Practical Grammar and Composition

Thomas WoodProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

2.8

Word count: 385K words
Chapters: 39

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Practical Grammar and Composition by Thomas WoodAuthor: Wood, Thomas, 1883-,Language: English, Class: PE: Language and Literatures: English, Release Date: Sep 11, 2007

Editor's review

This is a practical guide to English grammar and composition, a public-domain language-learning resource suited to serve as a desk reference for standard English expression. Its value lies in combining grammar points with writing practice: it explains the basics of parts of speech and sentence structure, and uses exercises such as sentence building, error correction, and paragraph organization to help readers turn knowledge into expressive ability. The text is mainly explanation plus exercises, clearly structured for sequential study chapter by chapter or for looking up specific problems. Because it was written long ago, some example sentences and usages bear the marks of their time, and readers should judge their use against contemporary English. It is suitable for systematic study of English writing, for preparing a writing course, or for filling gaps, and for teachers selecting exercise material. Overall, it is not a quick-fix book but a basic reference to be read with practice and consulted repeatedly.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Learners who want to systematically review English grammar rules and improve written expression
English teachers or self-learners who need writing exercises and error-correction practice
Students preparing for an English writing course who want a solid foundation in sentences and paragraphs
Adult readers who prefer learning English through rule explanations plus exercises

Not a good fit for

Readers who only want to improve English through light reading and are unwilling to do exercises
Learners seeking quick results in contemporary spoken expression or exam techniques
Readers expecting modern English usage and up-to-date example sentences

Reading tips

First read the table of contents, then choose chapters on weak grammar points for close study, completing each chapter's exercises before moving on.
Keep a notebook for rules and common errors, and rewrite the book's example sentences into contemporary examples you are familiar with.
Combine the writing exercises with your daily English writing, and check each finished piece against the book's standards.
When you meet dated example sentences, mark them and replace them with modern English expressions rather than imitating them mechanically.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book suitable for someone learning English from scratch?

Not really for complete beginners. The book is mainly rule explanation and writing practice, and assumes readers already have basic English vocabulary and a concept of sentences. Beginners should first master basic vocabulary and simple sentence patterns, then use it as a workbook for standard expression; otherwise they may struggle with terminology and exercises.

Are the grammar rules in this book still usable today?

Most basic grammar rules still apply, such as parts of speech, sentence elements, and subject-verb agreement. But because the book is old, some example sentences, spelling habits, and usages bear the marks of their time, and a few norms may differ from contemporary English. Use the rule framework as the main guide and check specific usages against modern dictionaries and writing guides.

How can I use this book to improve my writing?

Don't just read without practicing. Study one chapter's rules, complete the corresponding sentence-building, error-correction, and paragraph exercises, then apply those rules to your own English writing and check it item by item. The cycle of 'learn the rule—do the exercise—revise your own writing' improves written expression more than reading straight through.

Is this book an original English edition, and how difficult is it to read?

This is an original English public-domain book; both explanations and exercises are written in English. It is a language-learning text with generally plain sentences but many grammatical terms. Readers with intermediate English reading ability can finish it with a dictionary; beginners should read it alongside a Chinese grammar book to reduce the difficulty of terminology.

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About the author

Thomas Wood Author · 1883

Thomas Wood (born 1883) is the author of Practical Grammar and Composition. Very little is publicly known about his life: his year of death, nationality, education, and career are all unrecorded, and only his birth in 1883 can be confirmed. Judging from the one work available, the book offers basic training in English grammar and writing as a practical textbook, combining rule-based instruction with composition exercises for learners who wish to master written expression systematically. With only this single title in the collection, it is not yet possible to present a full picture of his writing style or to assess the reach of his influence. Further understanding of this author will depend on the discovery and verification of more public historical sources.