The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar

Synopsis

The Oxford Dictionary of English Grammar is a straightforward and accessible A-Z guide to the diverse and often complex terminology of English grammar. It contains over 1,600 entries with clear and concise definitions, enhanced by numerous example sentences, as well as relevant quotations from the scholarly literature of the field. This second edition is written and edited by Professor Bas Aarts of University College London, writer of the acclaimed Oxford Modern English Grammar. It has been fully revised and updated, with particular attention paid to refreshing the example sentences included within the text. There are over 150 new entries that cover current terminology which has arisen since the publication of the first edition, and there are also new entries on the most important English grammars published since the start of the 20th century. Hundreds of new cross-references enhance the user-friendly nature of the text, and the list of works cited has been thoroughly updated to reflect the current state of the field. A short appendix of web links has been added. All in all, this Dictionary is an invaluable guide to English grammar for all students and teachers of the subject, as well as all those with an informed interest in the English language.

Summary

Chapter 1: Introduction

This chapter introduces the concept of grammar as a system of rules that govern the structure and use of words in a language. It discusses different perspectives on grammar and emphasizes the importance of both descriptive and prescriptive approaches.

Real example:
Descriptive grammar: "The word 'they' can be used as a gender-neutral singular or plural pronoun."
Prescriptive grammar: "One should not use 'they' as a singular pronoun."

Chapter 2: Grammatical Categories

This chapter explores the fundamental grammatical categories that are used to organize words and phrases, including nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, and conjunctions. It also introduces the concept of grammatical functions, such as subject, object, and modifier.

Real example:
- Noun: "cat"
- Verb: "run"
- Adjective: "fluffy"
- Adverb: "quickly"
- Preposition: "in"
- Conjunction: "and"

Chapter 3: Phrase Structure

This chapter focuses on the rules that govern the arrangement of words into phrases. It introduces different types of phrases, including noun phrases, verb phrases, and prepositional phrases, and explains how they function within sentences.

Real example:
Noun phrase: "the big black cat"
Verb phrase: "ran quickly"
Prepositional phrase: "on the table"

Chapter 4: Sentence Structure

This chapter investigates the rules that govern the structure of sentences. It discusses different types of sentences, including simple, compound, and complex sentences, and explains how clauses and phrases are combined to form complex grammatical units.

Real example:
Simple sentence: "The cat ran."
Compound sentence: "The cat ran, and the dog chased it."
Complex sentence: "When the cat ran, the dog chased it."

Chapter 5: Grammatical Relations

This chapter explores the grammatical relations that exist between words and phrases in sentences. It introduces concepts such as agreement, case, and transitivity, and discusses how these relations contribute to the meaning and interpretation of sentences.

Real example:
- Agreement: "The cat and the dog are playing."
- Case: "She gave the ball to the dog."
- Transitivity: "The cat chased the mouse." (Transitive verb)
- Intransitivity: "The dog slept." (Intransitive verb)

Chapter 6: Grammatical Meaning

This chapter examines the ways in which grammar conveys meaning. It discusses the use of grammatical markers, such as tense, aspect, and modality, and explains how these markers contribute to the interpretation and understanding of sentences.

Real example:
- Tense: "The cat ran (past tense) across the street."
- Aspect: "The cat is running (progressive aspect) in the park."
- Modality: "The cat may (possibility) come home soon."

Chapter 7: Lexical Grammar

This chapter explores the relationship between grammar and lexis (vocabulary). It discusses the ways in which grammatical structures can influence the meaning and use of words, and how lexical choices can affect the grammatical construction of sentences.

Real example:
- Collocation: "have a bath" instead of "take a bath"
- Word formation: "happiness" (noun) from "happy" (adjective)