Exercise Book for Understanding English Grammar

PART I: INTRODUCTION

 

1. The Study of Grammar: An Overview

English: A World Language

Three Definitions Of Grammar

Traditional School Grammar

Studying Grammar Today

Language Variety and the Issue of Correctness

Language Change

Language in the Classroom

Key Terms

For Further Reading

 

PART II: THE GRAMMAR OF BASIC SENTENCES

 

2. Words and Phrases

Chapter Preview

The Open Classes

Nouns and Verbs

The Noun Phrase

The Verb Phrase

NP + VP = S

Adjectives and Adverbs

Prepositional Phrases

The Closed Classes

Classroom Applications

Key Terms

 

3. Sentence Patterns

Chapter Preview

Subjects and Predicates

Diagramming Sentences

The Sentence Slots

The Be Patterns

Pattern I: NP be ADV/TP

Pattern II: NP be ADJ

Pattern III: NP1 be NP1

The Linking Verb Patterns

Pattern IV: NP V-lnk ADJ

Pattern V: NP1 V-lnk NP1

The Optional Slots

The Intransitive Verb Pattern

Pattern VI: NP V-int

The Transitive Verb Patterns

Pattern VII: NP1 V-tr NP2

Pattern VIII: NP1 V-tr NP2 NP3

Pattern IX: NP1 V-tr NP2 ADJ

Pattern X: NP1 V-tr NP2 NP2

Compound Structures

Exceptions to the Ten Sentence Patterns

Sentence Types

Interrogative Sentences (Questions)

Imperative Sentences (Commands)

Exclamative Sentences

Punctuation and the Sentence Patterns

Diagramming the Sentence Patterns

Notes on the Diagrams

Key Terms

Sentences for Practice

Questions for Discussion

Classroom Applications

 

4. Expanding the Main Verb

Chapter Preview

The Five Verb Forms

Auxiliary—Verb Combinations

The Modal Auxiliaries

The Future Tense

Tense and Aspect

Using the Verb Forms

Exceptions to the Verb-Expansion Rule

The Stand-in Auxiliary Do

The Subjunctive Mood

Key Terms

Sentences for Practice

Questions for Discussion

Classroom Application