Basic Grammar and Usage

Appealing to both native speakers and ESL students, BASIC GRAMMAR AND USAGE is designed to help students master the most important rules of grammar, usage and syntax.

Preface to the Sixth Edition

iii

Preface to the First Edition

v

To the Student: Using This Book to Edit Your Compositions

vii

Unit 1 Identifying Subjects and Verbs

1

(42)

Sentence with One Subject and One Verb

3

(12)

Multiple Subjects and Verbs

15

(8)

Distinguishing Between Objects of Prepositions and Subjects

23

(10)

Main Verbs and Helping Verbs

33

(10)

Unit Review

41

(2)

Unit 2 Subject-Verb Agreement

43

(32)

Recognizing Singular and Plural Subjects and Verbs

45

(10)

Indefinite Pronouns as Subjects

55

(6)

Subjects Understood in a Special Sense

61

(6)

Subjects Joined by Conjuctions

67

(8)

Unit Review

73

(2)

Unit 3 Identifying and Punctuating the Main Types of Sentences

75

(38)

Compound Sentences

77

(10)

Complex Sentences

87

(8)

Avoiding Run-On Sentences and Comma Splices

95

(8)

Correcting Fragments

103

(10)

Unit Review

111

(2)

Unit 4 Punctuation That ``Sets Off'' or Separates

113

(38)

Parenthetical Expressions

115

(10)

Appositives

125

(8)

Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses

133

(10)

Items in a Series and Dates and Addresses

143

(8)

Unit Review

149

(2)

Unit 5 Pronoun Usage

151

(42)

Subject, Object, and Possessive Pronouns

153

(10)

Pronouns in Comparisons and Pronouns with -self, -selves

163

(8)

Agreement of Pronouns with Their Antecedents

171

(10)

Order of Pronouns and Spelling of Possessives

181

(12)

Unit Review

189

(4)

Unit 6 Capitalization, More Punctuation, Placement of Modifiers, Parallel Structure, and Irregular Verbs

193

(48)

Capitalization

195

(8)

More Punctuation

203

(8)

Misplaced and Dangling Modifiers

211

(8)

Parallel Structure

219

(8)

Irregular Verbs

227

(14)

Unit Review

237

(4)

Answers to ``A'' Exercises

241

(16)

Index

257

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Basic Grammar and Usage

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials