E-Book Overview
The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need is the ideal resource for everyone who wants to produce writing that is clear, concise, and grammatically excellent. Whether you're creating perfect professional documents, spectacular school papers, or effective personal letters, you'll find this handbook indispensable. From word choice to punctuation to organization, English teacher Susan Thurman guides you through getting your thoughts on paper with polish.
Using dozens of examples, The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need provides guidelines for:
- Understanding the parts of speech and elements of a sentence
- Avoiding the most common grammar and punctuation mistakes
- Using correct punctuating in every sentence
- Writing clearly and directly
- Approaching writing projects, whether big or small
Easy to follow and authoritative, The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need provides all the necessary tools to make you successful with every type of written expression.
E-Book Content
A ONE-STOP SOURCE FOR EVERY WRITING ASSIGNMENT
THE ONLY
GRAMMAR BOOK YOU’LL EVER NEED
A ONE-STOP SOURCE FOR EVERY WRITING ASSIGNMENT
SUSAN THURMAN Edited by Larry Shea
AADAMS MEDIA Avon. Massachusetts
©2003. F+W Media, Inc. Adapted from The Everything ® Grammar and Style Book by Susan Thurman. ©2002. F+W Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher; exceptions are made for brief excerpts used in published reviews. Published by Adams Media, a division of F+W Media, Inc. 57 Littlefield Street, Avon, MA 02322 U.S.A. www.adamsmedia.com ISBN 10: 1-58062-855-9 ISBN 13: 978-1-58062-855-6 eISBN: 978-1-44051-926-0 Printed in the United States of America. 20 19 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Thurman, Susan (Susan Sommers) The only grammar book you'll ever need / Susan Thurman. p. cm. ISBN 1-58062-855-9 1. English language-Grammar--Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Title. PE1112.T495 2003 428.2-dc21 2002153891 This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information with regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. -From a Declaration of Principles jointly adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appeal* in this book and Adams Media was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters. This book is available at quantity discounts for bulk purchases. For information, call 1-800-289-0963.
Contents Introduction Chapter 1: Finding the Right Words Spelling It Out Commonly Confused Words Chapter 2: Parts of Speech Nouns Pronouns Adjectives Verbs Adverbs Comparisons with Adjectives and Adverbs Prepositions Conjunctions Interjections Chapter 3: Basic Sentence Structure Subjects and Predicates Complements Subject Complements Phrases Clauses Restrictive and Nonrestrictive Clauses Sentence Functions Subject-Verb Agreement: Keeping the Harmony Chapter 4: Verb Varieties Verbals Verb Tenses Irregular Verbs
Moods Chapter 5: Pronoun Problems Problems with Agreement Problems with Indefinite Pronouns Vague Pronoun References Choosing the Right Person Pronoun Cases Situations with Than and As Who and Whom: A Different Slant Chapter 6: Punctuation and Style Ending a Sentence Quotation Marks Using Apostrophes Commas Colons Semicolons Hyphens Dashes Parentheses Sq