Summary

Like its best-selling predecessors, this edition of English Fundamentals offers a solid treatment of grammar and usage that has proven successful in thousands of classrooms.

Beginning with the basic elements of the sentence, the book presents each topic with clear, detailed explanations and numerous exercises. The first lessons introduce students to the basic system of the language and provide carefully chosen examples of verb connections, basic sentence patterns, and the internal workings of the sentence. Once the foundation is laid, subsequent lessons explore the more complex structures and relationships of the language. The final instructional section surveys college writing; students study the writing process, with special emphasis on techniques of invention, and then learn to apply the process to a wide range of writing assignments typical of college courses. The section closes with coverage of essay tests and test-taking. The examples and exercises throughout the book come from a number of disciplines, including science and business, to accommodate the interests of a wide range of students. The text concludes with a set of twenty progress tests and three appendixes: sentence-combining, diagnostic tests, and an answer key to the Practice Sheets.

As in previous editions, English Fundamentals comes in three forms, so instructors have the option to cover the same material using different exercises from one year to the next.