ABSTRACT

If you've ever wanted a quick and easy guide to verbs and adverbs, commas and apostrophes, clauses and prepositions, then this is a must-have book for you. Easing readers gently into the study of the structure of English, Grammar: A Pocket Guide covers common questions such as:

  • Is it "10 items or less" or "10 items or fewer"?
  • Should I say "If I were you" or "if I was you"?
  • Can you start a sentence with "And" or "Because"?
  • When do you use "whom"?
  • What is the difference between "lie" and "lay"?
  • Is it "I feel bad" or "I feel badly"?

Using examples from everyday speech and writing, this handy book "cracks the code" of off-putting grammatical jargon so that readers can enjoy learning how to think and talk about grammar. With practice exercises, a glossary, and suggestions for further reading, Grammar: A Pocket Guide is the perfect foundation for anyone wanting to improve his or her writing and communication.

chapter |7 pages

Introduction

chapter 1|6 pages

The great subject–predicate divide

chapter 2|9 pages

All types of verbs: beyond “action”

chapter 3|18 pages

Verb forms telling time (and more)

chapter 4|11 pages

Subjects and verbs agreeing

chapter 5|9 pages

Nouns and their determiners

chapter 6|9 pages

Objects and complements

chapter 7|6 pages

Verb transitivity

chapter 8|6 pages

The subjunctive: in the right mood

chapter 10|16 pages

The case of pronouns

chapter 11|13 pages

Adjectives and adverbs modifying

chapter 12|7 pages

Prepositional phrases and verb particles

chapter 13|8 pages

Conjunctions at junctions

chapter 15|5 pages

Misaligned modifiers

chapter 16|7 pages

Commas: more than pauses

chapter 17|7 pages

Apostrophes: dueling functions

chapter 18|6 pages

Applying the knowledge