An Introduction to English Grammar provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of English grammar. The first part of the book ( The Grammar ) provides a step-by-step introduction to the key topics in English grammar. The second part ( The Applications ) shows how a grasp of these topics can be helpful in resolving usage problems, in developing a clear writing style, and in mastering punctuation and spelling. A whole chapter, English in Use, is devoted to illustrating the grammatical features of a wide range of modern text types, including emails, Facebook pages, and tweets . It also looks at the special grammatical features of English in everyday conversation.
Each chapter is followed by two sets of exercises. The first set can be used in self-study or in the classroom. The second set deals with more advanced topics, and can be used for classroom discussion or essay writing.
This fourth edition has been fully revised and updated and includes:
clearer descriptions and improved presentation
new material on word structure and word formation
new exercises, examples and extracts
updated further reading
Assuming no prior knowledge of English grammar, this book is ideal for beginning students on a one-semester course and provides everything a student needs on the theory and practice of English usage. A comprehensive Glossary of grammatical terms is included and a website provides invaluable additional exercises."
This book had surprisingly sloppy handling of examples and underlining/italics. For example in ch. 7: the example says “I wish I could feel relaxed about [...]” whereas the text discussing the example claims in all three instances that it says “I wish I could feel more relaxed about [...]”. In the place, while discussing the subordinate clause “I could feel more relaxed” the book doesn’t underline the personal pronoun in its first mention, but includes it in the next two places. There are many other mistakes like this scattered though the book, which is doubly frustrating seeing as this is a book about grammar. There are also an astounding number of mistakes, so I’m almost tempted to congratulate them on getting them all through multiple editions. On a more positive note, the actual contents are informative, and the examples used do actually illustrate the points well.