Real Grammar - Susan Conrad, Douglas Biber 2009

To the Student

A New Kind of Grammar Book

Real Grammar: A Corpus-Based Approach to English is new in many ways.

• It is based on a corpus. A corpus is a very large collection of spoken and written texts. We used computers to analyze the Longman Corpus Network to see how people really speak and write, so Real Grammar can help you learn authentic English grammar.

• It is a supplement. We know that you have studied basic grammar in a traditional textbook. This supplement will teach you more specific information, especially how speakers and writers actually use grammar. You will even learn more about “easy” grammar structures.

• It focuses on typical grammar. Real Grammar looks at the grammatical patterns that are most common in speech or writing. You may have heard people label grammar as “correct” or “incorrect.” But some “correct” structures just aren’t used in certain circumstances. Using English proficiently means knowing typical grammar in addition to correct grammar.

• It covers different grammar choices for speech and writing. Using grammar appropriately means making the right choice for a casual conversation vs. an academic paper. This book will help you to learn the grammar that is typical in conversation, and how that is different from the grammar typical in writing.

• It presents grammar with connections to vocabulary. Many grammatical structures are commonly used with certain words. Real Grammar identifies the words that most frequently occur with each grammatical structure.

• It uses authentic language examples. Only language that was spoken or written by real people in natural situations appears here. No examples were created just for this book!

• It presents grammar structures in a discourse context. That means you see the grammar with other natural language around it.

• It helps you to understand grammar in reading and listening, besides using it in speaking and writing. Understanding the grammar others use is as important as producing it yourself. Real Grammar has activities to make you think about how grammar is used and what it means.

Using the Book

Real Grammar has 50 units, organized into 11 parts. The units are organized in a logical sequence, with more difficult units toward the end of the parts. However, each unit is complete on its own. This means you can work on units in any order you choose. You can also choose to focus on only conversation or writing; the speech and/or writing icons next to the title of each unit will help you make your selection.

If you are in a grammar class, you can match the topics of units to your traditional grammar book and use the units to supplement your traditional book. Alternatively, especially if you are an advanced student of English, you can work through this book independently in order to refine your grammar skills.

Using the Units

Each unit heading in Real Grammar has three types of information:

Unit 6 It really made a difference…

Meanings of Make + Noun Phrase

• The language title shows an example of the target structure, taken from the corpus: It really made a difference...

• The grammar title describes the target structure: Meanings of Make + Noun Phrase

• Icons show whether the structure is common in conversation, writing, or both. The words “Academic Writing” or “Informational Writing” appear under the writing icon if the unit focuses especially on those kinds of writing.

Each unit of Real Grammar has three pages, composed of three sections:

> What have you learned from your grammar textbook?

This short background section covers what you should already know about the target structure. If this information is not familiar, go back to your traditional grammar textbook and review it.

> What does the corpus show?

This section presents findings from research on the corpus. This information might contradict something in your traditional textbook. It might add more specific information. It might surprise you, or it might explain things you’ve heard in real conversations. In most units, Frequency Information tells you what items are common with a grammar structure. All the information is based on research with the corpus. Some units have Be careful! points that emphasize how to avoid typical errors or confusion.

> Activities

Each unit has activities sequenced to help you understand and then use the target structure.

• Noticing activities are first. These simple exercises draw your attention to the structure in a discourse context and help you to examine more examples of how it is used.

• Analysis activities ask you to do things like identify the names of structures, correct errors in learners’ writing, and distinguish among meanings or functions. By analyzing a structure, you will come to understand it better.

• Practice activities ask you to use the target structure in speaking or writing.

You will find a complete Answer Key for these activities on the following website: http://www.pearsonlongnian.com/realgrammar

Terms Used in This Book

corpus a large, carefully designed collection of spoken and written texts, analyzed with the help of computers, and used for studying language

register a type of language used for a specific purpose in a specific situation. The four main registers in this book are conversation, fiction, newspaper, and academic writing:

• conversation (conv.) talk between two or more people

• fiction (fict.) writing in novels and short stories

• newspaper (news) writing in newspapers

• academic writing (acad.) writing in textbooks, journal articles, and technical books

informational writing writing whose main purpose is to convey information. It is sometimes called "expository writing." in this book, informational writing includes newspaper and academic writing.

discourse written or spoken communication

text a section of discourse, such as several sentences from a book or part of a conversation. A text can also be a complete written document, such as a newspaper article or a book.

context the words and sentences that come before or after the structure that you are studying. Context can also mean the situation — for example, is communication spoken or written? Are the speakers friends or strangers? What is the purpose of the communication? Context helps people understand language and make appropriate language choices when they speak or write.

icons small signs or pictures indicating that the target structures are common in the following registers: