A Guide to English Language Usage

A Guide to English Language Usage How do you pronounce Keynes? * Is a barrister the same as a lawyer? * What are the names of the books of the Bible in English? * 'Have you got a car?' 'Do you have a car?' 'Have you a car?' Which is right? * What's half a crown? * What are articles and when do I use them? * Where is Ruritania? / Is it night or nigth, lenght or length? / Why is a private school called a public school in English? / How do modal verbs work? / How do I talk about the future in English? / Can you help me understand how to make conditional sentences? * Why does writing have one t but written has two? * Is Wales part of England or of the UK? * How do I start and end a letter in English? * Is it advice or advise? * When the cowboy drew his gun, did he use charcoal or crayons? / How old is the English language? / What is the adjective from Puerto Rico? / Gleam, glimmer, glitter, gloam, gloom, glance, glimpse - what do they all mean? * What are the words for talking about music in English? / When is s voiced and when is it unvoiced? REVIEWS An entertaining and illuminating read ... shows a high awareness of learners' needs - it is clearly written by someone with solid classroom experience ... The grammar sections are a strong area of the book ... The information provided [on pronunciation] is accurate and relevant ... the cultural information as a whole is well-presented, colourful and accurate ... [it offers] clear and useful directions for learners ... Modern English Teacher Every English fact at your fingertips ... a more than handy reference tool for all involved in imparting linguistic knowledge on a regular basis. In the author's alphabetically arranged detailed content one can only admire the spirit of Dr Johnson ... it will help out when dealing with potentially awkward customers, or those keen to try out a new teacher. ELGazette When you start reading it, you are reminded of Modern English Usage by Fowler; however, in this case Peter Harvey is dealing with the reality of the foreign learner and what that learner wants to know ... A Guide to English Language Usage is a good reference book for all of us who are teaching and for advanced students as well. It is worth having in our libraries ... It is very practical, having been written by a teacher who knows his trade, and is highly recommendable. TESOL Spain Newsletter Not just a reference book explaining the intricacies of English grammar, but also a source of entertainment for the language-lover, covering numerous areas of the culture of the English-speaking world. Dr Brian Mott, Department of English and German Philology, Barcelona University