① An Introduction to Grammar for English Language Learners (ELLs) 1
SECTION 1 What Do You Already Know about ELL Grammar? (Pre-Tests) 2
SECTION 2 Approaches to Teaching ELL Grammar: The Role of Student, Setting, Course, and Teaching Situation 16

② Basic English Grammar: Usage and Terminology 31
SECTION 1 Common Grammar Errors Made by Native Speakers 33
SECTION 2 Eight Parts of Speech 40
SECTION 3 Basic Grammar Labels for Sentence Structure 64
SECTION 4 Why the Twelve English Verb Tenses Matter 74

③ 15 Keys to ELL Grammar 89
Key 1 to be 90
Key 2 Verb Tenses to Express Present Time 100
Key 3 Verb Tenses to Express Past Time 114
Key 4 Verb Tenses to Express Future Time 138
Key 5 Count and Non-Count Nouns 152
Key 6 Prepositions 161
Key 7 Articles 179
Key 8 Pronunciation of ?s and ?ed 185
Key 9 Adjective Clauses and Reductions 193
Key 10 Infinitives and Gerunds 201
Key 11 Phrasal Verbs 210
Key 12 Modals 224
Key 13 Word Forms 232
Key 14 Passive Voice 242
Key 15 Conditionals (If Clauses) and Wish 252

④ Being on the Hot Seat: Grammar Questions from ELLs 263
Question 1 Adjective Word Order 266
Question 2 Inverted Word Order with Negative Expressions 267
Question 3 Spelling Words with Double Consonants 268
Question 4 used to 269
Question 5 Present Unreal Conditional Sentences 270
Question 6 had had 271
Question 7 Adverbs of Frequency Word Order 272
Question 8 will in if Clauses 273
Question 9 Contractions 274
Question 10 Verb Forms in Past Tense Questions 275
Question 11 since versus for 277
Question 12 Noun Clauses as Embedded Questions 277
Question 13 another, other, and others 278
Question 14 good versus well 279
Question 15 gonna (Informal and Formal Language) 280
Question 16 Present Perfect Tense 281
Question 17 Possessive Forms 282
Question 18 Comparison of Adjectives 283
Question 19 do versus make 284
Question 20 Adverbs of Degree Word Order 286

⑤ Specific Techniques for Teaching ELL Grammar 287
1. You don’t need a grammar book to start your lesson. 288
2. In example sentences, use content that is relevant and meaningful to your students. 289
3. Find a real task that is suitable for low-proficiency adult ELLs. 290
4. Use a rapid language drill for practice, assessment, or both. 290
5. Limit grammar terminology as much as possible. 292
6. Help students sort out and then consolidate new grammar information. 293
7. For any grammar point, consider potential first language interference. 294
8. Simple exercises may not be so simple. 295
9. Use the board to help ELLs visualize a pattern. 295
10. Use songs to practice ELL grammar. 297
11. Choose grammar materials for false beginners carefully. 297
12. Use pantomime when it matches the grammar point. 299
13. Multiple choice questions are useful in teaching, not just testing, grammar. 299
14. In teaching editing, state the number and type of errors that
students are to locate. 300
15. Help ELLs manage the daunting chunks of grammar information. 301
16. Help ELLs see all the pieces of a grammar puzzle. 303
17. Break up longer or difficult grammar lessons. 303
18. Gimmicks help all learners. 304
19. Use examples that match the target grammar point. 304
20. Teach mnemonic devices to help ELLs remember grammar. 306
21. Motivate your ELLs with a challenge. 307
22. Reduce teacher workload: Let students write practice quizzes for each other. 308
23. Find grammar points in non-ELL materials. 309
24. Use guided grammar writing activities to help ELLs see the connection between grammar and writing. 309
25. Develop your own system for correcting grammar errors. 311

Appendixes
1 Common Grammar Errors Made by Native Speakers 313
2 Irregular Past and Past Participles of Verbs 336
3 Glossary of Grammar Terms 341

References 349
Index 350