Easy Grammar Plus

Easy Grammar: Plus
By Wanda C. Phillips
Published at Easy Grammar Systems

My oldest son has been working on his English grammar in our homeschool since he was in grade 3.   Back then we had selected Easy Grammar 3 because of the way it was presented and how it brought confidence in me when I was checking it out.    We have not stopped using their products even adding the grade 2 book when our second son started that level.   So far, I have three kids using Easy Grammar and I  even learn a few tips and tricks while teaching them the lessons in the books.   My youngest, who is five and starting grade 1, wants to do her own Easy Grammar but she is a bit young still to understand what needs to be done and such. 

But earlier this year, it dawned on me that I needed to figure out what Alex, my oldest who was to enter grade 7, would be doing for his English grammar.   So I emailed back and forth in order to understand better the higher levels of Easy Grammar.  I knew there was a Plus book but for which grade was it?    Turns out that Easy Grammar Plus is considered a non-grade level.   It could be used for seventh grade (which is ideal by the way)  but can also be used for other middle levels, high school levels and even college levels.   I have been told that if Alex had done the grade 3 to 6 books, then chances are he could probably skip Plus and jump immediately at a grade 8 or 9 level.   Really?  I even got a small test for him to do to determine which level he could do.

Nevertheless, I wanted to check it out.  So I requested the possibility of reviewing it.    Turns out that after going through the table of content, I have decided that Alex will go through this book after all because we discovered some of the lessons inside the book he had never seen before.   Actually, he has decided himself that he wanted to do it.   On his own will…   That tells a lot of him.   He has done the pre assessment test and got almost 88% – before starting the lessons!

Easy Grammar Plus has been written to give students a solid understanding of grammar.   Though written at a fourth-grade level, the book will allow the student to focus on concepts and mastering them as he advance in the book.   The book uses the same prepositional approach presented in previous titles and the student continues to strip the sentence to the basics in order to identify the subject and verb. 

Here’s the table of contents for you to examine:

• Prepositions: game, prepositional phrases, compound subject, helping verbs, infinitives, subject of imperative sentences, prepositions vs. adverbs, review, test, direct objects, compound direct objects.
• Verbs: Action or linking, contractions, auxiliary (helping) verb, verb phrases, regular verbs, irregular verbs, direct objects, sit/set, lie/lay, rise/raise, to be, linking verbs, predicate nominatives, predicate adjectives, action or linking verbs, subject/verb agreement, verb tenses (present, pas, future, perfect, progressive), transitive and intransitive verbs, indirect objects, review, test, cumulative review, cumulative test.
• Nouns: concrete and abstract, defined, noun determiners, common and proper nouns, singular and plural nouns, possessive nouns, predicate nominatives, appositives, gerunds, review, test, cumulative review, cumulative test.
• Interjections
• Conjunctions
• Adjectives: limiting adjectives, function, descriptive adjectives, proper adjectives, degrees of adjectives, review, test, cumulative review, cumulative test.
• Types of sentences
• Sentences, fragments, and run-ons
• Phrases and clauses
• Adverbs: defined, adverbs that tell how, good or well, adverbs that tell where, adverbs that tell when, adverbs that tell to what extent, adverb or preposition, degrees of adverbs, double negatives, review, test, cumulative review, cumulative test
• Pronouns: personal pronouns (nominative, objective and possessive cases), antecedents, reflexive pronouns, demonstrative pronouns, interrogative pronouns, indefinite pronouns, review, test, cumulative review, cumulative test.
• Punctuation: periods, apostrophe, comma, semicolon and colon, question mark, exclamation point, hyphen, underlining, quotations marks, test.
• Capitalization: First words, titles, outlines, direct quotations, titles, organizations, business names, government bodies, departments, institutions, geographic locations, historical items, days, months, holidays, special days, proper adjectives, titles, brand names, religions, languages, races, ethnic groups, regions, structures, names, initials, political parties, hyphenated words, greeting and closing of a letter, presidents, well-known areas, events, when not to capitalize, test.
• Letters: Friendly letter, business letter, envelope.
• Pre/Post Assessment Test and Answers included in the book.

Alexandre is having some facilities in his English grammar this year because he had a strong based with four years of working with the Easy Grammar books.   But I also know that he will learn new things in this book that will make the upper levels easier in the end.    As I said, he chose himself to go through this particular book this year.  I think it was a wise decision and it will bring him more confidence when dealing with English grammar.    As I correct his exercises pages, I am seriously pondering the fact that I, myself, should go through this specific book in order to better comprehend the English grammar.  You see, English is not my mother tongue – I was born and raised as a French Canadian and even though I had English classes in high school (and did Kindergarten in English), I still struggle with the grammar when I write.  

If your child has never done concrete English grammar during the primary years and you want him/her to expand on this particular level, the Easy Grammar Plus is definitively the book to go through.     I know that these books works because I have three kids doing them now.   It’s a thorough curriculum that is easy to deal with and to learn.  It will also give your child more confidence because of the ways it deals with the sentences.    In the end, your child will remember the rules and apply them in other places.

The book Easy Grammar Plus Teacher Edition is available for purchase at Easy Grammar Systems for the price of 32.95$ US.   An e-book edition is also available for the same price.   You can also purchase the Student workbook for the price of 13.95$ and the Student test booklet for the price of 4.95$.   However, be aware that if you purchase the Teacher Edition, you will have the student exercises and tests included in it as well and have the authorization to reproduce within your own family.  

Disclaimer: Thanks to Easy Grammar Systems for sending me the above mentioned product for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review. Please note that the review was not influenced by the Sponsor in any way. All opinions expressed here are only my own.