The Uses of Grammar

Book excerpt: In this second edition of The Uses of Grammar, Judith Rodby and W. Ross Winterowd develop their successful first edition with new examples, more discussion questions and exercises, and clear explanations of the grammatical principles that teach students to understand grammar conceptually and deeply. The first edition has been completely redesigned visually to enhance learning and retention. Rodby and Winterowd’s The Uses of Grammar 2e is an accessible approach grounded in deep understanding of language acquisition, structure, and even the rhetoric of everyday use. The Uses of Grammar 2e integrates traditional, structural, and functional concepts with ideas from contemporary linguistics and grammatical study. Rather than simply partition the study of grammar from the bottom up—from the parts to the whole—Rodby and Winterowd employ a unique structure based on the differentiation of form and function.