English Grammar Boot Camp

Overview

Course No. 2222
Professor Anne Curzan provides a comprehensive grammar foundation through:

• 24 engaging lectures covering all key aspects of English grammar
• Clear explanations of prescriptive rules vs. descriptive reality
• Practical guidance for common usage dilemmas
• Insights into evolving language trends

Master grammar to communicate more effectively in writing and speech.

Video Lessons

Grammar Fundamentals

1. Why Grammar Matters (33 min)
   Defining “correct” vs. stylistic English
2. Prescriptive Grammar (31 min)
   Traditional rules and their origins
3. Descriptive Grammar (32 min)
   How language actually works

Parts of Speech Deep Dives

4. Phrases & Clauses (29 min)
   Building blocks of sentences
5. Nouns & Quantifiers (31 min)
   Countable/uncountable nouns and plurals

6-9. Pronouns & Determiners (122 min total)
Personal, relative, and possessive forms

10-12. Verbs & Tenses (96 min total)
Irregular verbs, auxiliaries, and voices

13-14. Adverbs & Adjectives (63 min total)
Modifiers and comparisons

Connecting Elements

15-18. Conjunctions & Prepositions (118 min total)
Linking words and common errors

Special Topics

19. Dangling Modifiers (31 min)
    Identifying and fixing misplaced phrases
20. Paragraph Flow (32 min)
    Creating cohesive writing
21. Conversational Grammar (34 min)
    Discourse markers in speech

22-23. Punctuation (64 min total)
Commas, apostrophes, and modern usage

24. Language Evolution (34 min)
    Emerging grammatical trends