A Student's Grammar of the English Language

by Sidney Greenbaum, Randolph Quirk

A Students Grammar of the English Language draws on the most recent research, including new findings not only in grammar but also in the neighbouring fields of semantics, pragmatics and text linguistics. Discourse features are dealt with throughout, as well as being the theme of a major chapter entitled form 'sentence to text' The authors are careful to point out those features of grammar which distinguish spoken from written, formal from informal, and British form American English.

Genres: Linguistics, Reference, Nonfiction, Language, Teaching

490 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1991

Reviews

[Ivan Belacic · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am willing to bet a carton of elderly eggs that this book was never read willingly by a sane person. Attempts by teachers to read it so they can inflict it onto others are obviously disqualified by the "sane" clause.
There are many things about this work of badly concealed sadism which one might call overtly obtuse, incomprehensible, unreadable or simply brain-hemorrhage-inducing, but if I wish to remain completely faithful to the pit of despair it was birthed from, I should do it via a complex pile of footnotes where all the necessary information go to die.
Alas, I can not not recommend it, for you who understand me have already spent many hours trying to avoid it. And those of you who are yet to take a path of life which will squish you against this behemothly colossus of uncommon sense - tough luck - try not to commit any atrocities in this reincarnation and maybe your next life will be more liveable.

[D. · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m never twerking for Quirk again

[Klaudia · Rating 1 out of 5]

Most traumatic experience ever

[Nerina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hopefully, I won't be rereading this anytime soon.

[Gunnar · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is by far the worst grammar I've ever encountered, and I'm a native English speaker. It's simply a mess. Terms are often "explained" by providing one or two examples, without ever defining the term. Categories and subcategories are endlessly built upon one another and often their distinctions are minimal at most. Syntax and semantics are blended together in such a way that simply finding one or the other is an exercise in itself. Pertinent information is often buried in footnotes. Terminology is often non-standard, and occasionally one common term will be used in their own idiosyncratic way (look up "adjunct" for instance).

Recommended for those who enjoy: self-flagellation, dental exams, cryptography

[Yzabel Ginsberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read from cover to cover to make sure I knew enough grammar-related terms in English, and to avoid making mistakes stemming from confusion between English and French wording (such as the one likely to happen with attributive adjectives).

A difficult read if the bases of descriptive grammar aren't known, though—and I found it lacking a little when it comes to verb clauses and -ING or HAVE -EN aspects. But otherwise useful.

[marianne amelie · Rating 1 out of 5]

i hope that i won't have to open this book ever again. worst read of the year? most probably. quirk can show you all the rules, sure. but one general rule is followed by incomprehensible exceptions to it which make you even more confused and you end up doubting your own existence. i don't ever want to talk about copular verbs which can turn into middle transitive verbs or spot a structural type of ellipsis. luckily, after next monday (hopefully) i won't have to. if it wasn't my mum's book i would burn it and dance around the fire like a witch. don't read this book. it will only make you cry.

[E · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this in college and kept it around as a general reference for pesky grammatical questions when they arise.

[luisa :] · Rating 2 out of 5]

dumnezeii mamelor voastre bă Omquirky și Omlung (asta este simple coordination pentru că are loc la nivel de unități sintactice simple în acest caz noun phrases realizate de câte un nume propriu)

[Camila · Rating 1 out of 5]

Una pesadilla. No recomiendo. Cagate matando quirk igual ya estas mword

[Le Thi · Rating 5 out of 5]

it is good for my graduation papers