Building Sentences: The Grammar You Need, Level 1

Building Sentences is Level 1 of The Grammar You Need series, a three-level system that provides essential grammar support for academic writing. This full-color fold-out card gives students a clear, visual understanding of how English grammar works at the sentence level, helping them build a strong foundation for effective written communication. Designed for beginning to intermediate learners, it explains key grammatical structures―parts of speech, verb tenses, question formation, and sentence types (simple, compound, and complex)―in an accessible, easy-to-reference format. Each section shows how these elements function within real sentences, making grammar immediately applicable to writing tasks. The companion resources, including free downloadable workbooks at ProLinguaLearning.com and an interactive practice platform at TheGrammarYouNeed.com, provide step-by-step reinforcement for both classroom and self-study use. Together, they create a complete system that builds confidence, accuracy, and clarity in academic English writing.

Features

• Includes free downloadable workbook available at ProLinguaLearning.com for guided practice
• *Interactive web application at TheGrammarYouNeed.com for digital learning and feedback
• Focus on foundational grammar for clear, accurate sentence writing
• Covers parts of speech, verb tenses, question formation, and sentence types
• Visual diagrams showing how grammar structures work in context
• Full-color fold-out format for quick reference and classroom use
• Ideal for beginning to intermediate academic or ESL writers

Recommended Titles

• The Grammar You Need: Level 2 – Writing with Purpose by Eileen Cotter, Mark Alves, Michael Berman, Henry Caballero, and Patrick Randolph – Builds on Level 1 by teaching grammar for organizing paragraphs and expressing relationships between ideas.
• The Grammar You Need: Level 3 – Writing with Clarity and Accuracy by Eileen Cotter, Mark Alves, Michael Berman, Henry Caballero, and Patrick Randolph – Expands grammar mastery to include complex clause structures, reduced forms, and academic precision.
• The Word Combination Card by Laurel Pollard and Marianna Taylor – Helps learners use natural collocations and advanced sentence patterns for academic and professional writing.
• Writing in English: Step by Step by Elizabeth Weal – Guides learners in applying grammar to real writing tasks, from basic sentences to full paragraphs.
• Basic Grammar in Dialogs by David Kehe and Peggy Dustin Kehe – Reinforces grammar concepts through natural conversational practice and communicative interaction.

Mark Alves, PhD, teaches linguistics and ESL for Academic Purposes at Montgomery College, Maryland's oldest and largest community college. He has authored numerous textbooks and scholarly articles. Henry Caballero teaches linguistics and English for Academic Purposes at Montgomery College, Maryland's oldest and largest community college. He has authored numerous textbooks and scholarly articles. Michael Berman is an award-winning teacher and ESL materials writer who has taught English for Academic Purposes at Montgomery College, Maryland's oldest and largest community college, for over 25 years. He has authored dozens of textbooks and scholarly articles. Eileen Cotter, lead author for The Grammar You Need levels 1-2 has a Master’ s of Education from Boston University. She has taught all levels from early childhood to college credit classes. In addition to teaching ESL classes, she has taught numerous workshops and written an ESL textbook on second language writing. Her work on The Grammar You Need materials includes co-authoring cards, the extensive online workbooks and web applications. She also edited the second edition of the well-known teacher training textbook, The ELT Grammar Book.