Practical English Usage: Michael Swan’s guide to problems in English

Practical English Usage answers the questions that teachers and learners ask about English grammar and vocabulary, using clear corpus-informed explanations and examples.More than 600 entries range across issues such as:

• using tenses

• the truth about conditionals

• article problems

• singular they

• get as a passive auxiliary

• bring or take?

• can, could, may or might?

• classic or classical?

• the language of emails

• politeness

• avoiding offensive language

New edition

Now organized into two main parts for quicker, easier reference

• Complete practical learner’s grammar

28 sections cover all the grammar and usage that learners need to know, including:

– the grammar of speech and formal writing

– British-American differences

– changes in English

– questions of style and idiom

– lists of learners’ most common mistakes

• Guide to vocabulary problems

– rules for word formation and spelling

– a survey of high-priority vocabulary areas

– an A-Z guide to over 250 common word problems.