Many students of English as a second language are daunted by the complexitiesf English grammar and its terminology. This user-friendly book was writtenspecially for them. The emphasis here is on practical use of written andpoken English, rather than on theory. The first of the book's 15 chaptersxplains different kinds of sentences - affirmative, negative, andnterrogative, as well as clauses and phrases that are component parts ofany sentences. Several chapters that follow focus on different parts ofpeech, describing their uses in verbal and written communication. The book'sater chapters discuss vocabulary, standard protocols in conversationalpeech, and modes of expression, such as preferences and dislikes. A separatehapter presents guidelines for composing letters, e-mails, resumes, andther written forms. Short quizzes for self-testing appear throughout theext, with answers given at the back of the book.

Marcel Danesi, Ph.D., is Professor of Foreign Languages at the University of Toronto