English Grammar for Dummies (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

A few years ago, a magazine sponsored a contest for the comment most likely to end a conversation. The winning entry? "I teach English grammar." Just throw that line out at a party; everyone around you will clam up or start saying "whom."

Why does grammar make everyone so nervous? Probably because English teachers, for decades – no, for centuries – have been making a big deal out of grammar in classrooms, diagramming sentences and drilling the parts of speech, clauses, and verbals into students until they beg for mercy. Happily, you don't have to learn all those technical terms of English grammar – and you certainly don't have to diagram sentences – in order to speak and write correct English.

So rest assured – English Grammar For Dummies will probably never make your English teacher's top-ten list of must-read books, because you won't have to diagram a single sentence. What you will discover are fun and easy strategies that can help you when you're faced with such grammatical dilemmas as the choice between "I" and "me," "had gone" and "went," and "who" and "whom." With English Grammar For Dummies, you won't have to memorize a long list of meaningless rules (well, maybe a couple in the punctuation chapter!), because when you understand the reason for a particular word choice, you'll pick the correct word automatically.

English Grammar For Dummies covers many other topics as well, such as the following:

• Verbs, adjectives, and adverbs – oh my!
• Preposition propositions and pronoun pronouncements
• Punctuation: The lowdown on periods, commas, colons, and all those other squiggly marks
• Possession: It's nine-tenths of grammatical law
• Avoiding those double negative vibes
• How to spice up really boring sentences (like this one)
• Top Ten lists on improving your proofreading skills and ways to learn better grammar

Just think how improving your speaking and writing skills will help you in everyday situations, such as writing a paper for school, giving a presentation to your company's big wigs, or communicating effectively with your family. You will not only gain the confidence in knowing you're speaking or writing well, but you'll also make a good impression on those around you!

From the Back Cover

English grammar — made fun and easy!

Speak with ease, write with confidence, and release your fears!

Avoid speech blunders and grammar foul-ups with this friendly, practical guide!
Sick of people correcting your grammar all the time? Relax! Let expert Geraldine Woods show you the way. From pronouns, participles, and parallel structure to adjectives, verbs, and tenses, this friendly guide will put the joy back into "proper" speaking and writing — without bogging you down in a boring list of rules.

Choose from among 33 different subject categories

Get news you can use on everything from money to health to computers Geraldine Woods has taught grammar for 17 years at a New York City private school and has written more than 40 books, including biographies, reference books, and grammar workbooks.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (July 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764553224
• ISBN-13: 978-0764553226
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #7,061 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

92 of 100 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Invaluable Reference for Language Studies!, April 20, 2002

By	Srebrenica Forever (Sweden) - See all my reviews

This unusually well-written book encompasses virtually all aspects of English grammar. It is well structured, strict to the point, meticulous and most importantly easy to use! It sheds lights on most common pitfalls and errors in grammar usage. People who experience difficulties with english grammar should find this book extremely useful. To my mind, this is a must for all students who seek to improve their language skills and to become more effective and proficient communicators and writers! Buy this book today!

51 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you wanted to know about appositives, and more!, October 19, 2002

By	F. Mercer "bibliophile" (Phoenix, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I turn to Grammar for Dummies for a concise, easy-to-understand definition of any given part of speech, as well as for any usage questions/doubts I am having. I have found this book to be an extremely helpful reference for my adolescent language development grad class.

48 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The example-sentences will annoy the average reader, June 29, 2005

By	Jeffrey Hatmaker (GERMANY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book provides a good reference for people who want to improve their grammar skills.
However, it is littered with absurd, flaky and distracting example-sentences that nearly ruin an otherwise good work. Just a few examples follow:

1. Bertha has frequently buzzed Bubba, but Bubba has not buzzed Bertha back.
2. Nutrella will position the wig in the exact center of the dragon's head.
3. Two minutes after shaving, all of Legghorn's three chins feel scratchy.
4. Rumpus has been studying marble shooting for fifteen years without learning any worthwhile techniques.
5. Justica will judge the beauty contest only if the warthog competes.

If you can tolerate hundreds of similar example-sentences, buy the book.