There are various types of grammar textbooks. Some simply list language rules and give examples, while others explain rules and have exercises and activities for students to complete. University grammar courses might require advanced grammar textbooks that explain higher-level concepts. Some university-level grammar textbooks also contain research studies in grammar. These textbooks come in different formats, such as traditional soft or hardbound textbooks, textbooks that come with a CD-ROM for activities or multimedia presentations, and textbooks that are entirely online.
Textbooks for grammar instruction can include information — such as sentence structure, parts of speech, usage rules and verb tenses — about the language toward which they are geared. Grammar books also commonly contain instructional material about how to write effectively in different formats, whether scientific reports or descriptive or persuasive essays. They also may include details on how to research, document, and write about information from various sources. Such books might have simple grammar exercises as well as more involved activities requiring students to write in-depth paragraphs and full essays. Some grammar manuals also give students information about how to study and how to present speeches correctly.
Grammar textbooks vary in terms of difficulty and the age level for which they are appropriate. The most basic textbooks in the field of grammar would be geared for young children or for non-native speakers, readers and writers. These books would explain rules, give examples and have exercises for students to complete. This is the same format that grammar textbooks suited for older or more advanced students often have, except that the more advanced textbooks would be comprised of more difficult exercises.
As grammar studies become more advanced and specialized at the university level, the textbooks also become narrower in focus, because they present higher-level information for students to read and synthesize. University-level grammar textbooks may focus on areas such as morphology, linguistics, syntax and phonology as well as the history, development and changes of the language about which they are written. Textbooks at this level also contain in-depth case studies and research reports specific to grammar.
Any of the types of grammar textbooks listed above can be produced in various formats. They can be familiar soft-cover or hard-cover textbooks. Some grammar texts are accompanied by CD-ROMs that provide activities or multimedia presentations via the computer. Textbooks for grammar often have accompanying websites through which students can practice the concepts presented. Just as some courses are taught entirely online, some textbooks for grammar courses also are completely online.