Sharifzadeh ahmad academic english grammar for intermediate

Academic English Grammar:
For Intermediate and Advanced Learners

Ahmad Sharifzadeh
2019

To
My most beloved, Fatemeh

About the book

When we are talking about a language, we are talking about the four skills -- listening or
better to say watching, reading, writing, and speaking -- the first two of which are receptive
skills and the second two are productive skills along with the two language components
(i.e., grammar and vocabulary). This book, dedicated to language components (lexicon &
grammar), has a different look at grammar.

Although theoretically grammar and lexicon are distinct components of languages, they are
in practice interwoven to a great extent so that applying grammatical rules depends on the
type of words used in a sentence and in a broader context. Their inextricable dependency
on each other forced the author to take account of them both in this single volume.

In the author’s view, grammar is the same as a map (plan) in carpet weaving, which makes
it possible to put the linguistic knots (i.e., words) at the intersection of the weft
(syntagmatic axis) and the wrap (paradigmatic axis) syntagmatically and paradigmatically
so that the intended meaning is conveyed verbally or in a written form. Grammar (or better
to say, syntax) lets us both produce and understand an unlimited number of sentences
which are correct syntactically using a limited number of grammatical (syntactic) rules.
Keep in mind that although sentences might be correct grammatically, they might be
semantically or pragmatically incorrect.

Any language is the interface between syntax[1], semantics[2], and pragmatics[3]. Taking into
account the fact that the readers of the book are familiar with the rudimentary concepts,
this book aimed at familiarizing them with the more complicated aspects, especially those
confronted in the academic and advanced texts and contexts.

In the first chapter of this book, with a slightly different view to language, the lexicon
including word formation, word classification, parts of speech, affixes, and the like are in
detail dealt with. In the second chapter, syntactic structures (grammatical rules) are
clarified using examples.

What else is planned?

After the outstanding response to our release of the “Academic English Grammar: For
Intermediate and Advanced Learners” as an eBook, I am developing a new English
book dealing with tests driven from different international exams to help both students and
teachers with their English language requirements. The test book will be published as soon
as possible.

You can access regular updates to the book now that you have purchased this copy. All that
is required is that you supply your username and password to begin the download. You will
receive regular emails when new updates are available. The update subscription is valid for
one year from the date you purchased the item from us.

To the readers

Since the audience of this book are intermediate and advanced academicians, the provided
examples were collected based on some criteria: each sentence has at least one point to
consider, some of them are very simple and straightforward but others very difficult, they
were collected throughout years selectively, all the examples were selected to present a

clear picture of syntax (and semantics), and the examples provided in the book were
collected from different authentic academic texts (books and articles), the sources of which
were credited to the extent possible. The author did his best to stick to his new view
regarding teaching grammar in order to make it easily understandable by shying away
from the traditional approach to teaching grammar.

The book is organized in a cross-linked way so that you can find the relevant information in
different sections easily. The order of presentation of materials in the book does not
necessarily connote their being pre-requisite or post-requisite.

Italic shows descriptions, bold shows rules, hanging indentation shows example sentences
for grammatical rules, shows wrong sentences, shows correct sentences, bold words
or phrases show the focus of grammatical points, bullets show grammatical formulas, and
red words/phrases/clauses show the discussed grammatical rules/structures. Only proper
nouns, headings, and the first letter of sentences were capitalized, otherwise words (both
open-set words and close-set words) were written in lower-case letters.

Sometimes, footnotes and endnotes are more important than the text itself. Most of the
footnotes are very essential so that skipping them might result in your confusion.

There are some practices in the book (either as footnotes or throughout the text) in order
to make learners attentive.

Any corrective comments and suggestions will be welcomed at


Who can use the book?

The book can be useful for all the English language learners, especially for those planning
to take the international language exams including IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, PTE, CAE, CPE, FCE,

TOEIC, OPI, OPIC, and GRE, as well as MA applicants and students, and Ph.D. candidates.

I am preparing another book, which will deal with sample tests accompanied by illustrative
explanations based on the descriptions provided in this book. The new book would clarify
how users can make the most of Academic English Grammar: For Intermediate and
Advanced Learners.

Acknowledgements
I am grateful to all who helped me prepare the book, especially those MA students and
Ph.D. candidates whose constructive feedbacks added to the clarity of the book. I am also
greatly in debt to my family, especially my mother who sacrificed her today for my
tomorrow. I am honored to appreciate those authors whose writings were in one way or the
other used throughout the book.

Ahmad Sharifzadeh
February 2019

Contents

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
VOCABULARY

Why to learn the lexicon
Affixes

Noun affixes
Adjective affixes
Verb affixes
Adverb affixes
List of prefixes with their meanings

List of suffixes with their meanings
Open set vs. Close set
Classification of lexicon
NOUNS
Function
Concrete vs. abstract nouns
Proper vs. common nouns
Gerunds
Compound nouns
Possessive nouns
Collective noun
Countable nouns and uncountable nouns
Countable nouns
Uncountable nouns
Nouns that can be both countable and uncountable
VERBS
Functions of the verb
Classification based on transitivity
Verb affixes
Verb prefixes
Verb suffixes
Verb types
A verbs
B verbs
C verbs
D verbs
Finite vs. non-finite verbs
Non-finite verbs
Finite verbs
Tenses

Present tenses
Past tenses
Future tenses
COULD/SHOULD/WOULD HAVE + P.P.
Tenses
Simple tenses

Perfect tenses
Progressive tenses
Perfect progressive tenses
Appearance
One-word (simple) verbs
More-than-one-word (phrasal) verbs
Separable vs. inseparable phrasal verbs
Separable Phrasal Verbs
Inseparable phrasal verbs
Particle vs. preposition
One-particle vs. two-particle phrasal verbs
Verbs clusters
V
VV
VVV
VVVV
Verbs that are not usually used in the continuous form
Valancy
V1
V2
V3
Active voice vs. passive voice
Active voice

Pasive voice
Verb classes
Main verbs
Auxiliary Verbs
Linking verbs
List of verbs
Verbs followed by verbs
ADJECTIVES
Function
Place of adjectives
Attributive
Predicative
Adjectives classification
Simple adjectives
Derivational adjectives
Compound adjectives
Base, comparative, and superlative adjectives
Base adjectives
Comparative adjectives
Superlative adjectives
Coordinate vs. noncoordinate adjectives
Coordinate adjectives
Noncoordinate adjectives
Adjectives comparing features

Adjectives comparing equal features
Adjectives comparing unequal features
ADVERBS
Function
Appearnce of adverbs

List of adverbs ending in -ly
List of adverbs not ending in -ly
List of two-or-more-word adverbs
List of adverbs with two adverbial forms
Both as an adverb and an adjective
Prepositional phrases with an omitted preposition which function as an adverb
Place of adverbs
adv Pre-M2 (inside NP)
adv NP1
NP1 adv
to adv V
adv Pre-M1 (inside NP)
adv adj.
prep adv NP
prep adv VP
Pre-M1 adv VP as NP
Between parts of a verb
V adv particle
Adverbs before adverbs (stacked adverbs)
adv PRN
Miscellaneous adv
Classification of adverbs based on their function
Conjunctive adverbs
Intensive (emphatic) adverbs
Degree adverbs
Adverbs of comparison
Adverbs of completeness
Adverbs of certainty
Frequency adverbs
Adverb of manner

Adverbs of place
Adverbs of time
Focusing adverbs
Adverbs of purpose
Adverbs of emphasis
16+ adverbs
Comment adverbs
Adverbs of reason
Adverbs of affirmation and negation
Intensifiers
Other adverbs
Absolute, comparative, and superlative adverbs
Absolute adverbs

Comparative vs. superlative
PRONOUNS

Functions
Anaphoric reference
Cataphoric reference
Exophoric reference
Mixed

Place
Classification of pronouns

Personal pronouns
Expletive pronouns
Relative pronouns
Demonstrative pronouns

Reflexive pronouns
Reciprocal pronouns
Interrogative pronouns
19 nouns (so-called pronouns)
Other pronouns
How, that, and wh- words
CONJUNCTIONS
Function
Classification
Coordinating conjunctions
Correlative conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions vs. coordinating and correlative conjunctions
DETERMINERS
Function
Classification
Articles
Demonstrative Adjectives
Quantifiers
Possessive Adjectives
PREPOSITIONS
Classification
Simple prepositions
Compound prepositions
Place
Before NP
Without NP
INTERJECTIONS
Place
Beginning of sentences

Middle or end of sentences
Stand-alone Sentences
GRAMMAR
NOUN PHRASE (NP)
Pre-M1

Pre-M1
Pre-M1 Pre-M1 (Pre-M1)2
Pre-M1 Pre-M1 Pre-M1 (Pre-M1)3
adv Pre-M1
Pre-M2
adv Pre-M2 (adv inside NP)
N
Noun clusters
Post-M1
Post-M2
R
prep. + R
prep + wh + N
Wh/how + adj. + ...
PREPOSITIONAL PHRASE (prep.p)
Structure
Function
As a complement for a noun
As a complement for an adjective
As an oppositive
As an adverb
Place
prep.p as the complement at the end of NPs
prep.p NP1

NP1 prep.p
NP1 V prep.p NP2
V prep.p V
V NP2 prep.p
V NP2 NP3 prep.p
V prep.p particle
VERB PHRASE (VP)
Difference between predicate and VP
Predicate
VP
ADVERBIAL CLAUSE (ADV)
RELATIVE CLAUSE (RC)
Structure
Types of RC
Restrictive clause
Non-restrictive clause
Function
RC as a Post-M2
RC as an NP
APPOSITIVE
Punctuate the appositive correctly.
When the appositive begins the sentence:
When the appositive interrupts the sentence:

When the appositive ends the sentence:
Some structures

NP1 ADV VP
NP1 prep.p VP
adv prep.p ADV NP1

adv prep.p NP1
prep.p NP1 ADV ....
prep.p NP
V prep.p NP2
V prep.p V
adv prep
adv ADV
V NP2 Pre-M2
V adv adv prep.p
prep.p prep.p NP
SENTENCE
Sentence types
Indicative
Imperative
Subjunctive
Interrogative
NEGATION
Negative statements
Negative questions
Negative imperatives
Use
Form
Negative interrogative
Form
EXAMPLE TEXTS
PARALLEL STRUCTURE
THE COMPARATIVE, THE COMPARATIVE.
TRASFORMATIONS THAT VIOLATE MAIN RULES
Replacement transformation
|x| NP

|the + Pre-M2| → PLN
|RC| → NP
|VP| → NP
Reduction transformation
Types of reduction
Insertion transformation
Inversion transformation
Questions
Expletive constructions
Direct speech
To give prominence or focus
Conditionals
Adverbial expression of place

Negative adverbials
Here and there
After ‘so,’ ‘as,’ ‘neither,’ ‘either,’ ‘such,’ ...
after 'so + adjective...that'
For emphasis and literary effect
Comparatives
The comparative, the comparative.
Ving at the beginning of the sentence
P.P. at the beginning of the sentence
Adjective at the beginning of the sentence
Introductory comparative
Sentences beginning with an adverb or an adverbial
Order transformation
GRAMMATICAL RELATIONS
Subject
Object

First vs. second object
Direct vs. indirect object
THEMATIC RELATIONS
Agent
Instrument
Force or Natural Cause
Experiencers
Stimulus
Recipients
Source or Origin
Location
Direction or Goal
Measure or Amount
Theme
Patient
Beneficiary
Manner
Purpose
Time
PUNTUATION
Period
Use a period
Comma
Use a comma
Don’t use a comma
Colon
Use a colon
Don’t use a colon
Dash
Use a dash

Hyphen
Hyphenate

Don’t hyphenate
CAPITALIZATION
ABBREVIATIONS & ACRONYMS
SOME SPECIAL WORDS

Whether
Just because, simply because
Whether … or not
What if, suppose, vs. supposing
Between vs. among

Nouns and verbs followed by between
Among meaning ‘surrounding, part of or included in’
Among others and among other things
To
As a preposition
As a word conjoining two verbs
to V vs. for Ving
Gerund vs. infinitive
That of vs. those of
’s vs. ’d
If vs. even if, only if, so/as long as, providing/provided (that), suppose/supposing, what if, unless, if it weren't for
/ if it hadn't been for / but for, if in doubt/ if possible/if necessary/ etc., if so, if not, in case
If vs. whether
Reported speech
As if vs. as though
Another vs. other

In case vs. in case of
Despite vs. in spite of
Be to V
As/ However /No matter + adjective
From ... to ... vs. between ... and ...
From A to B
Between A and B
Scarcely and hardly
Not only…but also
Everyday vs. every day
However, whatever, whichever, whenever, wherever, whoever, whomever,
TOP TIPS
Both, either, & neither three functions
NP of NP
Subject verb agreement
Nc & Nu with both singular and plural verbs
After ‘none’
Imphatic verbs (do + V, did + V, does + V…)
One of the PLN
or not
etc., bla bla bla, and so forth, and so on, and the like
AMBIGUITY
Lexical

Homographs
Homonymy
Homophones
Polysemy
Semantic
Structural

MISSPELLED WORDS
CONFUSING WORDS
Spelling
Meaning
Functions (confusing appearance)
Nouns
Adjective
Verb
Not Ving
100 MOST COMMON ENGLISH WORDS
500 MOST COMMON SPOKEN WORDS
MOST COMMON WORDS WITH MORE THAN ONE FUNCTION
IRREGULAR VERBS
CONTRACTIONS IN ENGLISH
EVASION FROM THE SEXIST LANGUAGE
SYNONYM VS. ANTONYM
Synonym
Antonym
Types of antonyms
COLLOCATIONS
COMPARISON AND CONTRAST
Adverbs vs. adjectives
Similarities
Differences
N vs PRN
Similarities
Differences
TRANSITIONS
Agreement/Addition/Similarity
Opposition/Limitation/Contradiction

Cause/Condition/Purpose
Examples/Support/Emphasis
Effect/Consequence/Result
Conclusion/Summary/Restatement
Time/Chronology/Sequence
Space/Location/Place
COMMON MISTAKES
Sentence fragments
Parallel structure
Misplaced modifier
Dangling modifier
Vague pronoun reference

Wrong word usage
Missing comma after introductory element
Subject-Verb agreement errors
Run-on sentence
Misspelling
Superfluous commas
Sentence sprawl
No commas around interrupters
Comma splice
Colon mistakes
Split Infinitives
Unnecessary or missing capitalization
Faulty sentence structure
Comma misuse (inside a compound subject)
Missing comma with a nonrestrictive element
Unnecessary shift in verb tense
Unnecessary or missing apostrophe

Lack of pronoun/antecedent agreement
Incomplete comparisons
Referring to a brand or entity as 'they'
Squinting modifiers
No Comma in a compound sentence
WRONG BELIEFS
The NP before verb is always subject.
The NP after verb is always object.
Main verbs can only be preceded by auxiliary verbs.
Be, have, and do are always auxiliary verbs.
Would, should, and could are past tenses of will, shall, and can, respectively.
PRACTICES
TESTS WITH ILLUSTRATIVE ANSWERS
TESTS OF nouns

Wrong order
Possessive nouns
Wrong form
Number mismatch
PLN
Ns instead of PLN
Adjective instead of noun
Verb instead of noun
Adverb instead of noun
TESTS OF verbs
Passive voice instead of active voice
Active voice instead of passive voice
ABCD instead of P.P.
Vi instead of Vt
Vt instead of Vi

Reduction of verb
Noun instead of P.P.

Noun instead of ving
Noun instead of verb
V instead of P.P.
Ving instead of P.P.
Ving instead of V
V instead of Ving
Redundant verb
To v instead of ving
Wrong tense
Ved instead of Ving
p.p. instead of ved
Ved instead of P.P.
P.P. instead of Ving
P.P. instead of V
Adverb instead of P.P.
Adjective instead of verb
Wrong form of verb
A to B/CD
Order ABCD
Having P.P.
TESTS OF adjectives
Noun instead of adjective
Adverb instead of adjective
Comparative adjectives
Superlative adjectives
V instead of adj
TESTS OF adverbs

Conjunctive adverbs
So + adjective + that
Adjective instead of adverb
Both, all,
Wrong word instead of adverb
Wrong adverb
TEST OF pronouns
Omission of pronoun
Wrong antecedent (mismatch)
Possessive adjective instead of subjective pronoun
Reflexive pronouns
Redundant pronoun
Omission of relative pronoun
Wrong relative pronouns
Redundant relative pronoun
That of, those of
Expletive it (to v)
Wrong referent of pronoun
Objective pronouns
Other, another, etc.
TESTS OF conjunctions

Wrong conjunction
Wrong order of conjunctions
Subordinate conjunctions
Redundant conjunction
Parallel structure
TESTS OF determiners
Simple quantifiers
Both

Many
Few
Not instead of no
Possessive
Wrong determiner
Article
Another vs. other
TESTS OF preposition
Simple prepositions
Such as
To
Omission of prep
Wrong word instead of prep
Wrong prep
Redundant prep
Subordinate conjunction instead of prep
REFERENCES


LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

A verbs in class A
adj. adjective
ADV adverbial clause
adv. adverb
Aux auxiliary, modal
B verbs in class B
C verbs in class C
conj. conjunctions
D verbs in class D

N noun
Nc countable noun
NP noun phrase
NP1 subject
NP2 first object
NP3 second object
Ns singular noun
Nu uncountable noun
P.P. past participle
PLN plural noun
Post-M1 post-modifier 1
Post-M2 post-modifier 2
pred. predicate
Pre-M1 pre-modifier 1
Pre-M2 pre-modifier 2
prep. preposition
prep.p prepositional phrase
PRN pronoun
pV1 passive verb with one NP
pV2 passive verb with two NPs R relative pronoun
RC relative clause
RT reduction transformation
S sentence
to V infinitive
V verb
V(es) present tense verb
V1 verb with one valancy V2 verb with two valancies V3 verb with three valancies Vd
ditransitive verb (two objects)
Ved past tense verb
Vi intransitive verb (no object)

Ving gerund (present participle)
VP verb phrase
Vt transitive verb (one object)