The English language is widely used as a mode of communication across the globe. Proper grammar is the foundation of effective communication, essential for conveying a message clearly and meaningfully.
It is always beneficial to have a strong grasp of English grammar rules, whether it is for professional or personal purposes. Fortunately, there are plenty of books available that can help improve your English grammar skills.
The Best Books for English Grammar are a must-read for anyone who wants to enhance their English language proficiency. These books cover many topics, including grammar rules, syntax, punctuation, and usage.
This article will discuss the 10 best English grammar books to help you become a better writer and communicator. Whether a student or a professional, these books will help you sharpen your language skills and take your communication abilities to the next level.
Grammar References Books with Rules:
Here is a list of some best Grammar reference books with rules. So let’s have a look.
1. Practical English Usage by Michael Swan
It has been recommended as the go-to book for English grammar for many years. It combines an extensive guide for English grammar and a constructive guide for English speaking. If you are keen to know the working of English, then it is the best option. The other books Michael Swan wrote are Grammar Scan and Oxford Grammar Course, which are discussed below.
Reasons for recommendation:
- The book has a simple language.
- The chapters about world English and spoken grammar have also been included.
- The main portion of the book is related to vocabulary that is usually confusing in various instances.
2. Longman Student Grammar of Spoken and Written English
Only a few attempts have been made in the ELT world to connect written and spoken English. This is among the best books for learning the use of English daily. The vocabulary and grammar have been explained together in this book. This book has the perfect way to learn English, which is also becoming the learning approach in various courses.
Reasons for recommendation:
- This book has a modern English learning approach.
- This book is based on the most commonly used 3000 words of English.
- The book contains very good chapters related to sentence structures and types of phrases.
3. A-Z of English Grammar and Usage
The feature that attracts us to this book is its practicality. If someone feels that grammar references are difficult and make them feel sleepy, then they must try this book. So many English teachers use this book to learn how to explain English in the simplest terms. So, this makes it a considerable help book for learning quickly.
Reasons for recommendation:
- The book has more concentration on the usage of the language.
- This book has many good practical chapters, such as confusing vocabulary and letter writing.
- Unlike other books, the book has not been organized around the abstract grammar system but around words.
4. The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
The book’s back cover says ‘English Usage Rules Explained in Plain English.’ It means that if anyone desires to understand the subtle guidelines and major rules of learning English, this book one should prefer over others. This book offers straightforward and comprehensive instructions for learning English grammar.
Reasons for recommendation:
This book is very helpful for people dealing with the most prevailing issues of English grammar. The book has been designed for native speakers, so we recommend it for advanced learners. In this book, several vocabulary and grammar exercises have been included so that you can practice more to expand your knowledge of vocabulary patterns and authentic grammar expressions.
Grammar Books with Exercises – Elementary Level
Here is a list of Grammar Books with Exercises for Elementary levels that you should check. Let’s have a look.
1. Oxford Grammar Course: Basic
This book comes with a wide range of practical exercises by one of the outstanding British grammarians, Michael Swan. With the help of authentic examples, all the important structures can be learned from this book. This book comes in three levels basic, intermediate, and advanced. First, it means one text for all. This book is an enhanced version of the book How English works. Many people have used this book, and the most liked part of this book is the humor within texts that have been used for logical structure and exercises.
Reasons for recommendation:
- The book’s structure is very clear, so using it for self-study is also possible.
- The book has real-life-based practical activities.
- Since it is an in-depth guide so it’s excellent for systematic studies.
2. English Grammar Azar
Betty Azar has used the more communicative and intuitive approach to learning English grammar is a gradual study of grammar that goes from one spontaneous exercise to another, making you feel you are on a journey. Many people have learned English grammar from the beginning by using this book. If your learning improves by doing, then this book can be tried.
Reasons for recommendation:
- This book involves many reflexive and interactive exercises along with rules to remember to practice.
- All the English skills included listening and speaking.
Grammar Books with Exercises – Transitional or Middle Level
Here we have listed some best Grammar Books with Exercises transitional or middle level, and let’s dive into it.
1. Natural Grammar: The keywords of English and how they work by Scott Thornbury
This is among the best books that can be used with students. The book has a way of analyzing frequently used combinations and structures rather than making you learn the basic rules. This book has been written to teach the use of English along with telling you about English.
All the chapters in the book will help you know the top English words and their usage in everyday contexts with instances, phrasal verbs, set expressions, various examples, and idioms.
Reasons for recommendation:
- The book is a well-directed effort to help you learn the top 200 English words.
- This book shows authentic English instead of abstract concepts.
- The book’s structure is clear and can be used without a teacher.
2. English Grammar in Use
This is among the popular books of Raymond Murphy. Like his other books, and this is also effortless to follow and systematic. There have been many cases where this book has been used as a core book for many English courses. This book gives you a well-structured insight into English and much practice. But it would be best if you remembered that knowing English grammar doesn’t mean that your English speaking becomes very good. This practice of listening and speaking is required with real-life materials.
Reasons for recommendation:
- This is the main grammar best-seller across the globe.
- The structures are very clear, and the difficulty increases.
- The versions of this book have been translated into different languages.
Grammar Books with Exercises – Advanced Level
Here is a list of some best Grammar Books with Exercises at an Advanced Level, and let’s look.
1. Longman Advanced Learners’ Grammar
After learning English for a long time, you must advance with difficult structures such as conditionals, verb patterns, etc. Then this book will be of great help to you. Since it is not a long book, so within a short time, you can grab a very good knowledge of almost everything. This book is also recommended for those preparing for English exams such as IELTS and CAE. This book will help fill the gaps with the books specially created for these exams and help you build an apparent grammar system.
Reasons for recommendation:
- Though compact, it contains everything required to be in English in advance.
- Before each chapter, you will find the main exercise and cool diagnostics tests.
- Note-making is unnecessary as easily accessible grammar tables have been provided in the book.
2. Grammar Scan (Upper-intermediate, Advanced, Expert)
This book is in-depth and handy for checking your grammar knowledge. This book is an assemblage of three-level diagnostic tests that will check all the grammar aspects like spelling, spoken grammar, and confusing vocabulary. If you make any mistakes, then for learning, you can take the help of the corresponding chapter of Practical English Usage to enhance your learning. This book is great for self-study and exams also.
Reasons for recommendation:
- The book has wonderful authentic examples of English usage.
- As you control grammar, there is no need for a teacher or a long course.
- An online version of this book is also available.
Grammar Books For Exam Preparation:
- Cambridge English Common mistakes at IELTS intermediate
- Cambridge English Common mistakes at IELTS advanced
- Cambridge English Common mistakes at CAE
- Cambridge English Common mistakes in Proficiency
These books help people prepare for the Cambridge exams or IELTS. These books are very practical and brief. However, if your English is of a high level, then before the exam, these books are perfect for practicing tricky grammar points.
Reasons for recommendation:
- Very good for self-study
- These are not very academic as they are written in easy language and focus only on the main points
1. English in Use CPE
This book can be a perfect way of preparing yourself for advanced English grammar practically and compactly. This is the book of all in one place, along with phrasal verbs, exercises, explanations, and idioms. This is a great book to fill in the gaps if something needs to be added.
Reasons for recommendation:
- This book has a very dynamic course and contains only essential stuff.
- An effective and quick way of completing the gaps in intricate grammar.
- It comes with a list of things whose knowledge is minimum required, like phrasal verbs, idioms, etc.
2. Grammar and Vocabulary for CAE and CPE
Using an exam book quickly is a good idea to revise English grammar. Going with these books will be possible for the people preparing for the Cambridge exams. Their main attraction is the way of teaching grammar, writing skills, style, and vocabulary. Of course, these will never disappoint you.
Reasons for recommendation:
- The choice of vocabulary used and taught in the exercises is very good.
- Many good articles are not found in regular books, like a gradual guide for idioms, expressions, and text linkers.
- The basis of these books is authentic texts.
Grammar Books for Business English:
Here we have listed some best Grammar Books for Business English, and let’s dive into it.
1. Business Grammar Builder
Suppose the motive of learning English is professional. In that case, this book is of great help because that uses business vocabulary and focuses not on everything but only on necessary things used in daily operations. This book will demonstrate grammar and functions as it is a great reference book for business conversation. The articles have been used for exercises in this book, and grammar practice will be in the form of dialogues, which is rare and great.
Reasons for recommendation:
- The explanations are clear, short, and without much theory.
- The vocabulary and texts are business-oriented.
- The exercises also come recorded on CD to assist you in pronunciation.
How was this English Grammar book list created?
This list of top English Grammar books was created by extensively researching and analyzing various books. The compilation process involved evaluating the authors’ credibility, the content’s relevance and comprehensiveness, and the material’s suitability for different levels of learners.
The list also considered the format and accessibility of the books, ensuring that they were user-friendly and easy to understand. Additionally, feedback and reviews from students and professionals in the field were considered to ensure that the recommended books were effective and practical.
The final list features a diverse range of books written by experts in the field, providing learners with a comprehensive and well-rounded understanding of English grammar.
Related Reads:
Conclusion:
We all have separate learning ways, and we must select what fits our requirements perfectly and help us in achieving our goals. So, there can’t be one book for every need. We hope this post suits your purpose well.
Myself Victoria, author and Founder of Grammar.ltd, reaching 24, passionate about pursuing my degree in English literature; have been always sincerely sharing my most genuine views through my blogs.