Grammar
The pages listed below provide an introduction to the elements of English grammar. They are based on the opening chapters of my book Grammar for Teachers, but a few short sections have been cut – so if you want the full version (and the remaining 70% of the book!), you will need to buy a copy. You can buy a downloadable printable version on this website.
Find out more about Grammar for Teachers.
These pages contain almost all the material that was on the old Grammar for Teachers website. The main content is listed underneath each button.
Clause patterns and clause elements
- types of sentence
- clause patterns
- subject
- verb
- direct object
- indirect object
- subject complement
- object complement
- adverbial
- nouns
- countable and uncountable
- pronouns
- noun phrases
- determiners
- premodifers and postmodifiers
- adjectives
- qualitative and classifying adjectives
What is this thing called verb?
- verbs as a word class
- forms of the verb
- regular and irregular verbs
- main verbs
- auxiliary verbs
- modal auxiliaries
- verbs as a clause element
- tense
- time
- aspect
Adverbs and other awkward customers
- adverbs
- intensifiers
- adverbials
- adjuncts
- place, time and manner
- conjuncts
- disjuncts
- prepositions
- prepositional phrases
- three types of sentence
- simple sentences
- compound sentences
- co-ordinating conjunctions
- complex sentences
- subordinating conjunctions
- nominal clauses
- relative clauses
- adverbial clauses