How to learn English: questions and answers

Question 1

How do I learn English from zero as an Azerbaijani speaker?

Accepted Answer

Start with the alphabet and sounds, a few hundred of the most common words and simple patterns like I am, I have and I like. Study a little every day, 20–30 minutes of new material plus listening and repeating aloud, and follow an A1–A2 coursebook or course so topics build in order instead of jumping between random videos. Expect a few hurdles specific to Azerbaijani speakers: English has articles (a, the), puts the verb before the object (I read books, not I books read) and has sounds like th and w that Azerbaijani lacks. Start speaking and writing short sentences in your first month.

Question 2

Can I learn English with AI?

Accepted Answer

Yes, AI makes a good study partner: it explains a rule in your own language, writes example sentences, points out mistakes in your text and produces as many practice questions as you want. It can't do the whole job, though: you still need real listening, conversations with people and regular review, and it's worth checking an AI explanation against a dictionary or coursebook now and then. In OrujovAI's chat you can ask grammar questions, have your writing checked and request exercises at your level.

Question 3

Which AI is good for learning English?

Accepted Answer

Look for one that explains clearly in your language, tells you why something is wrong when it corrects you, and can talk at your level. Test it before you commit: ask it to explain the Present Perfect in Azerbaijani or Russian, give you five exercises and check your answers, then compare with a coursebook. Voice conversation matters for speaking practice, and explained corrections matter for writing. OrujovAI works in Azerbaijani, Russian and English, and you can start on the Free plan.

Question 4

How do I check my English level?

Accepted Answer

The quickest way is a free online test such as Cambridge English's “Test your English” or the EF SET, which place you on the CEFR scale (A1–C2). These mostly test grammar, vocabulary, reading and listening and don't assess speaking or writing, so treat the result as an estimate. For an exact, official result, take an international exam such as IELTS, TOEFL or a Cambridge English exam.

Question 5

What do the levels A1, B1 and C1 mean?

Accepted Answer

They're levels of the CEFR, the Council of Europe's framework: A1 and A2 are basic, B1 and B2 are independent, and C1 and C2 are proficient. At A1 you can introduce yourself with simple phrases, at B1 you can handle familiar topics and everyday situations while travelling, and at C1 you understand demanding texts and express yourself fluently and precisely at work or university. Universities and employers often ask for B2 or C1.

Question 6

How do I learn English tenses?

Accepted Answer

Learn them in stages rather than all at once: first the Present Simple, Present Continuous, Past Simple, will and be going to, then the Present Perfect, and only then the other Perfect and Perfect Continuous forms. For each tense, know how it's formed, when it's used and which time words often go with it (always, now, yesterday, since). Write sentences about your own life and do exercises that contrast two similar tenses, because that's where most mistakes happen.

Question 7

What does the English tense table look like?

Accepted Answer

The school table has 12 forms: three times (present, past, future) across four aspects (Simple, Continuous, Perfect, Perfect Continuous). With the verb write: I write, I am writing, I have written, I have been writing; I wrote, I was writing, I had written, I had been writing; I will write, I will be writing, I will have written, I will have been writing. Everyday English relies mostly on the Simple and Continuous forms and the Present Perfect, so make those automatic before memorising the rest.

Question 8

When do I use the Present Simple?

Accepted Answer

Use it for habits, routines, general facts and timetables: I get up at seven, Water boils at 100 degrees, The train leaves at six. With he, she and it the verb takes -s or -es: she works, he goes. Questions and negatives use do or does, and then the main verb loses its -s: She doesn't work, Does he play?

Question 9

What is the difference between Present Continuous and Present Simple?

Accepted Answer

The Present Continuous describes something happening now or temporarily around now, while the Present Simple describes habits and permanent situations. Compare I'm reading a book now with I read every evening, and She's living in Baku this year with She lives in Baku. State verbs like know, like, want and believe usually don't take the continuous: you say I know, not I'm knowing.

Question 10

When do I use the Present Perfect?

Accepted Answer

Use the Present Perfect (have or has plus the past participle) for a past action whose result matters now: I've lost my keys means I don't have them now. It's also used for life experience (Have you ever been to London?), situations continuing up to now (I've lived here for five years, since 2020) and recent actions with just, already and yet. With a finished time like yesterday, last year or in 2019, use the Past Simple instead.

Question 11

How is the Past Simple formed?

Accepted Answer

Regular verbs add -ed, so work becomes worked and play becomes played, with spelling changes like study, studied and stop, stopped. Irregular verbs have their own past forms that you memorise: go, went; see, saw; buy, bought. Questions and negatives use did with the base form: I didn't go, Did you see it?, never Did you went.

Question 12

When do I need the Past Perfect?

Accepted Answer

Use the Past Perfect (had plus the past participle) to show that one past event happened before another: When I arrived, the film had already started. It also appears in reported speech (She said she had finished) and in third conditionals (If I had known…). If you're simply telling events in order, you don't need it: I finished my homework and went out.

Question 13

What is the difference between Future Simple and “be going to”?

Accepted Answer

Use will for decisions made while speaking, promises, offers and predictions based on opinion: I'll help you, I think it will rain. Use be going to for plans you've already made and predictions based on what you can see now: I'm going to study medicine, Look at those clouds, it's going to rain. For fixed arrangements, English often uses the Present Continuous: I'm meeting Aysel tomorrow.

Question 14

How do I memorize irregular verbs?

Accepted Answer

Learn them in groups that share a pattern rather than alphabetically: verbs that never change (cut, cut, cut), the -ought group (buy, bought, bought; think, thought, thought) and vowel-change verbs (sing, sang, sung; drink, drank, drunk). Start with the most frequent ones (be, have, do, go, get, make, take, say, see, come), use each in a sentence and quiz yourself with flashcards until all three forms come without thinking. You can ask OrujovAI to turn your verb list into interactive flashcards and a short quiz.

Question 15

How is the Passive Voice formed?

Accepted Answer

Form the passive with be in the right tense plus the past participle: The letter is written, was written, has been written, will be written. It's used when the action matters more than who did it, or when the doer is unknown, and you add the doer with by if needed: The poem was written by Nizami. The tense of the active sentence moves to be, so They are building a school becomes A school is being built.

Question 16

What are the rules of Reported Speech?

Accepted Answer

When the reporting verb is in the past (said, told), the tense usually moves one step back: is becomes was, the Past Simple becomes the Past Perfect, will becomes would and can becomes could, so “I am tired” becomes She said she was tired. Pronouns and words for time and place change too: today becomes that day, tomorrow becomes the next day, here becomes there. Reported questions use statement word order with if or whether (He asked if I was ready), and commands use tell or ask plus to (She told me to sit down).

Question 17

How many types of conditionals are there?

Accepted Answer

Four main types are usually taught: zero for general truths (If you heat ice, it melts), first for real future possibilities (If it rains, I will stay home), second for imaginary present or future situations (If I had money, I would travel) and third for past situations that didn't happen (If I had studied, I would have passed). There are also mixed conditionals, which link a past condition to a present result or the other way round. One rule prevents most mistakes: will and would normally don't go in the if clause.

Question 18

When do I use the articles a, an and the?

Accepted Answer

Use a or an with a singular countable noun when you mention it for the first time or mean any one of its kind; an goes before a vowel sound, so an apple and an hour, but a university. Use the when both speakers know which one you mean, when it was mentioned before, when there's only one (the sun) and with superlatives (the best). Plural and uncountable nouns used in a general sense take no article: I like music, Dogs are friendly. Neither Azerbaijani nor Russian has articles, so this topic needs plenty of practice with examples.

Question 19

What are modal verbs?

Accepted Answer

Modal verbs express ability, permission, obligation, advice or possibility: can, could, may, might, must, should, will, would and shall. They're followed by the base form without to and never take -s: She can swim, You should rest. Watch the pairs that confuse learners: must is the speaker's own obligation and have to is an external one, while mustn't means it's forbidden and don't have to means it isn't necessary.

Question 20

What are phrasal verbs and how do I learn them?

Accepted Answer

A phrasal verb is a verb plus a particle such as up, off, out or on, and its meaning often can't be guessed from the parts: give up (stop trying), look after (take care of), turn down (refuse). Learn them by topic (work, travel, relationships) or around one verb (get up, get on, get over) rather than from long lists, and always inside a real sentence. To practise, rewrite sentences by swapping a formal verb for its phrasal equivalent: postpone becomes put off, tolerate becomes put up with.

Question 21

What is the difference between a gerund and an infinitive?

Accepted Answer

A gerund is the -ing form (swimming) and an infinitive is to plus the verb (to swim), and which one you need usually depends on the verb before it. Enjoy, avoid, finish and mind take a gerund (I enjoy reading), want, decide, hope and plan take an infinitive (I decided to leave), and after a preposition it's always a gerund (interested in learning). With some verbs, such as stop, remember, forget and try, the meaning changes: I stopped smoking means I quit, while I stopped to smoke means I paused in order to smoke.

Question 22

How do I use the prepositions in, on and at correctly?

Accepted Answer

For time, use at for exact times (at 5 o'clock, at night), on for days and dates (on Monday, on 5 May) and in for months, years, seasons and parts of the day (in July, in 2026, in the morning). For place, at marks a point or address (at the bus stop, at school), on a surface (on the table, on the wall) and in an enclosed space or area (in the room, in Baku). There are many exceptions, so learn phrases like on the bus, in the car and at home as fixed chunks.

Question 23

How are comparatives and superlatives formed?

Accepted Answer

One-syllable adjectives add -er and -est (tall, taller, the tallest), and two-syllable adjectives ending in -y change y to i (happy, happier, the happiest). Longer adjectives use more and the most: more interesting, the most interesting. Memorise the irregular ones, such as good, better, the best; bad, worse, the worst; far, further, the furthest, and remember than for comparisons and the for superlatives.

Question 24

What does “used to” mean?

Accepted Answer

Used to describes past habits or states that are no longer true: I used to play football means I played then but don't now. After did, in questions and negatives, it loses the d: Did you use to live here?, I didn't use to like coffee. Don't confuse it with be used to plus -ing, which means being accustomed to something: I'm used to getting up early.

Question 25

When do I use “there is” and “there are”?

Accepted Answer

Use there is and there are to say that something exists or is somewhere, much like var in Azerbaijani or есть in Russian: There is a book on the table, There are two cafes near my house. Use is with singular and uncountable nouns (There is some milk) and are with plurals; in the past they become there was and there were. Questions put the verb first (Is there a bank here?), and negatives add not or no (There aren't any chairs, There is no time).

Question 26

How do I use who, which and that in relative clauses?

Accepted Answer

Use who for people and which for things and animals, while that works for both but only in defining clauses without commas: The girl who (that) won is my sister, The phone which (that) I bought is new. Non-defining clauses, set off by commas, never use that: My brother, who lives in Ganja, is a doctor. You can drop the pronoun when it's the object of the clause (the book I read), and you use whose for possession (the man whose car was stolen).

Question 27

How do I build my English vocabulary?

Accepted Answer

Focus first on high-frequency words and learn them in combinations rather than alone: make a decision, heavy rain, take a photo. Read and listen a lot at your level (graded readers, podcasts, series), because words stick far better in context, and note new ones with an example sentence in a notebook or flashcard app. Then use them when you speak and write, since words you never use fade quickly.

Question 28

How can I memorize English words quickly?

Accepted Answer

Spaced repetition works best: you review each word at growing intervals, say after one day, three days and a week, and flashcard apps schedule this for you. Put the word and an example sentence on one side and the meaning on the other, and try to recall it before you flip the card. Link each word to an image, a sound or a sentence from your own life; 10–15 new words a day stick better than 100 crammed into one evening.

Question 29

How do I learn to speak English?

Accepted Answer

You learn to speak by speaking, so talk aloud every day from the first weeks: introduce yourself, describe your day, retell what you've read in your own words. Try shadowing: play a short recording and repeat it straight away with the same rhythm and intonation. Add conversations with real people a few times a week (a teacher, a speaking club or a language partner), because only live talk gets you used to real speed and unexpected questions.

Question 30

Can I practice English conversation with AI?

Accepted Answer

Yes: you can talk with AI about anything at any hour, ask it to role-play a job interview, a restaurant order or an IELTS Speaking test, and have it correct you after each answer. It's a comfortable way to get lots of practice without embarrassment, though it doesn't fully replace talking with people. OrujovAI has a voice conversation mode: you speak, and it answers out loud.

Question 31

How do I improve my listening skills?

Accepted Answer

Start with material at your level: slower podcasts made for learners first, then series, news and natural conversation. Listen to the same clip several times: once for the general idea, again for details, and then with the transcript to find what you missed. Fifteen to twenty minutes of active listening a day does more than hours of English playing in the background.

Question 32

How can I understand English texts better?

Accepted Answer

Choose texts at your level: when a page is full of unknown words, comprehension collapses, so start with graded readers or simplified news. Before reading, look at the title and first lines and predict the topic, and after each paragraph sum up its main point in one sentence. Don't look up every word: guess from context first and check only the words that block the main idea.

Question 33

How do I improve my English writing?

Accepted Answer

Write often and in small amounts: five to ten sentences in a journal every day and a letter or essay once a week. Plan each text (introduction, body, conclusion), keep one idea per paragraph and use linking words such as however, because and as a result correctly. Have a teacher or friend check your writing, keep a list of your typical mistakes and watch for them in the next text.

Question 34

Can AI correct mistakes in my English text?

Accepted Answer

Yes, AI finds and fixes grammar, spelling, word choice and style mistakes, and it can also make a text more formal or simpler. To actually learn, ask for an explanation of each mistake, in Azerbaijani or Russian if that helps, not just the corrected version, and then rewrite the text yourself. You can paste your text into OrujovAI and ask it to show and explain the mistakes; just don't hand in AI-written work as your own in exams or homework.

Question 35

How do I improve my pronunciation?

Accepted Answer

Learn every new word together with its sound: the Cambridge and Oxford online dictionaries play both British and American pronunciations. Focus on the sounds Azerbaijani and Russian speakers find hard: th (think, this), w versus v, long and short vowels, and word stress. Drill them with minimal pairs such as think and sink, west and vest, ship and sheep, then record yourself and compare with the dictionary model.

Question 36

Is there an AI that explains English grammar in Azerbaijani?

Accepted Answer

Yes: most modern AI chatbots can explain grammar in Azerbaijani if you ask in Azerbaijani and request English examples. OrujovAI was built for Azerbaijani first: you can ask about any rule in the chat, and Live Tutor teaches a lesson out loud in Azerbaijani on a board. After any explanation, ask for practice questions to check that you really understood the rule.

Question 37

How do I prepare for English in the DİM exams?

Accepted Answer

English (or another foreign language you choose) is one of the three subjects in the 9th and 11th grade final exams, and for applicants in groups I to IV the 11th grade final exam is also the first stage of university admission. Start with the exam programme and sample tasks DİM publishes on dim.gov.az, revise grammar and vocabulary topic by topic, and practise listening and reading against the clock every day. Then take full practice tests regularly and analyse your mistakes; OrujovAI's exam practice includes DİM-format English tests with an explanation for every question.

Question 38

What tasks are in the English final exam?

Accepted Answer

In 9th grade the foreign language paper has 26 tasks, and the last one is writing a short story based on pictures. The 11th grade paper in 2026 had 30 tasks, 7 of them with written answers. Under the model DİM has announced for 2027, it will have 26: 25 closed tasks on listening, reading, grammar and vocabulary, plus one paragraph of at least 100 words. Check the current model and sample tasks on dim.gov.az each year.

Question 39

How do I solve a cloze test?

Accepted Answer

A cloze test is a text with gaps, and you choose the right word or option for each one. Read the whole text first without stopping at the gaps, so you know the topic and the tense, then look for the grammar clue around each gap: which part of speech, tense, article or preposition do the neighbouring words need? Read the full sentence with your choice in place, and reread the whole text at the end to check that it makes sense.

Question 40

How do I answer reading questions quickly in an exam?

Accepted Answer

Read the questions first, then the text, so you know what you're looking for. Skim quickly for main-idea questions, and for specific facts, numbers and names scan for the key word and read only that part closely. Don't choose an option you can't support from the text, don't get stuck on a hard question, and time yourself in practice so you know how long each part takes.

Question 41

How do I get a high English score in the entrance exam?

Accepted Answer

In stage one of admission the foreign language is worth up to 100 points, which are added to your total without a coefficient. Log your mistakes by topic (tenses, prepositions, articles), build your revision around the weakest ones, and practise the written-answer tasks against DİM's marking criteria with a teacher checking them. Under DİM's current rules a wrong answer in the final exam doesn't cancel out correct ones, so never leave a closed question blank.

Question 42

How can I learn English for free?

Accepted Answer

There's plenty of free material: BBC Learning English and the British Council's LearnEnglish site offer lessons and exercises, YouTube has lesson channels for every level, and graded readers are available in libraries and online. The key is to combine them into a plan with a little grammar and vocabulary, listening, reading and speaking every day. For questions and writing feedback you can use OrujovAI's Free plan: 20 messages every 3 hours, no card needed.

Question 43

How many hours a day should I study English?

Accepted Answer

Consistency matters more than hours: 30–60 minutes every day beats four hours once a week. If you have more time, one to two hours a day split between vocabulary and grammar, listening, reading and speaking or writing works well. Add passive time on top, such as podcasts on your commute or switching your phone to English.

Question 44

Does watching films and series in English help?

Accepted Answer

Yes, especially for listening, natural spoken phrases and pronunciation, but only if you watch actively. Use English subtitles rather than Azerbaijani or Russian ones, note useful phrases, and rewatch short scenes while repeating the lines aloud. Sitcoms and shows about everyday life are easier at first, because the dialogue is short and repetitive.

Question 45

How many months does it take to learn English?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your goal, your starting level and how much time you put in. Cambridge English estimates roughly 350–400 hours of guided learning to get from zero to B1 and 500–600 to reach B2, plus your own practice on top. With an hour or two of regular study a day, reaching an intermediate level in one to two years is realistic, while promises of fluent English in a month are not.

Question 46

How do I teach a child English?

Accepted Answer

Children learn best through games, songs, cartoons, picture books and daily routines, so start with familiar topics like colours, animals and food. Do something fun for 10–20 minutes every day, and instead of correcting mistakes, simply repeat the correct form naturally. Keeping the interest alive matters most, because pressure and long lessons can put a child off the language.

Question 47

English course or self-study: which is better?

Accepted Answer

Both can work: a course gives you structure, teacher feedback, speaking practice and discipline, while self-study is cheaper and more flexible but takes real self-discipline. If you study alone, pick a coursebook at your level, make a weekly plan and find a real person to speak with (a speaking club or private lessons). If studying alongside others keeps you going, OrujovAI's study rooms let you work with friends on one shared timer while a strict AI teacher keeps everyone on task.

Question 48

Which apps help with learning English?

Accepted Answer

Choose by goal: Duolingo and similar apps for a daily habit and basic vocabulary, Anki or Quizlet for memorising words with spaced repetition, and a podcast app for listening on the go. The Cambridge and Oxford dictionary apps play pronunciation aloud, and Tandem or HelloTalk connect you with native speakers for language exchange. No app teaches you to speak on its own, so use apps to support a plan, not to replace it.

Question 49

How do I write an email in English?

Accepted Answer

A formal email has a clear subject line, a greeting (Dear Mr Smith, or Dear Sir or Madam if you don't know the name), an opening line that states your purpose (I am writing to ask about…), a short body and a polite close (I look forward to hearing from you). Sign off with Best regards or Kind regards and your name. An informal email can start with Hi Anna and sound conversational, but in both cases keep paragraphs short and check for mistakes before sending.

Question 50

How do I write a CV in English?

Accepted Answer

An English CV is usually one or two pages: contact details, a short professional summary, work experience starting with the most recent job, education, skills and languages. Describe your experience with strong verbs (managed, developed, organised) and show results where you can. In the UK and US a CV normally leaves out your photo, age and marital status, and in the US the short version is usually called a résumé. OrujovAI can help you write the text in English and produce it as a downloadable Word or PDF file.

Question 51

Can adults learn English?

Accepted Answer

Yes, at any age: adults often grasp rules and vocabulary faster than children because they bring experience, clear goals and study habits. An accent may not disappear completely, but the aim is to be easily understood, not to sound like a native speaker. Start with topics from your own life (work, travel, hobbies), study regularly and don't be afraid of mistakes.

Question 52

How do I stop being afraid to speak English?

Accepted Answer

The fear usually comes from worrying about mistakes, but nobody has learned to speak without making them, and listeners mostly follow your meaning, not your grammar. Start where the stakes are low: talk to yourself aloud, practise with AI or a language partner, then move on to a speaking club. Prepare a few rescue phrases in advance (Could you repeat that?, What I mean is…) so you have a way out when words fail you.

Question 53

How do I learn to think in English?

Accepted Answer

Start small: name the objects around you in English and narrate what you're doing during the day (I'm making tea now). Instead of translating, connect new words to pictures and situations, and use an English-English dictionary. Keeping a journal in English and listening a lot gradually train your brain to build sentences directly in English.

Question 54

What is the difference between American and British English?

Accepted Answer

The differences are mainly in pronunciation, spelling and some vocabulary, while the grammar is almost the same. Spelling pairs include colour and color, centre and center, organise and organize; vocabulary pairs include flat and apartment, lift and elevator, autumn and fall; and Americans pronounce the r at the end of words. Pick one and stay consistent: exams like IELTS accept both spellings, as long as you don't mix them in one text.

Question 55

How do I learn English idioms?

Accepted Answer

Learn idioms in context instead of from lists: when you meet one in a series, book or article, write it down with its sentence. Group them by topic (money, time, feelings) and notice the ones that match an expression in your own language, like a piece of cake, which is su içmək kimi asan in Azerbaijani and проще простого in Russian. Use them sparingly and where they fit, because old-fashioned or very formal idioms sound odd in everyday speech.

Question 56

What are the most common English words?

Accepted Answer

The most frequent words are mostly grammar words such as the, be, to, of, and, a, in, that, have and I, and this small set makes up a large share of any text. For study, use a ready-made list such as the Oxford 3000, the core words for learners graded by level from A1 to B2. Learn them in phrases rather than one by one, and practise the most common verbs (get, make, take, go) in all their main meanings.