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Best grammar reference book for teacher to buy?
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:46 am
by grammar_is_tricky
Hi!
If I were to buy just one grammar reference book for both my study and as a reference for teaching, what would you recommend and why? (Or if there is no ONE book, which 2 (or 3!) should I get?
Considering -
Michael Swan - Practical English Usage
Martin Parrot - Grammar for English Language Teachers
Geoffrey Leach - A-Z of English Grammar and Usage.
Definitely open to other suggestions too, thanks!
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 11:53 am
by fluffyhamster
I'd say the best reference of those three is Swan (followed by Leech). Parrot could I suppose be used as a sort of very general reference, but I think it's more meant as a coursebook for getting an overview of the broad brushstrokes of grammar and increasing one's language awareness, for example, whilst doing a CELTA.
Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 3:58 pm
by Stephen Jones
For your own usage the best grammar is
The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language
by Rodney Huddleston and Geoffrey Pullum
Product Details
- Hardcover: 1860 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 2.73 x 10.05 x 7.42
Publisher: Cambridge University Press; (June 2002)
ISBN: 0521431468
or
A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language
by Randolph Quirk, Jan Svartvik (contributor), Geoffry Leech (contributor), Sydney Greenbaum
Product Details
- Hardcover: 1779 pages ; Dimensions (in inches): 3.29 x 11.92 x 8.25
Publisher: Addison-Wesley Pub Co; (February 1989)
ISBN: 0582517346
For a reference grammar for students the ones you have listed.
Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 2:09 am
by fluffyhamster
Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:42 pm
by Macavity
I wouldn't touch "A Communicative Grammar of English" with a barge pole, otherwise the choice is yours. Swan is a safe enough bet to get started on though.
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 4:12 am
by fluffyhamster
Why the aversion to the CommGE, Mac?
Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 5:05 pm
by donnach
A Student's Grammar of the English Language by Sidney Greenbaum and Randolph Quirk was what I chose after researching the topic and receiving recommendations from many people.
Don't be fooled by the title, "student" refers to those majoring in Linguistics or English.
Donna