Second edition
Oxford
Practice
Grammar
with answers John Eastwood
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press
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ISBN 0 19 431369 7 (with answers)
ISBN 0 19 431427 8 (with answers with CD-ROM)
ISBN 0 19 431370 0 (without answers)
© Oxford University Press 1992, 1999
First published 1992 (reprinted nine times)
Second edition 1999
Tenth impression 2002
Printing ref. (last digit): 6 5 4 3 2 1
No unauthorized photocopying
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Oxford University Press.
This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not, by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out, or otherwise circulated without the publisher`s prior consent in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
Illustrated by Richard Coggan Designed by Richard Morris, Stonesfield Design Typeset by Tradespools Ltd., Frome, Somerset Printed in China
Thanks
The author and publisher would like to thank:
all the teachers in the United Kingdom and Italy who discussed this book in the early stages of its development;
the teachers and students of the following schools who used and commented on the pilot units of the first edition:
The Bell School of Languages, Bowthorpe Hall,
Norwich
The Eckersley School of English, Oxford Eurocentre, Brighton Eurocentre, London Victoria King`s School of English, Bournemouth Academia Lacunza - International House, San Sebastian, Spain
the teachers and students of the following schools who used and commented on the first edition of this book:
Anglo World, Oxford
Central School of English, London
Linguarama, Birmingham
Thomas Lavelle for his work on the American English appendix;
Rod Bolitho for his valuable advice on what students need from a grammar book.
The author would also like to thank:
Stewart Melluish, David Lott and Helen Ward of Oxford University Press for their expertise and their commitment in guiding this project from its earliest stages to the production of this new edition;
Sheila Eastwood for all her help and encouragement.
Introduction
Who is this book for?
Oxford Practice Grammar is for students of English at a middle or `intermediate` level. This means students who are no longer beginners but who are not yet expert in English. The book is suitable for those studying for the Cambridge First Certificate in English. It can be used by students attending classes or by someone working alone.
What does the book consist of?
The book consists of 153 units, each on a grammatical topic. The units cover the main areas of English grammar. Special attention is given to those points which are often a problem for learners: the meaning of the different verb forms, the use of the passive, conditionals, prepositions and so on.
Many units contrast two or more different structures such as the present perfect and past simple (Units 14-15). There are also a number of review units. The emphasis through the whole book is on the meaning and use of the forms in situations. Most units start with a dialogue, or sometimes a text, which shows how the forms are used in a realistic context.
There are also 25 tests. These come after each group of units and cover the area of grammar dealt with in those units.
Each unit consists of an explanation of the grammar point followed by a number of exercises. Almost all units cover two pages. The explanations are on the left-hand page, and the exercises are on the right-hand page. There are a few four-page units, with two pages of explanation and two pages of exercises.
The examples used to illustrate the explanations are mostly in everyday conversational English, except when the structure is more typical of a formal or written style (e.g. Unit 75B).
There are also appendices on a number of other topics, including word formation, American English and irregular verbs.
What`s new about this edition?
There have been many changes in both the content and design of the book.
The number of units has been increased from 120 to 153. There are more two-page units and fewer four-page units.
The 25 tests are a new feature. There is also a Starting test to help students find out what they need to study.
There are many more dialogues and illustrations on the explanation pages. Many of the examples and situations are new.
• There are many new exercises and more different types of exercise