Longman English Grammar - L.G.Alexander

The primary aim of this book is to present a manageable coverage of grammar at intermediate and advanced levels, which will serve two purposes 1 To present information which can be consulted for reference 2 To suggest the range of structures that a student would need to be familiar with receptively and (to a lesser extent) productively to be able to communicate effectively In other words, the book aims to be a true pedagogical grammar for everyone concerned with English as a foreign language It attempts to provide reasonable answers to reasonable questions about the workings of the language and to define what English as a Foreign Language is in terms of grammar

[...]... (arrive), as are imperatives e g Stand up! [> 9.5 1-5 6] A phrase is a group of words which can be part of a sentence A phrase may take the form of - a noun phrase e g a tube of toothpaste - a prepositional (or adverbial) phrase e g over the bridge - a verb phrase, e g a single verb-form built (in stone) or a combination of verbs e g will tell have done - a question-word + infinitive e g what to do when to go... a verb related to be, such as appear become look seem sound and taste [> 10.2 3-2 6] Subject + 'be' + complement The complement may be - an adjective Frank is clever - a noun Frank is an architect - an adjective + noun Frank is a clever architect - a pronoun it s mine - an adverb of place or time The meeting is here/at 2.30 - a prepositional phrase Alice is like her father Pattern 3: subject + verb +... forms, some of which are - a noun [> 2.1 ] We parked the car in the car park - a pronoun [> 4.1] We fetched her from the station The simple sentence - a reflexive pronoun [> 4.24] - an infinitive [> 16.13] - an -ing form [> 16.42] 1.12.1 We enjoyed ourselves at the party / want to go home now / enjoy sitting in the sun Verb + object + 'to' or 'for' + noun or pronoun [> 1.9.1,13. 2-3 ] The following verbs... particularly with whether 1-2 4.2 Noun clauses derived from question-word questions [> 15.1 9-2 3] Here is a direct question-word question How soon will we know the results? Question-word questions (beginning with who(m) what which when 15 1 The sentence where why and how plus a change in word order) can function as noun clauses and can be used - as a subject When he did it is a mystery - after be The question... six words in the English language which have different subject and object forms I/me he/him she/her we/us they/them and who/whom This lack of inflexions in English tempts some people to observe (quite wrongly) that the language has 'hardly any grammar' It would be more accurate to say that English no longer has a grammar like that of Latin or German, but it has certainly evolved a grammar of its own,... subject/verb/(object)/(adverbial) order - questions [> Chapter 13] Did you take your car in for a service? When did you take your car in for a service? - reporting verbs in direct speech [> 15.3п4] You ve eaten the lot' cried Frank - certain conditional sentences [> 14.8, 14.18.3] Should you see him please give him my regards - time references requiring special emphasis [> 7.22, 7.24] Last night we went to the cinema - -ly adverbs... do this is to link simple sentences to form compound sentences This linking is achieved by any of the following: - a semi-colon: We fished all day, we didn t catch a thing - a semi-colon, followed by a connecting adverb [> App 18]: We fished all day, however, we didn't catch a thing - a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g and, but, so yet) often preceded by a comma: We fished all day but (we) didn t catch... began to shake - adverbs of indefinite frequency [> 7.40] We often played dangerous games when we were children - adverb phrases [> 7.19 2, 7.59.2] Inside the parcel (there) was a letter - adverb particles (e g back) and here there [> 7.59.1] Back came the answer - no' Here/There is your coat Here/There it is - negative adverbs [> 7.59.3] Never in world history has there been such a conflict - 'fronting'... (so) However, a single conjunction like and can serve a variety of purposes to express: - addition: We were talking and laughing (= in addition to) - result: He fell heavily and broke his arm (= so) -condition: Weed the garden and I ' ll pay you £5 (= If then) - sequence: He finished lunch and went shopping (= then) - contrast: Tom's 15 and still sucks his thumb (= despite this) 1.19 Joining sentence... clauses derived from Yes/No questions [> 15.1 7-1 8] Here is a direct Yes/No question Has he signed the contract? By putting if or whether in front of it and by changing the word order to subject-predicate, we turn it into a subordinate noun-clause that can be used - as a subject Whether he has signed the contract (or not) doesn t matter {if is not possible) - as a complement after be The question is whether . LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING IN PUBLICATION DATA Alexander, L G Longman English Grammar /L G Alexander, consultant, R A Close p cm Includes index ISBN 0-582-55892-1 1 English language. published 1988 Twentieth impression 2003 BRITISH LIBRARY CATALOGUING IN PUBLICATION DATA Alexander L G Longman English Grammar 1 English language - Text-books for foreign peakers s 1 Title.