Basic English Grammar is quite a long book that mostly focuses on grammar as opposed to other aspects like listening or reading. Throughout its 500 pages, students will find plenty of exercises that go over basic grammar points. The activities found in each unit consist of fill-in-the-blank activities, matching exercises, oral group work and writing activities. Visually, the book is designed in a simple way, but its cutely drawn images and easy-to-use verb charts complement the examples and activities the book provides. Everything that could be considered basic level English is covered in this book. This gives students a proper introduction to the basics of English grammar.
Every chapter starts off with an explanation of the lesson’s topic, a verb table or chart, and then some simple exercises and a speaking activity to wrap up the unit. Each chapter in the book also has around 12-14 sub-chapters/mini lessons which go over the different language points in a more detailed manner. Depending on the chapter, students can expect to work on a variety of activities such as error analysis, matching, fill-in-the-blanks, true/false, and partner activities. Each chapter follows a specific structure but the activities that are provided are always somewhat different. This keeps the student engaged and helps them absorb the information, without losing their interest.
Pros
· The book focuses on many grammar points and useful expressions that will give beginner level students a good foundation in the language.
· A simple flow is maintained unit to unit. The material covered is also relevant to the students’ level and does not become too challenging for the student.
· There are several pink and white grammar boxes in each chapter that explain difficult grammar structures and provide students with extra help.
Cons
· The book is lengthy and very heavy on text.
· Strictly grammar with some writing and speaking activities. The book does not provide reading or listening activities.
"Each chapter follows a specific structure but the activities that are provided are always somewhat different. This keeps the student engaged and helps them absorb the information, without losing their interest."
Recommended For
· Students who are preparing for an English exam.
· Students who simply want to improve their grammar skills as opposed to comprehension skills.
· Large classrooms of at least 8 people to get the most out of the communication activities.
Basic English Grammar is a great book to use, depending on what you’re looking for. If you want to focus on your speaking and listening skills, this book will most likely not appeal to you. If you want to focus on activities that simply focus on reading, writing, and grammar then this book is the best choice. I would highly recommend this book for intensive courses, test preparation classes, or as supplementary material to a lesson plan.
