Understanding English Grammar

All chapters have Chapter Previews. Preface Part I Introduction 1. The Study of Grammar: An Overview * English: A World Language Three Definitions of Grammar * Traditional School Grammar Modern Linguistics Structural Grammar Transformational Grammar The Issue of Correctness Language Variety Language Change Language in the Classroom Key Terms Further Reading Classroom Applications Questions for Discussion Part II: The Grammar of Basic Sentences All chapters in Part II have Key Terms, Sentences for Practice, Questions for Discussion, and Classroom Applications * 2. An Introduction to Words and Phrases Form Classes Nouns The Noun Phrase Verbs The Verb Phrase NP + VP = S Adjectives and Adverbs Prepositional Phrases 3. Sentence Patterns * Subjects and Predicates The Sentence Slots The Be Patterns The Linking Verb Patterns The Optional Slots The Intransitive Verb Pattern Exceptions to the Intransitive Pattern Intransitive Phrasal Verbs The Transitive Verb Patterns Transitive Phrasal Verbs The Indirect Object Pattern The Object Complement Patterns Compound Structures Exceptions to the Ten Sentence Patterns Sentence Types * Interrogative Sentences (Questions) Imperative Sentences (Commands) * Exclamatory Sentences Punctuation and the Sentence Patterns Diagramming the Sentence Patterns Notes on the Diagrams The Main Line The Noun Phrase The Verb Phrase The Prepositional Phrase Compound Structures Punctuation 4. Expanding the Main Verb The Five Verb Forms Auxiliary--Verb Combinations The Modal Auxiliaries The Subjunctive Mood Tense and Aspect Using the Verb Forms * The "Future Tense" Exceptions to the Rule The Stand-In Auxiliary Do The Verb System of African American Vernacular English * 5. Changing Sentence Focus The Passive Voice The Passive Get The Transitive-Passive Relationship Patterns VIII to X in Passive Voice Changing Passive Voice to Active Voice The Passive Voice in Prose Other Passive Purposes The There Transformation Cleft Sentences Part III: Expanding the Sentence All chapters in Part III have Key Terms, Sentences for Practice, Questions for Discussion, and Classroom Applications Form and Function 6. Modifiers of the Verb: Adverbials Adverbs Prepositional Phrases Nouns and Noun Phrases Verb Phrases Dangling Infinitives Clauses Punctuation of Adverbials 7. Modifers of the Noun: Adjectivals The Determiner Adjectives and Nouns * Prenoun participles Prepositional Phrases Relative Clauses Participial Phrases Passive Participles The Participle as Object Complement Movable Participles Dangling Participles Participles as Adverbials Punctuation of Clauses and Participles Multiple Modifiers Other Postnoun Modifiers Infinitives Noun Phrases Adjectives Adverbs 8. The Noun Phrase Functions: Nominals The Nominal Slots Appositives Punctuation of Appositives Noun Phrase Substitutes Gerunds The Pattern of the Gerund The Subject of the Gerund Dangling Gerunds Infinitives The Subject of the Infinitive Nominal Clauses The Expletive That Interrogatives Yes/No Interrogatives Punctuation of Nominal Clauses Nominals as Delayed Subjects 9. Sentence Modifiers Nouns of Direct Address: The Vocatives Interjections Subordinate Clauses Punctuation of Subordinate Clauses Elliptical Clauses Absolute Phrases Appositives Relative Clauses 10. Coordination Coordination within the Sentence Punctuation Elliptical Coordinate Structures Subject--Verb Agreement Parallel Structure Coordinating Complete Sentences Conjunctions Semicolons Colons Diagramming the Compound Sentence Part IV: Words and Word Classes All chapters in Part IV have Key Terms, Questions for Discussion, and Classroom Applications 11. Morphemes Bases and Affixes Bound and Free Morphemes Derivational and Inflectional Morphemes Allomorphs Homonyms Compound Words 12. The Form Classes Nouns Noun Derivational Suffixes Noun Inflectional Suffixes The Meaning of the Possessive Case Irregular Plural Inflections Plural-Only Forms Collective Nouns Semantic Features of Nouns Verbs Verb Derivational Affixes Verb Inflectional Suffixes Adjectives Adjective Derivational Suffixes Adjective Inflectional Suffixes Subclasses of Adjectives Adverbs Adverb Derivational Suffixes Adverb Inflectional Suffixes 13. The Structure Classes Determiners The Expanded Determiner Auxiliaries Qualifiers Prepositions Simple Prepositions Phrasal Prepositions Conjunctions Coordinating Conjunctions Correlative Conjunctions Conjunctive Adverbs (Adverbial Conjunctions) Subordinating Conjunctions Relatives Interrogatives Expletives There That Or As If andWhether (or not) Particles 14. Pronouns Personal Pronouns Case Gender Reflexive Pronouns Intensive Pronouns Reciprocal Pronouns Demonstrative Pronouns Relative Pronouns Interrogative Pronouns Indefinite Pronouns Part V: Grammar for Writers 15. Rhetorical Grammar Sentence Patterns Basic Sentences The Linking Be and Metaphor Cohesion Sentence Rhythm End Focus Sentence Transformations Choosing Verbs The Overuse of Be The Passive Voice The Abstract Subject The Shifting Adverbials The Adverbial Clause The Adverbs of Emphasis The Common Only Metadiscourse Style Word Order Variation Ellipsis The Coordinate Series The Introductory Appositive Series The Deliberate Sentence Fragment Repetition * Antithesis Using Gender Appropriately Key Terms 16. Purposeful Punctuation Making Connections Compounding Sentences Compounding Structures within Sentences Connecting More Than Two Parts: The Series Separating Prenoun Modifiers Identifying Essential and Nonessential Structures Signaling Sentence Openers Signaling Emphasis Using Apostrophes for Contraction and Possessive Case Part VI Glossary of Grammatical Terms Appendix on Sentence Diagramming Answers to the Exercises Index