Full Description
Your go-to guide for expressing yourself correctly in the most spoken language in the world
Basic English Grammar For Dummies is the bestselling grammar guide that's perfect for readers who want to improve their knowledge of the English language. This well-rounded primer covers the building blocks of English grammar, giving you an introduction to parts of speech, sentence structure, punctuation, capitalization, and more. Real-world examples help you understand the rules of Standard English — and when you can break them! You can test your progress with quiz questions on every topic. This updated edition explains current usage (including pronouns and presentation slides) and gives you handy rules to remember, so you can speak and write with confidence. Make the English language learning process engaging and stress-free with this Dummies guide.
Learn about parts of speech, sentence structure, punctuation, and capitalization
Become a better writer and get answers to all your questions about English
Recognize and avoid common grammar mistakes and misuse of words
Apply your grammar knowledge in everyday scenarios at work, in school, and in general communication
Anyone who's new to the English language or needs a little refresher on tricky grammar rules will enjoy Basic English Grammar For Dummies. This book makes learning the English language accessible so you can feel confident at work, in school, and in life.
Contents
Introduction 1
Part 1: Getting Started with Basic English Grammar 9
Chapter 1: Getting a Grip on Grammar 11
Chapter 2: Language in Action 25
Part 2: Meeting the Parts of Speech 35
Chapter 3: People to See, Places to Go, Things to Remember: Recognizing Nouns 37
Chapter 4: Perfecting Pronouns 51
Chapter 5: Doing and Being Words: Verbs 67
Chapter 6: Describing with Adjectives and Adverbs 83
Chapter 7: Building Relationships with Prepositions 101
Chapter 8: Connecting and Commenting: Conjunctions and Interjections 113
Part 3: Creating Correct Sentences 125
Chapter 9: Making Progress: Verbs Ending in -ing 127
Chapter 10: Putting the Past in Order: The Perfect Tenses 139
Chapter 11: Seeking Subjects 153
Chapter 12: Adding Meaning with Complements 169
Chapter 13: Writing Complete Sentences 183
Part 4: Punctuation and Capitalization 197
Chapter 14: Applying Apostrophes Accurately 199
Chapter 15: Catching a Break with Commas 213
Chapter 16: Who Said What: Quotation Marks 229
Chapter 17: Going Big: Capital Letters 243
Part 5: Grammar in Action 259
Chapter 18: Texting, Emailing, and Posting 261
Chapter 19: Presentation Slides and Bulleted Lists 271
Chapter 20: Writing at School and on the Job 283
Part 6: Fine-Tuning Your Writing 297
Chapter 21: Tricky Word Traps 299
Chapter 22: Avoiding Common Mistakes 311
Chapter 23: Finishing Touches: Advanced Grammar Topics 323
Part 7: The Part of Tens 339
Chapter 24: Ten Spelling Tips to Remember 341
Chapter 25: Five "Always" and Five "Never" Rules of English Grammar 347
Index 351
