GrammarBank Review: Free Printable ESL Worksheets & Video Lessons
GrammarBank is a free ESL practice site with thousands of worksheets, drag-and-drop exercises, video lessons, and printable PDFs. Here's what teachers actually get, what works in class, and what to pair it with.Ready to try GrammarBank?
"Drag-and-drop grammar exercises with instant feedback — rare to find free for ESL."
Best for
ESL teachers who want free, printable, level-tagged worksheets for warm-ups, homework, or exam prep.
Pricing
Free
Pro tip — heads up before you bookmark it
A note on the design
GrammarBank has been online since 2011 and the layout reflects that. It's not mobile-optimised and display ads are present — but the printable PDFs and verb tenses chart remain genuinely useful.
What is GrammarBank?
GrammarBank.com is a free ESL/EFL practice site that has been online since 2011. It collects grammar lessons, exercises, reading tests, writing help, and printable PDFs in one place.
The site is organised into a handful of clear sections:
- Grammar lessons — verb tenses chart, basic rules, advanced lessons
- Grammar exercises — beginners through advanced, multiple choice and fill-in
- Reading & writing — short dialogues, reading tests, cloze paragraphs, essay writing tips
- Drag & Drop — interactive exercises with instant feedback
- Vocabulary — picture vocabulary, word games, GRE/SAT/TOEFL prep
- English for kids — picture vocabulary, word games, kids worksheets
Teachers are explicitly allowed to print, copy, and use the material in class or as homework. Many pages have a clean print stylesheet so PDFs come out ready to hand out.
How teachers use it
GrammarBank works best for these specific things:
- 5-minute warm-ups: a quick multiple-choice or drag-and-drop exercise while attendance is taken.
- Printable homework: every exercise has a printable PDF. Students without reliable internet can still work offline.
- Verb tenses review: the verb tenses chart is one of the clearest free reference sheets online — useful for A2/B1 learners.
- Exam prep: dedicated GRE, SAT, and TOEFL reading/writing sections save time when you need authentic-style passages.
- Substitute teacher plans: bookmark a level, print 4-5 worksheets, leave them with a sub. Self-contained.
Is it worth your time?
Yes — with the same caveats as most long-running free ESL sites. GrammarBank has stayed online for 15+ years because it covers the basics thoroughly and doesn't try to be everything. If you need free printable worksheets plus drag-and-drop interactivity, it's a solid bookmark.
The verb tenses chart and the kids' picture-vocabulary section are the two standout free resources. For more polished, mobile-first content pair it with British Council Learn English; for more structure and lesson plans, look at Teach-This or ESL Brains.
Honest recommendation: treat GrammarBank as a primary free source for printable worksheets and drag-and-drop exercises. Don't expect modern UX or progress tracking — those are the trade-offs of a free resource that's been quietly useful since 2011.
The honest pros and cons
What works
- Truly free core content Worksheets, exercises, video lessons, drag-and-drop — all free.
- Printable PDFs Every exercise has a print-ready PDF. Clean formatting.
- Verb tenses chart One of the clearest free reference sheets online.
- Drag-and-drop exercises Instant feedback without signup.
- Exam prep sections GRE, SAT, TOEFL, IELTS-style passages.
- Teacher-friendly licence Explicitly allowed for classroom and homework use.
What doesn't
- Dated web design Layout looks mid-2010s. Not mobile-optimised.
- No progress tracking Student scores aren't saved anywhere.
- Ads on the page Display ads present — some adjacent to content.
- Limited speaking practice Mostly reading/writing/grammar; no audio-heavy drills.
- Some exercises feel repetitive Multiple choice formats dominate; variety is limited.
- No CEFR tags Levels are described in words (beginner/advanced) not CEFR letters.
Best alternatives
If GrammarBank isn't a fit, these are the resources teachers actually switch to:
AgendaWeb
Hundreds of free printable ESL worksheets and grammar guides, similar to GrammarBank's style.
British Council Learn English
Free, polished activities with stronger listening and grammar drills.
ESL Brains
Lesson plans built around TED talks and authentic videos — for teachers who want ready-made classes.
Teach-This.com
3,000+ printable ESL worksheets, CEFR-aligned, updated monthly.
Crystal Clear ESL
Structured lesson curriculum with daily plans and printable handouts.
Frequently asked questions
What is GrammarBank.com?
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Ready to fill your worksheet folder with free printables?
GrammarBank is free, no signup, printable PDFs ready for class. Bookmark it alongside one paid resource for variety.
Visit GrammarBank.com