Preface This book focuses on the grammatical problems that prevent speakers at your level from achieving a native-like command of English grammar. While the book covers most areas of English grammar, it has a heavy concentration on those aspects of grammar that have proven to be the greatest obstacles for intermediate and advanced nonnative speakers. The book has an unusual format. Most topics are broken into small mini-units, most of them no more than a page or two. Each of these mini-units is supported by an exercise covering just the material in that mini-unit. The explanations help you understand the material, but it is the exercises that enable you to gain active control over it. All of the exercises have complete answers in the back of the book. It is very important for you to work through these exercises. There is a world of difference between the passive knowledge gained by reading the explanations and the active command gained by writing out the exercises. English Grammar Drills is organized into three parts: Part 1 covers noun phrases, the first of the two fundamental building blocks of English grammar. Noun phrases function as the subjects of sentences, the objects or complements of verbs, and the objects of prepositions. Part 2 explores verb phrases, the second of the two fundamental building blocks of English grammar. Verb phrases contain three components: the verb, the complement, and the optional adverbs. Part 3 examines sentences. The main topics are how to form and use active and passive sentences, how to form questions and negatives, and how to change direct quotations to indirect quotations. Each chapter is self-contained. Unlike a conventional textbook, you do not need to start on page 1. You may begin with whatever topic you would like to gain more active control over.
vii