Ready to try EngBlocks?
"New exercises and topics added regularly across every major grammar point — and the online exercises are self-grading, so students can work independently."
Best for
ESL teachers who want a steady stream of fresh, ready-to-use grammar exercises and discussion topics, with no account setup for students.
Pricing
Free
Pro tip — heads up before you bookmark it
A note on the paid Worksheets book
The 1,052-page Grammar Worksheets book is a paid PDF — currently listed at $7.99 as a sale price from $29.99. The online exercises, speaking activities, and discussion topics on the site are free. Confirm the current price on the EngBlocks site before recommending to colleagues.
What is EngBlocks?
EngBlocks is a free ESL resource site that publishes grammar exercises, worksheets, speaking activities, discussion topics, and tests. The site is organised around a simple principle: lots of fresh content, organised by grammar point, with no login wall.
The site is structured around five main sections:
- Exercises — self-grading online grammar practice organised by topic (Present Simple, conditionals, inversion, articles, conjunctions, modal verbs, gerunds vs. infinitives, and dozens more).
- Worksheets — printable PDFs that complement the online exercises.
- Tests — short grammar tests by topic.
- Speaking Activities — discussion-based tasks (Second Conditional, superlatives, "tell me about a time you…", "ed/ing" adjectives, and many more).
- Discussion Topics — themed discussion prompts (life changes, winter, Christmas, happiness, sustainable living, studying, etc.).
The site is also the home of a paid 1,052-page Grammar Worksheets book, currently discounted to $7.99 (regular price $29.99) — a substantial printable library for teachers who prefer paper.
How teachers use it
EngBlocks works well for these specific situations:
- Quick independent practice in class. The online exercises are self-grading, so you can drop a link in your LMS and have students work through it while you run small-group work.
- Homework for absent students. No login, no setup — send a link and a student can do the same exercise from home.
- Topic-based revision. If you're about to teach conditionals or articles, there's a dedicated section with multiple exercise sets per grammar point.
- Conversation classes. The Discussion Topics and Speaking Activities are ready to drop into a 45-minute conversation lesson — questions, prompts, and follow-ups are all written out.
- Printable fallback. The paid Grammar Worksheets book gives you 1,000+ printable pages for classrooms where the internet is unreliable.
Is it worth your time?
Yes — particularly for teachers who want a steady stream of fresh online grammar exercises without paying or setting up accounts. EngBlocks' main strength is volume and consistency: new exercises, speaking activities, and discussion topics are published regularly, organised by grammar point, and immediately usable.
The site is less strong on listening practice, video content, and structured curriculum — it's a practice library, not a teaching programme. The paid Worksheets book is good value if you want a printable fallback, but the free online exercises are the main draw.
Honest recommendation: use EngBlocks as a go-to source for online grammar practice and discussion prompts. Pair it with a structured lesson-plan site (ESL Brains, Teach-This) if you need full lesson sequences.
The honest pros and cons
What works
- Free, no signup All online exercises are open access. Students don't need an account.
- Self-grading exercises Instant feedback. Students work independently.
- New content regularly Fresh exercises and discussion topics added on a steady cadence.
- Wide grammar coverage Dozens of grammar topics, each with multiple exercise sets.
- Discussion + speaking included Conversation prompts and themed discussion topics alongside grammar.
- Printable option Paid 1,052-page Worksheets book for classrooms needing paper.
What doesn't
- No CEFR level tags Organisation is by grammar topic, not by CEFR — you have to judge fit.
- Limited listening practice Grammar and reading-focused. No audio component.
- Less pedagogical structure It's a practice library, not a sequenced curriculum.
- Fewer printables than competitors The big printable library is paid; free site is mostly online.
- Minimal teacher guidance No lesson plans or suggested sequences. Just exercises and topics.
- Book sale pricing The $7.99 price is a sale from $29.99 — pricing may change.
Best alternatives
If EngBlocks isn't a fit, these are the resources teachers actually switch to:
ESL Brains
Lesson plans built around TED talks and authentic videos. Adult and teen learners.
Teach-This.com
3,000+ printable ESL worksheets, CEFR-aligned, updated monthly.
Crystal Clear ESL
Ready-to-teach, CEFR-tagged lesson plans for adults. Lifetime access option.
A4ESL.org
Free grammar quizzes, vocabulary exercises, crosswords, and bilingual activities.
ESL Discussions
Hundreds of discussion questions on diverse topics, organised by difficulty.
Frequently asked questions
What is EngBlocks?
Is EngBlocks free to use?
Do students need to create an account?
What levels does EngBlocks cover?
Are the exercises self-grading?
Can I use EngBlocks for printable homework?
What's the best alternative to EngBlocks?
Want a steady stream of free grammar exercises and discussion topics?
EngBlocks publishes new self-grading exercises and conversation prompts on a regular cadence. No account needed — bookmark it and pull from it when you need fresh practice.
Visit EngBlocks