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judoka · Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 53 Location: North Pole

I hate it when I don't know how to explain a grammar rule to my students. Is there a book out there that is a solution to this problem? The grammar books I have just don't cut it. There's got to be a better book for this. Anyone?

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

What books have you currently got?

I've found Martin Parrott's book to be good. Though as I'm discovering, the weight of this book is prohibative to taking it abroad (for me at least).

Surely the answers will be somewhere on the internet?

lucia79 · Joined: 18 Jun 2011 Posts: 156

I have Martin Parrott's book Grammar for English Language Teachers and it is a really good book to have in your library. I took it with me abroad although it is a bit heavy. However, it is a great resource.

judoka · Joined: 28 Jan 2009 Posts: 53 Location: North Pole

Perfect. A book recommended in the first 2 replies. I will start my search for that book today. Even if it's heavy, it will be a valuable book for me to have. Thanks to you two. If anyone else knows of any other books, please let us know.

GMark · Joined: 02 Apr 2010 Posts: 46 Location: China

Hey, a great book to have is Practical English Usage, by Michael Swan.

lydia.bainbridge · Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 33

A great online resource is Guide to Grammar and Writing: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

Shroob · Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1339

Just a quick update. I've actually found Parrott's book, it wasn't the one I was thinking of when I said, 'too big to take abroad' or words to that effect. It's actually quite reasonable and probably a good use of my 20kg luggage allowance. Who needs shoes anyway?

Mr. English · Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 298 Location: Nakuru, Kenya

The best I have ever seen are Grammar Express (for intermediate to advanced students) and Grammar Express Basic (for beginners), both by Fuchs/Bonner, published by Longman/Pearson.

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 7:23 am Post subject:

Murphy Murphy Murphy!!!

http://www.cambridge.org/ru/elt/catalogue/subject/project/item404854/English-Grammar-in-Use/?site_locale=ru_RU

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

Practical English Usage
Michael Swan

Mr. English · Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 298 Location: Nakuru, Kenya

Two people have mentioned Swan's book, but as its title implies, it is a usage manual, not a grammar book. Yes, there is lots of grammar in it, but if you want to focus on grammar, there are better. It also focuses on advanced material, which is fine, but if you are teaching students who are not at that level, again there are better. It also has no exercises, no answers to exercises, and more that can make a grammar book useful when working with students. The Grammar Express books have these things.

And on the subject, any body or any book to answer a grammar question that has recently come up for me? Is "bitterer", in the sense of the comparative of "bitter", a word? The two outstanding dictionaries that I have access to, an Oxford American and a Merriam-Webster, do not have any information; neither does Swan. I find two online dictionaries of questionable authority that do list it. On a personal level, "the bitterest" rolls off my tongue just fine: "This is the bitterest coffee that I have drunk in months". But the comparative, "This coffee is bitterer than what we drank yesterday", just doesn't sound quite right. Can the superlative work without "most" and the comparative not work without "more"?

lucia79 · Joined: 18 Jun 2011 Posts: 156

Interesting! I'll have to do some research on that one. I have never heard anyone use 'bitterer'. We would just say, "This is more bitter than ....."

Sashadroogie · Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 8:39 am Post subject:

Yes, it's quite common. Like 'cleverer'. There is sometimes an overlap between comparative forms.

Mr. English · Joined: 25 Nov 2009 Posts: 298 Location: Nakuru, Kenya

Yes, Grammar Express, in appendix 12, lists 13 words that can be used with er/est or more/most: common, deadly, friendly, happy, lively, lonely, lovely, narrow, pleasant, polite, quiet, shallow, and true. It just doesn't sound right, "bitterer", though if one can use "the bitterest", which sounds fine, I guess "bitterer" must be a word.

marmot · Joined: 22 Apr 2011 Posts: 14 Location: Shanghai

I'm also interested in a good grammar book as a reference. I looked into Martin Parrott's book but it seems the book is entirely based on British English. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but as an American it wouldn't feel natural to me. Does anyone know of a good grammar book that is American based?