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Grammar Express | |
Longman
Authors: Marjorie Fuchs & Margaret Bonner, Kenna Bourke
416 pages.
£13.00
IBSN 0-582- 77645-7
This is the more recent edition of this book, which has changed its pale brown cover for bright orange. (The orange theme goes on inside the book, where the colours are orange borders, black text, and the occasional grey photo). The book is what the cover says - over 400 pages of the basics of English grammar at the intermediate level.
There are fifteen sections of about twenty pages each. These are on the standard topics of English grammar - the tenses, adjectives, nouns, modals (two chapters), gerunds, passives and so on. Each section is divided into five units (making 76 in the book). For example, the units on the conditional are conditionals zero to four, and a final unit on wishes. Each section starts with a two page explanation of the grammar point, with some handy little (orange) boxes called 'be careful!' which describe common errors which students make with the grammar point being discussed.
The first exercise in each section helps the student to recognize the grammar point being discussed - for example the exercise on the present perfect asks the student to identify its usage in a passage. Then it is on to the standard type of exercises - gap fills, error spotting and so forth. Overall the book does its job of teaching grammar well, and the large number of exercises make it useful for practice. At the back are the usual grammar index and answer key. Each section finishes with a self-test.
Who is this book for? The book says that it is suitable for self-study or classroom. However, there are no exercises or material particularly adapted for group work and a teacher would either want to add games or supplementary materials if using this book in an English classroom. Those studying for an exam will find it a handy reference and exercise book for grammar. Overall, its main selling point is that it is so big that you get more for your money than with many similar but slimmer books.
Verdict: Solid but unexciting grammar textbook
Assessment 7/10