includes links to organizations and journals of interest to language teachers and language policy developers, as well as to a selection of online teaching and reference materials. Each of these links is a portal to an extensive collection of further resources for the professional ESL community.

CWEST ESL Exercises - This resource provides links to all of our CWEST ESL Exercises.

Workplace Writing

Tips and Terms for the International Student's Job Search - If you are an international student looking for a job in the United States, it is important to understand what specific job search terms mean in the United States as opposed to in your home country in order to be able to meet a prospective employer’s expectations. Listed below are some key terms that you will frequently hear while conducting a job search as well as important tips for creating a resume in the United States.

Writing for a North American Business Audience - This handout provides examples and information (written for non-North Americans) on how to write for a business audience. It includes information on getting to the point, keeping it simple, active and passive voice, nondiscriminatory language, and verb overgeneralizing.

Writing for a Chinese Business Audience - This handout provides examples and information on writing in English for both domestic and international audiences doing business in China. It includes information on letters and memos, as well as important stylistic considerations.

Writing for an Indian Business Audience - This handout provides examples and information on writing for both domestic and international audiences doing business in India. It includes information on letters and memos, as well as important stylistic considerations. The handout concludes with comments on some important characteristics of English writing in India, and on the status of English in business writing compared with native Indian languages, such as Hindi and Bengali.

Writing and Research Help by Email - Still have questions about your writing? Send a short, specific question to our OWL Mail tutors.