Understanding English Grammar : A Linguistic Approach

by Wardhaugh, Ronald

• ISBN13: 9780631232926
• ISBN10: 0631232923
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-11-01
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

Understanding English Grammar presents a linguistic introduction to the structure of English that is accessible to students who have had little or no opportunity to study the language. The book features information about the essentials of English words, sentences, and sounds within a framework derived from modern linguistic theory. The volume also provides students with an introduction to the scholarly study of language and a comprehensive exploration of English grammar.Understanding English Grammar is designed as a teaching tool; there are numerous exercises at the end of each chapter, a list of further readings, and an indexed glossary. This second edition has been updated throughout with additional examples and enhanced discussion, as well as an increased emphasis on the study of meaning.The bookis supported by an online instructor's manual available at: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/wardhaugh.

Author Biography

Ronald Wardhaugh is Professor Emeritus in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Toronto. His many successful books include An Introduction to Sociolinguistics (fourth edition, Blackwell 2002) and Proper English (Blackwell 1998).

Table of Contents

Preface	ix
Preface to the Second Edition	x
Preliminaries	1	(3)
Descriptivism and Prescriptivism	1	(1)
Exercises	2	(2)
Word Classes	4	(29)
Parts of Speech	4	(4)
Nouns	8	(4)
Pronouns	12	(4)
Verbs	16	(4)
Adjectives	20	(3)
Adverbs	23	(2)
Class Boundaries	25	(3)
Other Parts of Speech	28	(2)
Exercises	30	(3)
Constituents and Phrases	33	(41)
Constituency	33	(3)
Noun Phrases	36	(13)
Adjective Phrases	49	(3)
Prepositional Phrases	52	(3)
Verb Phrases	55	(9)
Adverb Phrases	64	(4)
Exercises	68	(6)
Basic Clauses	74	(28)
Predicates and Roles	74	(4)
Subjects	78	(4)
Subject--Verb Agreement	82	(2)
Complements	84	(11)
Verb--Particle Constructions	95	(3)
Exercises	98	(4)
Coordination and Embedding	102	(21)
Coordination	102	(6)
Embedded Clauses	108	(1)
Relative Clauses	109	(5)
Noun Clauses	114	(3)
Adverb Clauses	117	(2)
Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences	119	(1)
Exercises	120	(3)
Clausal Variation	123	(18)
Passives	123	(5)
Imperatives	128	(2)
Questions	130	(5)
Emphatics	135	(1)
Negatives	135	(3)
Miscellaneous Patterns	138	(1)
Exercises	139	(2)
Underlying Relationships	141	(24)
Sentence Generation	142	(3)
Relationships	145	(1)
Passives	146	(4)
Imperatives	150	(1)
Affix Hopping and Do support	151	(2)
Questions	153	(4)
Relatives	157	(4)
Exercises	161	(4)
Rules and Principles	165	(20)
Negatives	165	(1)
Dative Movement	166	(2)
Reflexives	168	(1)
There Insertion	169	(2)
Complements	171	(3)
Raising	174	(3)
Extrapositioning	177	(1)
Clefting	178	(1)
Pronominalization, Substitution, and Ellipsis	179	(3)
Exercises	182	(3)
Sounds and Systems	185	(19)
Contrastive Sounds	185	(6)
Distinctive Characteristics	191	(5)
Systems	196	(2)
Phonemic Sequences	198	(2)
Neutralization	200	(1)
Transcriptions	200	(2)
Exercises	202	(2)
Phonetic Realization	204	(13)
Allophonic Variation	204	(7)
Transcriptions	211	(1)
Regional and Social Variations	212	(4)
Exercises	216	(1)
Word Formation	217	(23)
Words and Lexemes	217	(2)
Morphology	219	(2)
Inflection	221	(5)
Derivation	226	(7)
Compounding	233	(2)
Conversion and Other Processes	235	(3)
Exercises	238	(2)
Words and Sounds	240	(14)
English Stress	240	(1)
Stress Assignment	241	(5)
Consonant Alternations	246	(3)
Vowel Alternations	249	(3)
Exercises	252	(2)
Sounds in Context	254	(11)
Syllables	254	(4)
Intonation	258	(2)
Allegro Speech	260	(4)
Exercises	264	(1)
Further Reading	265	(2)
Indexed Glossary	267