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Grammar in Practice 5 | |
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Author: Roger Gower
£4.99
ISBN 0-521-61828-2
Again this month we look at one in a series of books. The series this time deals with grammar and is number five in a six-book series. Each book in the series follows the same format. It teaches grammar by showing examples, and then goes straight into a set of exercises. Each exercise is designed so that it takes only a few minutes, but the result is the same as if you exercise your body for a few extra minutes each day - one day might not do much, but over time, you will start to see results.
This is a small book, both in size and page count. It is just too big to fit into a jacket, but even a small shoulder bag will hold it easily. Inside there are 78 pages of text, with exercises on a different grammar point. Some points are on a single page, others are spread over two pages. The exercises are on the usual grammar points; typical exercises are on, for example, question words, tenses, and adverbs of degree. A blue box at the top shows the grammar and usage of the point in question. This takes up between a quarter and half of the page - it is not a complete description of that point, but it is a useful reminder to someone who already knows it. Then there are usually two to four short exercises that go with that grammar point. The exercises ask users to make selections from multiple choices, or to rewrite parts of a sentence, or to choose which option is correct in order to complete a sentence. The pictures are simple line drawings, and the book itself is very easy to use once you have understood the way it is laid out. Every ten exercises there is a test to check progress. At the back there is an answer key, a list of irregular verbs and a spelling guide.
Who is this book for? Anyone who is studying for an exam will find this book useful. Also any intermediate student who finds difficulty with a grammar point would be able to take the book out and work quickly through the exercises on the grammar which was causing the problem. For this reason, teachers will find it useful with students receiving individual tuition, and it is a handy practice book for those about to do an exam. It is not designed to be the main class textbook and wold not work well for this.
Verdict: Excellent for revision
Assessment 7/10