Real Grammar : a Corpus-Based Approach to English /
Susan Conrad and Douglas Biber ; with activities contributed by Kate Daly and Sara Packer.
- White Plains, NY : Pearson/Longman, 2009.
- x, 150 p. : col. ill. ; 26 cm.
"Real Grammar uses the latest corpus research to show how 50 grammatical structures are used in speech and writing. This focus on authentic usage helps students move past traditional grammar texts and use English more like native speakers. Real Grammar focuses on the appropriate use of the target structures in four different registers (conversation, fiction, newspaper, and academic writing), with special emphasis on conversation vs. academic writing. Rich activities varying from contextualized exercises to discovery and analysis help learners understand and use the target grammar. Fifty independent units provide flexibility for both teachers and students. The units can be taught in any order and fit any curriculum. Speech and writing icons clearly identify the skill focus in each unit and allow teachers and students to focus on individualized teaching and learning goals. "Be Careful!" points emphasize how to avoid typical errors and help students quickly improve their speaking and writing. Real Grammar is an essential tool for students to study English as it is used in the real world of conversation, fiction, newspaper, and academic writing." (Book Cover) CONTENTS To the Student To the Teacher PART I VERB TENSES Unit 1 Did you want more coffee? -- Simple Past Tense in Polite Offers Unit 2 He's looking at me... -- Progressive Verbs vs. Simple Verbs Unit 3 Studies have shown... -- Discovery Verbs and Existence Verbs PART II SPECIAL USES OF VERBS Unit 4 I didn't get a chance... -- Meanings of Get Unit 5 Did you have fun today? -- Meaning of Have + Noun Phrase Unit 6 It really made a difference... -- Meanings of Make + Noun Phrase Unit 7 Let's take a look at it -- Meanings of Take + Noun Phrase Unit 8 I feel good about it -- Linking Verbs Unit 9 Tell me that story -- Verbs with Two Objects Unit 10 Reports suggest that... -- Action Verbs with Inaimate Subjects PART III MODALS Unit 11 I might go to Japan -- Possibility Modals Unit 12 A compromise must be reached -- Necessity Modals PART IV MULTI-WORD VERBS Unit 13 Come on! -- Phrasal Verbs Unit 14 I can't think of his name now -- Verb + Preposition Unit 15 I have to get out of here -- Three-Word Phrasal Verbs PART V THE PASSIVE Unit 16 No significant difference was found -- Passive Voice Unit 17 The accident was caused by failure of... -- Passives with a By-Phrase Unit 18 Further details can be found in... -- Passive Verb + Preposition PART VII NOUNS, ARTICLES, AND PRONOUNS Unit 19 That's an important thing to know -- The Noun People and Thing Unit 20 I love fitness and stuff like that -- Imprecise Noun Phrases Unit 21 The chair of the committee -- Nonsexist Language Choices Unit 22 The introduction of technology -- The Definite Article Unit 23 Yeah, that's right! -- The Pronouns This and That PART VII ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS Unit 24 He did a nice job -- The Adjectives Good and Nice Unit 25 Do this quick -- Adjective and Adverb Choices Unit 26 That's pretty weird -- Amplifiers and Downtoners Unit 27 Women are different from men -- Adjective + Preposition Unit 28 It looks pretty awful though -- Though and Anyway Unit 29 Finally, on the negative side... -- Transitions Unit 30 It would thus appear that... -- Positions of Transitions PART VIII GERUNDS, INFINITIVES, AND CLAUSES WITH THAT Unit 31 I don't think it will be a problem -- Verb + Noun Clause for Uncertainty Unit 32 I think I can find it -- Deletion of That in Noun Clauses Unit 33 She seemed to like him a lot -- Verb + Infinitive Unit 34 We couldn't stop laughing -- Verb + Gerund Unit 35 This is what happens -- Be + Noun Clause Unit 36 It is possible that... -- That-Clauses or Infinitive Phrases for Attitudes PART IX REPORTED SPEECH Unit 37 ...and she goes oh don't worry -- Modifiers in Noun Phrases Unit 38 The authors argue that... -- Reporting What Somebody Wrote PART X NOUN MODIFICATION Unit 39 Evidence for life on Mars -- Modifiers in Noun Phrases Unit 40 Voters registration procedures -- Adjectives and Nouns to Modify a Noun Unit 41 A question which is often asked -- Adjective Clauses and Relative Pronoun Choice Unit 42 That's the way I look at it -- Adjective Clauses with Adverb Meanings Unit 43 Is there anything I can do? -- Pronouns Modified by Adjective Clauses Unit 44 I've got a lot to do -- Noun + Infinitive Unit 45 The approach used in nursing -- Adjective Phrases Unit 46 A number of reasons -- Prepositional Phrases Modifying Nouns Unit 47 He saluted me, which I enjoyed -- Adjective Clauses That Modify Sentences PART XI SPECIAL FEATURES OF CONVERSATION Unit 48 Well, I better get going -- Discourse Makers
Unit 49 Me too. -- Incomplete Sentences Unit 50 The stuff I thought you could use -- Complex Grammar in Conversation