An introduction to English grammar - Sidney Greenbaum

The appearance of recent reports have drawn attention to the importance of the study of contemporary English language - particularly its grammar - in schools, teacher-training colleges, and universities. Subsequent recurring discussions in the media have highlighted a growing demand for a return to the study of the language after two decades of relative neglect.;This book is addressed to students who have little or no experience of studying English grammar. It introduces them to basic traditional grammatical concepts and categories and to a systematic outline of the grammar.;The book begins with an introductory chapter on the nature of grammar and on the varieties of English. Part 1 provides an outline description of English grammar. Part II applies the grammatical information from Part I, giving students guidance on punctuation, on solving problems of usage, on improving their writing style, and on ways to analyse the language of literature. An appendix on spelling includes rules for inflections, and a glossary briefly explains the terms used in the book. The book concludes with a selection of exercises, which are intended to help students understand the text and apply what they have learnt.