Full Description
An engaging and fresh take on the rules and politics of English grammar, written in lively prose. It goes a step further than most books on grammar by providing an overview of the field, with a discussion of historical and current debates about grammar, and how we define, discuss, and approach it.
Presents a novel, inquiry-based approach to understanding speakers' unconscious knowledge of English grammar
Makes lucid connections, when relevant, with current linguistic theory
Integrates language change and variation into the study of grammar
Examines historical sources of socially evaluative perceptions of grammar, as 'good' or 'bad', and notions of language authority
Provides syntactic explanations for many modern punctuation rules
Explores some of the current controversies about grammar teaching in school and the role of Standard English in testing and assessment
Contents
Preface xiii
Acknowledgments xv
1 What is Grammar and How Do We Study It? 1
2 Nouns 23
3 Noun Phrases 41
4 Verbs 67
5 Verb Phrases 85
6 The Clause 113
7 Adjectives 147
8 Adverbs 171
9 Prepositions and Particles 187
10 Independent, Coordinate, and Subordinate Clauses 209
11 More on Complementation and Modification 243
Epilogue: Navigating Real Language 273
Index 275
