The Blue Book Of Grammar And Punctuation (an Easy-to-use Guide With Clear Rules, Real-world Examples, And Reproducible Quizzes)

The bestselling workbook and grammar guide, revised and updated!

Hailed as one of the best books around for teaching grammar, The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation includes easy-to-understand rules, abundant examples, dozens of reproducible quizzes, and pre- and post-tests to help teach grammar to middle and high schoolers, college students, ESL students, homeschoolers, and more.

This concise, entertaining workbook makes learning English grammar and usage simple and fun. This updated 12th edition reflects the latest updates to English usage and grammar, and includes answers to all reproducible quizzes to facilitate self-assessment and learning.

• Clear and concise, with easy-to-follow explanations, offering "just the facts" on English grammar, punctuation, and usage
• Fully updated to reflect the latest rules, along with even more quizzes and pre- and post-tests to help teach grammar
• Ideal for students from seventh grade through adulthood in the US and abroad

For anyone who wants to understand the major rules and subtle guidelines of English grammar and usage, The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation offers comprehensive, straightforward instruction.

Preface and Acknowledgments xix

About the Authors xxi

Introduction xxiii

1Grammar 1

Finding Nouns, Verbs, and Subjects 1

Definitions

Noun

Verb

Subject

Gerund

Using verbs to find subjects

Multiple subjects and verbs in a sentence

Infinitives

You as an understood subject

Subject-Verb Agreement 4

Singular vs. plural verbs

Finding subjects before phrases beginning with of With or, either/or, and neither/nor

Two singular subjects

One singular and one plural subject

With and

With interrupting expressions

With here or there

With distances, periods of time, sums of money, etc.

With portion words such as a lot, a majority, percent, some, all

With collective nouns such as group, family, staff

The subjunctive mood

Irregular Verbs 9

Clauses and Phrases 9

Definitions

Clause

Independent clause

Dependent clause

Phrase

Pronouns 10

Definition: Pronoun

Subject pronouns

As the subject of the sentence

Renaming the subject

When who refers to a personal pronoun

Object pronouns

Subject and verb agreement with who, that, and which

Subject and verb agreement with anyone, someone, each, etc.

Following than or as

Possessive pronouns

Its vs. it’s; who’s vs. whose

Reflexives: the -self pronouns

Consistency with singular pronouns

The singular they Pronouns linked with nouns by and

Possessive adjectives vs. possessive pronouns

Who vs. Whom 16

They/Them method

Common whom pitfall

Whoever vs. Whomever 17

Agreement with the verb in the dependent clause

Dependent clause as the subject of the verb following the clause

Who, That, Which 18

Who, that, and which with people, groups, and things

That with essential clauses

Which with nonessential clauses

When which can be used with essential clauses

Adjectives and Adverbs 19

Definitions

Adjective

Adverb

Adjectives modifying nouns and pronouns

Adverbs modifying verbs, adjectives, and adverbs

When to add -ly

Sense verbs: taste, smell, look, feel, etc.

Good vs. well

Well as an adjective when referring to health

Comparisons, such as -er vs. -est and more vs. most This, that, these, and those

Prepositions 22

Definition: preposition

Ending a sentence wit