LindenENGLISH READING
My Library Continue Reading
Cover of The Grammar of English Grammars

Language & Communication · History

The Grammar of English Grammars

by Goold Brown

An exhaustive nineteenth-century synthesis of English grammar, usage and grammar teaching.

90 hr estimatedB2–C1 Linden levelRead now availability80 chapters
Start Reading

Your progress and recommendation profile stay on this device.

Overview

About this book

Brown’s monumental reference compares earlier grammarians while treating orthography, etymology, syntax and prosody in exhaustive detail. It documents nineteenth-century prescriptive grammar and should not be mistaken for a complete account of present-day English variation.

First published
1851
Language
English
Copyright status
Public domain

English level

B2–C1 · Deep reading

The Grammar of English Grammars is calibrated from 35,416 sampled words across 80 chapters: sentences average 13.7 words, 19.1% exceed 24 words and 10.6% of words are nine letters or longer.

Explore the B2–C1 level →

Sentence rhythm

What the prose asks

Mostly compact sentences averaging 13.7 words in the sampled text

Vocabulary

What may slow you down

10.6% of sampled words contain nine or more letters and about 2.09 marked archaic terms per thousand words; names and period vocabulary still vary by chapter

Reading rhythm

Long-form project

Many short stopping points support flexible sessions. About 181 calm 30-minute sessions.

Suggested approach

Read with momentum

Read in planned sessions and keep short notes on voice, structure and recurring images

Best starting point

Begin with chapter one

The full text is ready with speech, lookup and saved progress.

CEFR-aligned Linden estimate · high confidence · sampled full text · Calibrated 2026-09-08 · Provisional, not an exam certification.

Table of contents

80 chapters

  1. 01The Grammar of English Grammars · Part I55 min
  2. 02The Grammar of English Grammars · Part II58 min
  3. 03The Grammar of English Grammars · Part III58 min
  4. 04The Grammar of English Grammars · Part IV59 min
  5. 05The Grammar of English Grammars · Part V60 min
  6. 06The Grammar of English Grammars · Part VI58 min
  7. 07The Grammar of English Grammars · Part VII59 min
  8. 08The Grammar of English Grammars · Part VIII60 min
  9. 09The Grammar of English Grammars · Part IX60 min
  10. 10The Grammar of English Grammars · Part X57 min
  11. 11The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XI55 min
  12. 12The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XII55 min
  13. 13The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XIII56 min
  14. 14The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XIV59 min
  15. 15The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XV57 min
  16. 16The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XVI55 min
  17. 17The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XVII56 min
  18. 18The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XVIII57 min
  19. 19The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XIX57 min
  20. 20The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XX58 min
  21. 21The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XXI58 min
  22. 22The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XXII59 min
  23. 23The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XXIII58 min
  24. 24The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XXIV58 min
  25. 25The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XXV57 min
  26. 26The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XXVI57 min
  27. 27The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XXVII56 min
  28. 28The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XXVIII57 min
  29. 29The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XXIX57 min
  30. 30The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XXX56 min
  31. 31The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XXXI58 min
  32. 32The Grammar of English Grammars · Part XXXII59 min
  33. 33The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 3356 min
  34. 34The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 3459 min
  35. 35The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 3556 min
  36. 36The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 3657 min
  37. 37The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 3757 min
  38. 38The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 3859 min
  39. 39The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 3958 min
  40. 40The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 4059 min
  41. 41The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 4158 min
  42. 42The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 4257 min
  43. 43The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 4355 min
  44. 44The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 4458 min
  45. 45The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 4557 min
  46. 46The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 4658 min
  47. 47The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 4756 min
  48. 48The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 4856 min
  49. 49The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 4957 min
  50. 50The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 5059 min
  51. 51The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 5156 min
  52. 52The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 5255 min
  53. 53The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 5357 min
  54. 54The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 5456 min
  55. 55The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 5558 min
  56. 56The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 5661 min
  57. 57The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 5768 min
  58. 58The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 5865 min
  59. 59The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 5959 min
  60. 60The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 6052 min
  61. 61The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 6154 min
  62. 62The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 6255 min
  63. 63The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 6356 min
  64. 64The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 6455 min
  65. 65The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 6557 min
  66. 66The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 6656 min
  67. 67The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 6756 min
  68. 68The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 6856 min
  69. 69The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 6956 min
  70. 70The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 7059 min
  71. 71The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 7155 min
  72. 72The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 7254 min
  73. 73The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 7356 min
  74. 74The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 7459 min
  75. 75The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 7559 min
  76. 76The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 7657 min
  77. 77The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 7758 min
  78. 78The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 7859 min
  79. 79The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 7958 min
  80. 80The Grammar of English Grammars · Part 8012 min
Portrait of Goold Brown

Related author

Goold Brown

An American grammarian whose vast synthesis compared, criticized and systematized nineteenth-century English grammar teaching.

Open author profile →

Read next

Related books

Continue through a connected subject, form or historical question.

Cover of Elementary Composition
A shorter route through Language & Communication

Elementary Composition

Dorothy Canfield Fisher, George R. Carpenter

Language & Communication · B1–B2 · 7 hr
Start Reading

Search Linden

Find books, guides and ideas

Search titles, authors, English levels, reading goals, subjects, idea hubs, paths and chapter titles. Results explain why they matched. Press / anywhere.