Who is this book for?

Oxford Practice Grammar is for students of English at a middle or 'intermediate' level. This means students who are no longer beginners but who are not yet expert in English. The book is suitable for those studying for the Cambridge First Certificate in English. It can be used by students attending classes or by someone working alone.

What does the book consist of?

The book consists of 153 units, each on a grammatical topic. The units cover the main areas of English grammar. Special attention is given to those points which are often a problem for learners: the meaning of the different verb forms, the use of the passive, conditionals, prepositions and so on.

Many units contrast two or more different structures such as the present perfect and past simple (Units 14-15). There are also a number of review units. The emphasis through the whole book is on the meaning and use of the forms in situations. Most units start with a dialogue, or sometimes a text, which shows how the forms are used in a realistic context.

There are also 25 tests. These come after each group of units and cover the area of grammar dealt with in those units.

Each unit consists of an explanation of the grammar point followed by a number of exercises. Almost all units cover two pages. The explanations are on the left-hand page, and the exercises are on the right-hand page. There are a few four-page units, with two pages of explanation and two pages of exercises.

The examples used to illustrate the explanations are mostly in everyday conversational English, except when the structure is more typical of a formal or written style (e.g. Unit 75B).

There are also appendices on a number of other topics, including word formation, American English and irregular verbs.

What's new about this edition?

There have been many changes in both the content and design of the book.

The number of units has been increased from 120 to 153. There are more two-page units and fewer four-page units.

The 25 tests are a new feature. There is also a Starting test to help students find out what they need to study.

There are many more dialogues and illustrations on the explanation pages. Many of the examples and situations are new.

• There are many new exercises and more different types of exercise.

The number of appendices has been increased from two to six.

This new edition features a group of characters whose lives are the basis for many of the situations in both the explanations and the exercises. (But you can still do the units in any order.)