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English Grammar Boot Camp

By: Anne Curzan, The Great Courses
Narrated by: Anne Curzan
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Publisher's Summary

Grammar! For many of us, the word triggers memories of finger-wagging schoolteachers, and of wrestling with the ambiguous and complicated rules of using formal language. But what is grammar? In fact, it's the integral basis of how we speak and write.

As such, a refined awareness of grammar opens a world of possibilities for both your pleasure in the English language and your skill in using it, in both speech and the written word. As a foundation for writing, a detailed grounding in grammar and usage will hugely expand your resources for meaningful verbal expression, for navigating the subtleties of the language, and for achieving clarity of communication and stylistic power.

In English Grammar Boot Camp, linguist and popular Great Courses instructor Professor Curzan takes you on an enjoyable exploration of the essential aspects of English grammar. These 24 spirited and accessible lectures offer you a comprehensive core training - a linguistic "boot camp," by which we mean a thorough immersion in all of the key elements of English grammar and usage, in their most immediate, practical application.

Here you get a breadth of perspective and context you won't find elsewhere, leaving you with a more choices and rich verbal resources for your own use of the language. In discussing the different parts of speech, Professor Curzan directs your attention to how the element at hand evolved. Highlighting reflections from 18th- and 19th-century usage guides as well as from multiple modern commentators, she guides you in examining real-world language use in a variety of contexts, helping you develop a sophisticated frame of reference and a deep awareness of the idiosyncrasies of English.

This delightful and superbly insightful course offers you a unique opportunity to explore the linguistic riches of the English language, and to significantly deepen your mastery of grammar, usage, and style.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.

©2016 The Great Courses (P)2016 The Teaching Company, LLC

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I must admit I am disappointed by this book. I was hoping for a revision on English grammar but the theme all through the book was that if enough people approve a particular grammatical construct, then it should be legitimised even though it may not be logical or elegant. In contrast, I see English as a logical language. There is a certain symmetry and logic in how sentences are constructed, similar to the language of numbers, which is why we have conventional rules on grammar. By being too permissive and loose, we are effectively allowing colloquialism to dilute the elegance of written English. In summary, this book treats grammar as a popularity contest.

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A must- listen -to series of talks. Brilliant!

An extremely valuable overview of English grammar, masterfully presented. It cannot but improve your communication skills and make you confident of the grammar choices you make. I also looking forward to my next party.

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1 person found this helpful

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Ugliest grammar book ever made

It’s a waste of money. It talks differently from other grammar books and in the end nonsense.

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Pretty useful

This book is pretty useful and interesting for an English learner. I really like it.

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Great grammar

Really easy to understand, really interesting presentation and learned a lot of new information. Recommend

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