Understanding English Grammar (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

For courses in advanced grammar. Best-seller. Practical, ecelectic approach with a systematic approach to learning grammar. New: Chapter 1 on history of grammar pedagogy, "Classrom Applications," co-author Funk, section on rhetoric of punctuation (Ch. 14).

From the Back Cover

This market-leading book provides a systemic way to understand grammar based upon the instinct found in speaking. With schools still teaching grammar, the authors encourage the readers of this book to consider themselves grammar experts, simply clarifying in rules the innate knowledge of grammar we all use from the moment we speak. Current and future teachers will now be able to execute their grammar lessons with a better understanding of the theories and structures that are the foundation of grammar. While this is especially appropriate for teachers, its logical approach and clear explanation make it a benefit for anyone who wants to know how English works.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 496 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 5 edition (June 30, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0205268552
• ISBN-13: 978-0205268559
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.5 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #258,996 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

37 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book, Good Grammar, Happy Tummy, July 27, 2003

By	Stacey Cochran. Visit staceycochran.com (Raleigh, NC, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Understanding English Grammar (6th Edition) (Hardcover)

I'm a fiction writer. And there are four books within reach of my writing desk. The most recent addition has been Martha Kolln's Understanding English Grammar. This bad boy has it all, folks. If you're like me, you get tripped up on lie and lay like the rest of us, and those kinds of words (and the rules underlying them) are at the very heart of what UEG sets out to clarify. I think I first went to Kolln's masterpiece for help with prepositions. I don't know who first introduced prepositions into the English language, man, but I'd like beat him with a wet dish rag!

As Kolln says on page 320: "Prepositions are among the most difficult words in the language for foreign speakers to master." I'd take this a step further; I'd say they're the most difficult words for _English_ speakers to master. A couple of examples she lists:

Be sure to fill out the form carefully.
Be sure to fill in the form carefully.

He wasn't fired.
He didn't get fired.

Can _you_ spot the correct usage above? Well, if it gives you pause then Understanding English Grammar may be the book for you. It is a model of grammatical clarity and a wonderful reference book to turn to in times of grammatical doubt:~)

Other books I keep close by my writing desk include: "The Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms," Richard Lanham's "A Handlist of Rhetorical Terms," and The Holy Bible. If cleanliness is next to Godliness, grammatical perfection is like Zen awareness. You know it's possible to attain, but achieving it is another matter altogether. Kolln's book can help -- with the grammar, that is.

Yours,
Stacey

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best I've found!, June 6, 2006

By	Elementary Lang. Arts Teacher "Teach" (Anchorage, Alaska United States) - See all my reviews

I own the 3rd edition of this book. I don't know if the comments I have will still apply to this edition, but here they are anyway.
I looked everywhere for a book that illustrated grammar instruction through diagramming sentences, and this is the only one I've found! If you aren't into that, don't let it discourage you. They are only used as illustrations and to show the similarities and differences between sentence types.
This book takes a very logical approach to grammar that I was very thankful for and which was very easy for me to follow, as it added just the right next bit of information as I was ready for it. It was just what I was looking for.

3.0 out of 5 stars used book, October 12, 2009

By	T. Bäuerlein - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Understanding English Grammar (7th Edition) (Hardcover)

Fast delivery, but this used book wasn't in such a good condition as it was described ("very good"). A lot of the text is highlighted; the pages have many dog-ears and are damaged by water, especially the last ones.