Basic English Grammar for Dummies

Biographical Note:

Geraldine Woods is a grammarian. She has more than 35 years of teaching experience and is the author of more than 50 books. Her friendly style and good humor make learning easy. She is a lifelong New Yorker and blogs about public grammar transgressions at www.grammarianinthecity.com.

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

Grammar guidance for those who need it

The English language can be quirky. Basic English Grammar For Dummies guides you through the essentials and clears up the most common sources of confusion, so you speak and write correctly. You'll get answers to your most pressing grammar questions. When do we use whose and who's? Are y'all and ain't real words? And what -- exactly -- is the deal with pronouns these days? In this updated edition, grammarian Geraldine Woods uses her humorous, lighthearted style to make learning English engaging and stress-free.

Inside...

• Correct use of verb tenses
• Active and passive voice
• Tips for improved writing
• Abbreviations and conventions in texting and social media
• Prepositions and conjunctions
• All about quotation marks
• Common mistakes to avoid

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.