Mysteries of English Grammar : A Guide to Complexities of the English Language

Despite a history of hundreds of years of research analysing aspects of English grammar, there are still open problems which continue to baffle language researchers today. Such ‘grammar mysteries’ arise for a number of reasons: because the language is changing; because different speakers of the language adhere to distinct norms and thus introduce and maintain variation in the system; because there are differences between the grammar of spoken and written English. This book illuminates some of the complexities of the subject, the areas where new discoveries await and why it matters. Through a series of accessible and engaging case studies on various aspects of grammar, from multiple negation to possession, the authors present grammar as an intellectual challenge. This book brings out into the open questions about language usage to which we still do not have good answers in a bid to make variation overt and to revel in the mystery of the English language. Both aimed at the interested general reader and the beginning student of English language and linguistics, this is a fresh take on grammar. Cover Half Title Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Table of Contents List of Tables Preface Chapter 1 Introduction Chapter 2 What you must say, what you can say and what you do not say: Grammar and norm\ Chapter 3 Over and out: Prepositions Chapter 4 You’ll never get nowhere: Double negatives Chapter 5 All the way from the Ukraine: The definite article Chapter 6 A large amount of exceptions: Countability Chapter 7 The author has finished this chapter last year: The present perfect Chapter 8 An even more interestinger topic: Comparatives and superlatives Chapter 9 I’m lovin’ it: The progressive Chapter 10 The good, the bad and the ugly: Adjectives Chapter 11 What it is is a nonstandard feature: Double be construction Chapter 12 Human dogs and inhuman people : Gender and related matters Chapter 13 The chapter that I put too many pronouns in it: Shadow pronouns Chapter 14 There’s heaps of money to be won: Number agreement Chapter 15 Because I’m worth it: Insubordinate clauses Chapter 16 They are cleverer than she and I: Pronominal case Chapter 17 Is that your wife again?: Possession Chapter 18 Conclusion Glossary: Language for language Index "Despite a history of hundreds of years of research analysing aspects of English grammar, there are still open problems which continue to baffle language researchers today. Such 'grammar mysteries' arise for a number of reasons: because the language is changing; because different speakers of the language adhere to distinct norms and thus introduce and maintain variation in the system; because there are differences between the grammar of spoken and written English. This book illuminates some of the complexities of the subject, the areas where new discoveries await and why it matters. Through a series of accessible and engaging case-studies on various aspects of grammar, from multiple negation to possession, the authors present grammar as an intellectual challenge. This book brings out into the open questions about language usage to which we still do not have good answers in a bid to make variation overt and to revel in the mystery of the English language. Both aimed at the interested general reader and the beginning student of English language and linguistics, this is a fresh take on grammar"--Publisher's description "Despite a history of hundreds of years of research analysing aspects of English grammar, there are still open problems which continue to baffle language researchers today. Such 'grammar mysteries' arise for a number of reasons: because the language is changing; because different speakers of the language adhere to distinct norms and thus introduce and maintain variation in the system; because there are differences between the grammar of spoken and written English. This book illuminates some of the complexities of the subject, the areas where new discoveries await and why it matters. Through a series of accessible and engaging case-studies on various aspects of grammar, from multiple negation to possession, the authors present grammar as an intellectual challenge. This book brings out into the open questions about language usage to which we still do not have good answers in a bid to make variation overt and to revel in the mystery of the English language. Both aimed at the interested general reader and the beginning student of English language and linguistics, this is a fresh take on grammar"-- Provided by publisher