Textbook “Essential Grammar in Use” ( Practical grammar basics) was written by American teacher Raymond Murphy. He taught English classes for foreigners, so the book contained all his experience of working with people for whom English is a second language. That is why this textbook is so popular among foreign students who are starting to study English on their own.

Particularly beloved is the first red paperback edition, called Murphy Red. Murphy's first work is more suitable for the elementary level, the second edition in blue binding is slightly expanded and intended for the intermediate level. Maybe it’s the complexity, or maybe the price (or just taste), but the second textbook did not cause much enthusiasm, although in vain - it has more words and topics. Let's focus on the first edition for now.

I would like to warn you right away that Murphy is in English, and although the explanatory part is presented very clearly, you still need an initial level of English to study it. But this problem is easily solved: there are many sites on the Internet where it is explained in detail how to work with the textbook and you can also download the textbook itself and download the keys to the exercises.

Many people who went abroad studied independently using this textbook. This is no wonder due to the convenient presentation of educational material. The left side of the book presents the grammar, the right side contains exercises, after completing which you can then check the answers (keys)

Advantages of Murphy's red and its structure

Why, after all, did this Murphy so “sink” into the souls of English lovers, as they say?

1. The grammar presentations are very accessible and concise, and are even illustrated with explanatory drawings
2. The vocabulary is selected at a basic level (Basic English) - the “golden thousand words” are used
3. This is a self-sufficient work: it can be used simultaneously as a reference book and a collection of exercises, so it’s easy to learn from it yourself
4. Parallel presentation of theory and implementation of exercises allows you to immediately consolidate knowledge in practice, and this most important property of the textbook is reflected, as you noticed, in its title
5. The textbook is suitable for students and even teachers, but of course, primarily for those who themselves like to overcome all obstacles

The structure of the textbook is simple, it includes:

• 107 separate chapters (so-called units), not interconnected
• 6 additional sections (with the funny name appendix)
• Answer keys

How to work on a book

Murphy himself gave the following advice to his students:

• There is no need to study the textbook from cover to cover: it is better to use the table of contents to find the material that causes difficulty
• The sequence of working with the book should be as follows:
  • introduction to the theory in the left turn
  • performing exercises on the right side
  • checking correct answers using keys
  • return to theory with disappointing results

It is quite possible to learn English according to Murphy on your own, so this book can also serve as a self-teacher

The book is complemented by audio lessons.

Interview with linguist Raymond Murphy.

The famous “blue book” and best-selling book on English grammar by Raymond Murphy turns 30 this year. The author of “English Grammar in Use” came to Moscow at the invitation of the British Council and gave an interview to Kommersant.

Raymond, I know that once upon a time you tried to learn Russian, but for some reason things didn’t go any further. Why?

What the Russian taught is, of course, a slight exaggeration. I went to school in the 1950s and 1960s. As you know, in the 1960s there was significant technological progress in the USSR, in space programs and beyond. I think that at some point many people thought that the USSR was the future. Much the same way we think about China now. Therefore, there were certain aspirations to start teaching Russian at school. At least they said it might be a good idea, because usually schoolchildren in Britain learned French, sometimes German, Spanish, but mostly French.

Our French teacher, back then in 1963 or so, spoke Russian quite well. And our school launched additional classes in the Russian language. These classes took place during lunch. I’m not sure how long I studied Russian—two or three months, probably. I've learned the alphabet and I can still read a word slowly, and if it matches the English version, quite quickly. For example, the name of a place, I can even write it. Although, of course, I don’t know the words themselves, I can write the letters. And when I hear a speech, something periodically pops up in my memory.

From your point of view, when is the best time to start learning a foreign language?

From scratch. (Laughs.) Seriously, though, from scratch. You don’t even perceive it as foreign if you’ve heard it since birth. If a child learns a language at that magical time when he has every opportunity to perceive the language without studying it as such, or rather even accept it, then this is an ideal option. Therefore, the sooner the better. The best process of learning a language is life itself, the process of growing up, so that the child constantly hears the language. If, for example, parents speak different languages ​​to a child, he will know both. I haven't had that experience, but I know that the older you get, the harder language becomes for you. If you are 70–80 years old, then this is extremely difficult. If you are a child, then it is much easier.

How is your famous textbook evolving? Reissues, additions, versions...

For example, we are working on the Russian version of the book. This will be the “red book” - “Essential Grammar in Use”. There are already versions in European languages ​​and several Asian ones. This will be translation and adaptation. Theoretical material was translated, examples were translated if necessary. The adaptation will consist of some things being changed to make certain aspects of English clearer to Russian speakers. I think many English learners have similar problems, at least in the same areas.

Russians often have a problem with articles, just like native speakers of any other language where there are no articles, as in Russian. There are probably no articles in most languages. This is what adaptation will consist of – small changes in theory and examples with the goal of making it as easy and understandable as possible for those for whom Russian is a native language. We will also highlight if an English construction has a Russian equivalent. For example, the passive voice - and vice versa, if there is no equivalent, as in the case of the article, we will also indicate this.

Do you think English will always be so popular or will it be replaced by another language?

English will remain very important and we are still seeing an increase in the number of people around the world learning English. And this is reflected in the amount of materials we prepare. Russia in this regard is a very fast growing market, although China remains number one here. We are also actively increasing the amount of educational material for Spanish speakers in Latin America. And when it comes to learning a language, the primary issue here is a matter of necessity. For example, the British do not need to know Chinese to do business with China, but if you are from China, you will most likely need to know English.

Have the Internet and the latest technologies made language learning easier?

The Internet opens up new opportunities for language learning that did not exist before. But the results are not entirely clear-cut. For example, a large number of people sign up for online courses with British councils, but some of them do not even start classes. And about 20% make it to the end. And it is, of course, a success that these 20% completed the courses, but the indicators would be different if all these people studied in a class with a teacher.

Of course, courses with a teacher are more expensive. Therefore, in my opinion, it is necessary to maintain a balance between these two teaching methods. Digital technologies offer a large number of alternative ways of learning - phone applications, e-books. And if they are used as an addition to work with a teacher, then this will be most effective. Therefore, the ideal option: a class, a teacher, a book (possibly an e-book), some additional online courses - something like a collection of different methods.

There are a huge number of free applications now. Many people are now creating free applications that do not bring money to their owners now, but in the future they count on profit, as in the story with Facebook. Also a huge advantage of the Internet is the availability of audio. Although in book format there are often applications in CD form, this is still quite inconvenient. While audio is an integral part of learning. The availability of audio in the online learning format is a very big plus.

The total circulation of this manual is more than ten million copies. The blue Murphy, as teachers from the UK call this textbook, enjoys well-deserved recognition among both teachers and English language learners.
This textbook is designed for people who speak English at an intermediate level.
It can be used both in the classroom and for independent study.

The level of this textbook, however, is slightly higher than the Intermediate level in the Headway textbook, the scale of levels of which is considered the main one in English language courses. In fact, the grammar in English Grammar in Use is given in a volume sufficient to pass the First Certificate in English (FCE), which corresponds to the Advanced level on Headway. However, all aspects of the grammar are explained in simple language, so understanding even the most complex questions should not cause difficulties.

The book successfully combines both a reference book on English grammar and a collection of exercises to consolidate what has been learned.
It is divided into 136 sections (Units), each of which explains and reinforces a certain aspect of grammar and takes up an entire spread: theory on the left half, practice on the right. All units are independent and can be completed in any order.

On this page you can download not only four editions of Murphy’s textbook, but also computer and audio disks, manuals with additional exercises, etc.

This book for intermediate and more advanced students combines reference grammar and practice exercises in a single volume.
English Grammar in Use Third edition is a fully updated version of the classic grammar title. It retains all the key features of clarity and accessibility that have made the book so popular with students and teachers. This new edition is designed to be flexible. The book is available both with and without answers, so it can be used in class or for homework. The "with answers" version of the book comes with a handy pullout reference panel which allows students to review key grammar points.

English Grammar in Use Fourth edition is an updated version of the world's best-selling grammar title. It has a fresh, appealing new design and clear layout, with revised and updated examples, but retains all the key features of clarity and accessibility that have made the book popular with millions of learners and teachers around the world. This "with answers" version is ideal for self-study. An online version, book without answers, and book with answers and CD-ROM are available separately.

*click on title to download - click on title to download
*click on number - more information

• - textbook 1st and 2nd edition + additional exercises
• - a dictionary for Raymond Murphy's grammar. Potapenko T.A. 2001
• - audio version of the textbook 2nd edition

5th edition of the book with electronic interactive version and audio (voiced sentences in explanations of units.) Buy V Russia→ or Buy V Ukraine→

with color illustrations.

No matter what publication you use, look for information by the title of the topic. The unit (chapter) numbers are slightly different in different editions, but The names of the topics do not change!

This is what the second edition of this textbook looks like. 2nd edition Raymond Murphy (Raymond Murphy, Murphy blue).

This is a continuation of the first textbook, Murphy’s red ‘Essential Grammar in use’→ (Essence, basic grammar in use).

To quickly jump to the desired unit, use the search bar on the site.’English Grammar in use’ English grammar in use. Self-instruction manual and exercises (with answers) for secondary students ( intermediate) students. Compared to the red textbook, the material is given in more depth, using more complex examples. The vocabulary is carefully chosen, moving into the ‘second thousand’ words.

Based on personal experience, I am sure that this book can also be used as a practical reference book for the English language. When I was studying at university in the USA, she helped me out more than once in difficult situations. I still keep that copy, still in the first edition. Already old and shabby, all written and crossed out with notes, broken into several parts, but occupying a place of honor on my desktop.