Beginning Syntax

Rating:
Summary: Good - but not as an introduction to syntax
Review: First off, this book is a great introduction to *English* syntax. It takes you through the various constituent categories and lists basic rules for those categories. The problem is the title is "Beginning Syntax" not "Beginning English Syntax." Those looking for an introduction to the study of syntax or on modern theories of syntax should look elsewhere. So, if you want to learn more on how the English language works, by all means read this book. But if you are looking for something more general or more appropriate to studying syntactics of other languages, this book doesn't cut it. The publishers really need to change the title on this one.

Rating:
Summary: Books like this don't "comma" round very often
Review: In a very short book (many of the pages are actually answer keys to exercises found within the text), Linda Thomas offers an easy-to-understand approach to basic English grammar. This book is excellent if you have a short attention-span because the author is very thorough and simple with her explanations. However, this also becomes a fault. Often, she is too simple and makes generalizations that prove to be faults in her logical approach to language. Another problem with the book is that you sometimes think that she really, really wants to be a philosopher, and really, really enjoys hearing herself be logical. Despite these faults, the book is a good intro guide to English syntax, provided the student has an attentive instructor supplementing the text.