Practical English Usage (3rd Edition) - Michael Swan > Reviews (1)

As an English teacher to foreign students, never a day goes by when I don't have to consult one grammar point or another.
English is a problematic language for the foreign learner. with some very tricky points that can cause difficulty to the most advanced of students....even to native speakers! Most of us know how to speak and write grammatically correctly, but most of us, teacher's included. don't know why we use the constructions we do or have the ability to desribe usage in a way that can truly help comprehension. This book is a huge help!

Michael Swan's book is basically the bible for all manner of queries or points requiring clarification.
The book deals with standard modern British English and uses very plausible, everyday examples to highlight appropriate usage. Some entries include use of gerunds and infinitives, prepositions, indirect speech as well as all the tenses, correct punctuation and so forth...

The book is for intermediate to advanced students, although many of the entries can be used for pre-intermediate and even elementary learners as the entries range from simple points to more complex problems.

This book is similar to a dictionary in that the problems are explained in short entries. Each entry is on the whole very concise allowing the user to concentrate solely on the particular question they may have. The entries are also written alphabetically by title and a comprehensive index shows where each point can be found.

The explanations are as simple as possible and contain examples of correct and incorrect usage where appropriate. It is an extremely well organised book which is a must for any teacher and very useful for students.

In short, I wouldn't be without this book....it was recommended to me the day I began my teaching course and has been by my side ever since. It's a book most English teachers know well and is a trusted, if dog-eared, companion none would be without.

The book is available in several editions from most online book stores including amazon - the latest one can be purchased for just over 20 pounds and is a sound investment you'll use again and again.