Natural Grammar: The Keywords of English and How They Work

Grammar Through the Words You Already Use 🔤

Most grammar books begin with categories: tenses, clauses, conditionals. Natural Grammar starts somewhere else — with the words themselves. Scott Thornbury takes one hundred of the most common words in English and shows how each one carries its own set of grammar patterns. The result is a reference that treats grammar and vocabulary as parts of the same system, not separate subjects.

That shift in perspective is practical. When you learn how for works, you also learn the patterns for + noun phrase, for + -ing, and for + noun phrase + to-infinitive. When you study sort, you meet sort of, all sorts of, and the way the word behaves in real conversation. The grammar sticks because it is attached to words you meet constantly.

Patterns, Chunks, and Real Examples 📚

Each keyword entry presents common grammar patterns clearly, then adds collocations and set phrases that naturally go with the word. The book draws on the British National Corpus for concordance lines, so the examples reflect authentic spoken and written English rather than invented sentences. This matters for learners who want to sound natural, not just correct.

Thornbury also highlights the chunks of language — phrases like for example, for free, or and that sort of thing — that fluent speakers use without assembling them word by word. Seeing those chunks alongside the grammar patterns helps explain why some combinations feel idiomatic and others do not.

Practice That Fixes the Patterns ✍️

Exercises follow the explanations, giving learners a chance to work with each keyword’s grammar and collocations. A key at the back makes the book suitable for self-study as well as classroom use. The activities are designed to reinforce patterns in memory, so the material moves from recognition to active use.

The book is illustrated by Roger Penwill, and the layout keeps the focus on examples and patterns rather than long theoretical discussions. It is a reference you can dip into when a particular word is causing trouble, or read through systematically to build a stronger feel for how English fits together.

Who Will Get the Most from Natural Grammar

Learners and teachers will find the keyword approach useful because it connects familiar vocabulary to grammar. Teachers looking for a different way to present grammar can use individual entries as lesson material or as a supplement to a general course. The book assumes some existing knowledge of English, so it works best for those who already communicate in the language and want greater accuracy and naturalness.

An Oxford Reference with a Practical Spine

First published in 2004 by Oxford University Press, Natural Grammar remains a distinctive title in the grammar reference field. Its organizing principle — start with the words, let the grammar follow — makes it a useful companion for learners who want to understand why English works the way it does, not just memorize rules. If you have ever wondered why look for, wait for, and for example behave so differently, this is a book that answers the question by showing the patterns behind the phrases.