Read Collins Cobuild English Grammar Online
Authors: Collins
Nouns after linking verbs
Other verbs with following adjectives
Describing the object of a verb
Using a prepositional phrase after a linking verb
Using two main verbs together
4 Expressing Time: Tenses and Time Adverbials
The present
The present simple
The present progressive
Time adverbials with reference to the present
The past
The past simple
The past progressive
The present perfect
The past perfect
Time adverbials with reference to the past
Expressing future time
Indicating the future using will
Other ways of talking about the future
Time adverbials with reference to the future
Other uses of verb forms
Using time adverbials to indicate past, present, or future
Yet, still, already, etc.
Time adverbials and prepositional phrases
Non-specific times
Expressing frequency and duration
5 Modals, Negatives, and Ways of Forming Sentences
Making statements: the declarative form
Asking questions: the interrogative form
Yes/no-questions
Question tags
Wh-questions
The imperative
Other uses of the declarative, the interrogative, and the imperative
Forming negative statements
Broad negatives
Using modals
Special features of modals
Uses of modals
Expressions used instead of modals
Semi-modals
Adverbs
Types of adverb
Comparative and superlative adverbs
Adverbs of manner
Adverbs of degree
Adverbs of place
Destinations and directions
Prepositions
Position of prepositional phrases
After verbs indicating movement
Showing position
Showing direction
Other uses of prepositional phrases
Prepositions used with verbs
Prepositional phrases after nouns and adjectives
Extended meanings of prepositions
Other ways of giving information about place
7 Reporting what People Say or Think
Using reporting verbs
Reporting someone’s actual words: direct speech
Reporting in your own words: reported speech
Reporting statements and thoughts
Reporting questions
Reporting orders, requests, advice, and intentions
Reporting uncertain things
Time reference in reported speech
Using reporting verbs to perform an action
Avoiding mention of the person speaking or thinking
Referring to the speaker and hearer
Other ways of indicating what is said
Other ways of using reported clauses
Clauses and conjunctions
Time clauses
Conditional clauses
Purpose clauses
Reason clauses
Result clauses
Concessive clauses
Place clauses
Clauses of manner
Relative clauses
Nominal that-clauses
Non-finite clauses
Linking words, phrases, and clauses together
9 Changing the Focus in a Sentence
The passive
Split sentences
Taking the focus off the subject: using impersonal it
Introducing something new: there as subject
Focusing using adverbials
Emphasizing
Putting something first
Introducing your statement
Focusing on the speaker’s attitude
Exclamations
Addressing people
10 Making a Text hold Together
Referring back
Referring forward
Showing connections between sentences: sentence connectors
Linking parts of a conversation together
Leaving words out
The Grammar of Business English