Easy English Grammar Step-by-Step, Second Edition

by Phyllis Dutwin, Jane R. Burstein

Overview

This step-by-step approach helps you learn the rules of grammar quickly and easily!

The English language is full of rules, exceptions, and often confusing concepts, and for many students, English grammar is a difficult subject that only gets tougher as more concepts are learned. That's why Easy English Grammar Step-by-Step, Second Edition is so effective at helping you succeed where other resources and guides fail. Using an original, step-by-step approach, this write-in workbook provides a solid foundation in the basics—the fastest, easiest way to learn English grammar.

You'll learn essential concepts and high-frequency skills in grammar proficiency first, allowing you to grasp the subject almost immediately. You'll then discover how these important concepts link together, through clear explanations, level-appropriate exercises, and helpful worked-out problems. Learning the key concepts in order (e.g., learning what a complete sentence is before descriptive words and phrases, pronouns, and punctuation) ensures you'll get a solid foundation before you move on. Once you complete all the steps, you'll be able to approach English grammar—rules, exceptions, and all—with confidence.

• Stay-in-step "pop-ups" offer helpful advice and cautions against common errors
• Step-it-up skill-building exercises link practice to the core steps already presented
• Clear explanations break down concepts into easy-to-understand steps
• Clear and concise explanations to the exercises and questions throughout the book
• Fully updated to include current references

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781264878086
Publisher:	McGraw Hill LLC
Publication date:	12/09/2022
Edition description:	2nd ed.
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Phyllis Dutwin has created reading, writing, and ESL programs for more than thirty years and is author of several language arts and test-prep books. She was an innovator in the development of materials geared specifically for adults to improve their reading and language skills.

Jane Burstein is an English teacher and tutor for entrance exams, including the SAT, ACT, GMAT and GRE. She is the author of A Guide to the edTPA, co-author of SAT Cram Plan and ACT Cram Plan, and technical editor of many titles. She is also author of Must-Know Vocabulary.

Table of Contents

Preface vii

1 Always Right: The Complete Sentence 1

Choose Standard English 1

How Can You Recognize a Standard English Sentence? 2

Introducing Linking Verbs 5

Where Did I Go Wrong? 6

Building Complex Sentences 14

2 More About Subjects, Action Verbs, and Linking Verbs 17

Subject and Verb Agreements 17

Prepositions and Prepositional Phrases 21

Using Linking Verbs 22

3 Descriptive Words 29

In the Know About Adjectives 29

Adjectives and Where to Put Them 30

4 More About Descriptive Words and Phrases 43

Adverbs and How to Use Them 43

When to Use an Adverb 47

Common Adjective/Adverb Confusions 50

5 Verbs Tell Time Perfectly 57

The Use of Tenses 57

Participles-What Now? 60

Tenses of to Be 61

Using Verbs in the Past, Present, and Future 63

6 Pronouns 71

Common Pronouns 71

Why Use Pronouns? 72

Using Pronouns Correctly 78

7 Punctuation 89

Types of Punctuation 89

Using Punctuation Correctly 92

8 Punctuation, Continued 101

More Types of Punctuation 101

Using Punctuation Correctly 102

9 Capitalization 115

Rules for Capitalization 115

More Rules! 119

10 Using Words Correctly 121

Common Errors 121

Avoiding Errors 122

Commonly Confused Words 127

11 Spelling 131

Spelling Guidelines 131

Steps to Strengthen Your Spelling 132

12 Writing Better Sentences 145

Keys to Stronger Writing 145

Steps to Improve Your Writing 146

Appendix A 100 Most Often Misspelled Words in English 159

Appendix A Common Homophones 169

Answer Key 177

Index 203