English Grammar Essentials For Dummies

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
About This Book
Foolish Assumptions
Icons Used in This Book
Where to Go from Here
Chapter 1: Grappling with Grammar
Grasping Grammar: Good and Proper
Using Aussie English
Having a Quick Squiz at Aussie Words
Choosing Levels of English
Impressing with formal English
Chatting in informal English
Labelling Words
Nouns
Pronouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Adverbs
Verbals
Determiners
Prepositions
Conjunctions
Chapter 2: Controlling Verbs
Verifying Verbs
Happening with action verbs
Being with linking verbs
Helping out in verb groups
Finding the whole verb
Simplifying Subjects
Locating the subject
Baring the complete subject
Uncovering a hidden subject
Commanding an implied subject
Making Subjects and Verbs Agree
Separating singles from plurals
Adjusting verbs to match subjects
Matching two subjects
Looking like Verbs: Verbals
Participating with participles
Naming gerunds
Defining infinitives
Chapter 3: Completing Sentences
Having Subject–Verb Pairs
Expressing Complete Thoughts
Creating Completeness with Clauses
Understanding clauses
Telling main from dependent clauses
Considering Fragments
Fragmented subject–verb pair
Fragmented ideas
Contemplating Complements
Receiving direct objects
Baring complete objects
Identifying the direct object or complement
Recognising indirect objects
Completing Linking Verbs
Complementing the Object
Chapter 4: Peaking with Pronouns
Matching Pronouns with Nouns
Avoiding Vague Pronoun Use
Choosing Singular and Plural Pronouns
Pairing Pronouns with Collective Nouns
Selecting Pronouns as Subjects
Matching more than one subject
Selecting pronouns as objects
Knowing Who or Whom
Comparing with Pronouns
Owning Possessive Pronouns
Reflecting on Reflexive Pronouns
Chapter 5: Modifying with Descriptions
Adding Meaning with Adjectives
Describing with Adjectives
Locating adjectives
Adding adjectives to nouns
Adding adjectives to pronouns
Using adjectives with linking verbs
Describing with Adverbs
Finding adverbs
Using adverbs to describe other describing words
Using adverbs to modify a complete statement
Misplacing Descriptions
Dangling a Description in Space
Squinting Descriptions
Chapter 6: Punctuating for Meaning
Conquering Commas
Using commas in lists
Addressing people directly
Noting introductory and concluding words
Adding extra detail with pairs of commas
Connecting commas with conjunctions
Airing All about Apostrophes
Using apostrophes in contractions
Owning apostrophes of possession
Simplifying Semicolons
Hinging complete thoughts
Joining with conjuncts
Separating in lists
Clarifying Colons
Setting up long lists
Setting up extracts
Expanding on an idea
Dealing with Dashes
Using the humble hyphen with words
Using the humble hyphen with numbers
Embracing Em and En Dashes
Chapter 7: Choosing Capital Letters and Numerals
Covering the Basics of Capitalisation
Speaking officially
Addressing family
Capitalising directions
Understanding geographical capital letters
Talking about history
Referring to times and times of year
Looking at titles
Deciding When to Use Numerals
Chapter 8: Avoiding Tricky Situations
Eliminating Sexist Pronouns
Choosing Between Adjectives and Adverbs
Choosing between good and well
Choosing between real and really
Being Clear with Even, Almost and Only
Understanding the Connection Between Which, That and the Comma
Creating Clear Comparisons
Controlling regular comparisons
Mastering irregular comparisons
Eradicating illogical comparisons
Storytelling in Past or Present Tense
Choosing past or present tense
Mixing tenses
Choosing between done and did
Using lie, lay, laid, lain
Matching Up Two-Part Conjunctions
Ending the Problem with I or Me
Editing Out Empty Subjects: Its, Here and There
Ending a Sentence with a Preposition
Chapter 9: Reporting Speech and Quoting Others
Quoting Someone Else
Punctuating Block Quotations
Joining the Dots with Ellipses
Putting Brackets within Quotations
Recording Titles
Writing Conversation: Quotation Marks
Indicating indirect speech
Dealing with direct speech
Showing a change of speaker
Writing someone’s thought
Creating Scare Quotes: Aerial Quotation Marks
Chapter 10: Writing with Style
Building Better Sentences
Pairing equal ideas: Coordination
Demoting lesser ideas: Subordination
Creating logic with coordination and subordination
Varying sentence patterns
Finding the Right Voice: Active and Passive
Creating Writing That Flows: Cohesion
Putting ideas in order: Sequencing
Connecting ideas with transition words
Being Absolutely Clear: Plain English
Avoiding word-wasting
Selecting the best words
Staying positive
Chapter 11: Creating More Accurate Documents
Summarising with Bullet Point Lists
Handling Addresses and Dates
Adding addresses
Dealing with the date
Filling in the Rules for Abbreviations
Stretching out acronyms
Clearing up initialisms
Ensuring Effective Emails
Establishing who, why and what
Averting potential disaster
Focussing on Visual Presentations
Presenting Perfect Bibliographies
Understanding author–date system versus documentary–note system
Defining a reference list
Chapter 12: Ten Solutions to the Most Common Grammar Errors
Adding Apostrophes (Or Not)
Reaching Agreement
Staying in the Right Tense
Splicing Sentences with a Comma
Running Sentences On
Fragmenting Sentences
Misplacing Modifiers
Knowing When to Use Subject and Object Pronouns
Selecting Prepositions
Confusing ‘Of’ with ‘Have’
Index
EULA