Practical tools for learning and teaching grammar

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Barbara
Dykes
Practical tools for learning and teaching grammar
ACER Press
Grammar
for
Everyone
Practical tools for learning and teaching grammar
Barbara
Dykes

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First published 2007
by ACER Press, an imprint of
Australian Council
 for
Educational Research Ltd
19 Prospect Hill Road, Camberwell, Victoria, 3124
www.acerpress.com.au
[e-mail]
Text © Barbara Dykes 2007
Design and typography © 2007 ACER Press
This book is copyright. All rights reserved. Except under the
conditions described in the 
Copyright Act 1968
of Australia
and subsequent amendments, and any exceptions permitted
under the current statutory licence scheme administered by
Copyright Agency Limited (www.copyright.com.au), no part
of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval
system, transmitted or broadcast in any form or by any means,
optical, digital, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording
or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.
Edited by Ruth Siems
Cover design by mightyworld
Text design by Mason Design
Typeset by Mason Design
Cover illustration by mightyworld
Illustrations by Fiona Katauskas
Printed in Australia by BPA Print Group
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication data:
Dykes, Barbara, 1933- .
Grammar for everyone: practical tools for learning and
teaching grammar.
Bibliography.
Includes index.
ISBN 9780864314789 (pbk.).
1. English language - Grammar - Study and teaching
(Tertiary). 2. English language - Grammar - Problems,
exercises, etc. I. Title.
428.207

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iii
Foreword
After four years as Minister for Education, Science and Training, 
I now have the responsibility of focusing on Defence. These days 
my office walls are covered with photos of service men and women 
and souvenirs from visits to battlefields and bases.
But the largest portrait in my Canberra office is still of someone 
I have the highest admiration for and who continues to remind me 
of what is really important – the late Neville Bonner.
Born and raised in extreme poverty, Neville Bonner said the 
turning point in his life was the advice he received at age 14 from 
his grandmother, who told him that if he learned to read and 
write, communicate well and treat other people with decency and 
courtesy, that it would take him a long way.
Neville Bonner went on to become the first Indigenous member 
of the Federal Parliament, from where he not only served his 
country, but helped break down barriers within it.
If information is the currency of democracy, how can Austra-
lians participate unless they are able to read and write?
In December 2005, I launched the findings of the National 
Inquiry into the Teaching of Literacy. As mentioned in this 
inquiry, around 8% of Year 3 students and around 11% of Year 5 
students are not achieving the minimum National Benchmarks for 
Reading.
It noted the obvious correlation between poor literacy and 
under-achievement, and consequent adverse affects on individuals 
and society, including problems with self-esteem, mental health, 
substance abuse and crime.

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iv
foreword
The inquiry noted the critical importance of teachers. But it 
also concluded that, unfortunately, the systematic support for 
classroom teachers to build the appropriate skills to teach reading 
effectively is inadequate.
The Australian Council 
for
Educational Research plays an 
important role in creating and disseminating knowledge and 
providing tools that can be used to improve learning. Barbara 
Dykes is to be commended for the outstanding job she has done 
with this excellent publication.
As its name suggests, 
Grammar for Everyone
seeks to provide 
practical tools for learning and teaching grammar – for everyone.
Grammar for Everyone
provides a thorough reference guide 
for the different types of word, guidance for correct punctuation, 
instruction for optimal sentence structure and advice for a correct, 
clear and persuasive way to speak and write. Most importantly, 
Grammar for Everyone
offers excellent advice for those in a 
position to teach others.
Australia must be a nation that values learning, has the highest 
admiration for those who teach and gets behind those who provide 
knowledge and research that can help students and teachers alike.
Australia is a wonderful country, with so much to offer. We 
must do everything we can to make sure all Australians can read, 
write and communicate well, so that they can reach their full 
potential, take advantage of the many opportunities available to 
them and fully participate in our society.
The Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson MP

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Contents
Foreword
iii