Understanding sentence structure: an introduction to English syntax - 12 (1st)

'Understanding Sentence Structure' is for people who have never thought about syntax, and who don't know anything about grammar, but who want to learn.

Assuming a blank slate on the part of the reader, the book treats English grammar as a product of the speaker's mind, and builds up student skills by exploring phrases and sentences with more and more complexity, as the chapters proceed.

It guides readers step by step through each chapter with intermittent exercises.

In order to capitalise on the reader's confidence as a personal authority on English, Christina Tortora assumes an inclusive definition of English, taking dialect variation as a given.

A consistent effort is made throughout to avoid pathologising uses and structures which we know to be common amongst millions of English speakers.