1 IntroductionOverview

Basic Forms

On terminology

On being ungrammatical

On good English

Basic meanings

"I am more interesting in English Grammar'

Why can I say'I shot the sheriff'?but not'I smiled the sheriff'?

Linguistic distance

Meanings in context

Discussion topics and projects

Teaching ideas

Further reading

2 ArticlesOverview

Basic forms

An article machine

Basic meanings

Countability

Singular or plural?

Individuation

Conceptual structure：classifying and identifying

Meanings in context

Already given：anaphoric and cataphoric（the）

Clearly given（zero article）

A note on a new article

Discussion topics and projects

Teaching ideas

Further reading

3 Tense and aspectOverview

Basic forms

The basic structure

Basic meanings

Tense

Aspect

Lexical aspect

Grammatical aspect

Meanings in context

In a magazine article

In academic writing

In narratives

In a news report

In spoken discourse

Discussion topics and projects

Teaching ideas

Further reading

4 ModalsOverview

Basic forms

The simple modals

Basic meanings

Epistemic modality

Root modality

Necessary and possible

Meanings in context

The potential of can

The possibility of may

The necessity of must

The likelihood of will

The requirements of should

Negation and modals

Discussion topics and projects

Teaching ideas

Further reading

5 ConditionalsOverview

Basic forms

Factual conditionals

Predictive conditionals

Hypothetical conditionals

Counterfactual conditionals

Basic meanings

What happens if…?

What will happen if…?

What would happen if…?

What would have happened if…?

Meanings in context

Restating

Contrasting

Listing alternatives

Giving examples

End-weight

Uncertainty and politeness

Exceptional and concessive conditionals

Discussion topics and projects

Teachingideas

Further reading

6 Prepositions and particlesOverview

Basic forms

Prepositions

Basic meanings：prepositions

Location in space

Location in time

Location in metaphor

Particles

Basic meanings：particles

Up and down

Off,on,out,and away

Meanings in context

End-weight

Discussion topics and projects

Teaching ideas

Further reading

7 Indirect objectsOverview

Basicforms

Types ofverbs

Basic structures：origins and pronunciation

Basic meanings

Humans,transfer,and having

Transfer and not having

Creating,getting,and benefiting

Meanings in context

End-weight

Linguistic distance

Discussion topics and projects

Teaching ideas

Further reading

8 Infinitives and gerundsOverview

Basic forms

Basic meanings

Group 1：verbs with only finite（that…）complements

Group 2：verbs with only to-V non-finite complements

Group 3：verbs with only V-ing non-finite complements

Group 4：verbs with both to-V and V-ing complements

Meanings in context

Noun-like events

Verb-like actions

Denyand refuse

Types of verbs

Linguistic distance

Discussion topics and projects

Teaching ideas

Further reading

9 Relative clausesOverview

Basic forms

Subject relatives

Object relatives

After-preposition relatives

Possessive relatives

Basic structures

Basic meanings

Who,which,that

Where,when,why

Meanings in context

Introducing new information

Connecting with given information

End-weight

Discussion topics and projects

Teaching ideas

Further reading

10 Direct and indirect speechOverview

Basicforms

Basic meanings

Direct speech as drama

Indirect speech as narrative

Summarized reports

Reporting verbs

'The teachers were saying…'

Meanings in context

Free indirect discourse

Constructed dialogue

Discussion topics and projects

Teaching ideas

Further reading

Glossary

Bibliography

Answers to exercises

Index