Grammar for Teachers

The purpose of this book is to encourage readers to develop a solid understanding of the use and function of grammatical structures in American English. Avoiding jargon, the book approaches grammar from a descriptive rather than a prescriptive approach.

Grammar for Teachers: A Guide to American English for Native and Non-Native Speakers is a result of my frustrations over many years of teaching graduate-level structure courses and not being able to ? nd an appropriate grammar text for the pre- and in-service teachers enrolled in these classes. The students in these courses have represented a variety of teaching backgrounds: ESL and EFL teachers, native and non-nativespeakersof English, and mainstreamcontent-areateacherswith ESL students in their classes, to name a few. Some of these students have had a strong knowledge of English grammar, but often have dif? culties in applying their kno- edge to real-life discourse. Other students' exposure has been limited to lessons in "correctness," and are generally unaware of which language features are central to teaching ESL/EFL learners. Some students are resistant to taking this course, but are required to do so, whether to satisfy speci? c degree requirements, for state or professional certi? cation, or for other reasons. A few students have had some l- guistics, many not. The challenge has been ? nding a way to convey the essentials of AmericanEnglishgrammarclearly, toengagestudentsactivelyin theirownlearning and understanding of grammar as applicable to ESL/EFL learners, and to motivate them to undertake perceptive analyses of grammatical elements and structures, and of ESL/EFL learner needs and dif? culties. The overall aim of Grammar for Teachers is to make grammar accessible and comprehensible.

What is Grammar? . - Morphology. - The Noun Phrase. - Adjectives and Adverbs. - to Verbs and Verb Phrases. - Time, Tense, and Aspect of Verbs. - Modal Auxiliary Verbs and Related Structures. - Basic Sentence Patterns and Major Variations. - Compound Sentences and Introduction to Complex Sentences: Adverbial Clauses. - Complex Sentences Continued Relative Clauses. - Complex Sentences Continued: Noun Clauses. - Verbal Constructions. - Erratum.