This book, "English Verb Classes and Alternations: A Preliminary Investigation" by Beth Levin, is a comprehensive study of over 3,000 verbs, classified based on their syntactic alternations and semantic similarities. The book is structured into two parts: the first part explores various syntactic alternations, such as transitivity, dative shift, and instrument subject alternations, while the second part classifies verbs by meaning, identifying 48 classes with about five subclasses each. The book is rich in references, with over 700 citations, making it a valuable resource for researchers in syntax and semantics. The author's theoretical perspective is rooted in the idea that lexical entries should minimize predictable information, focusing on idiosyncratic details. The book is intended as a resource for future research, not as a definitive classification. It complements general grammars like Quirk et al. (1985) by providing detailed information on a narrower topic. However, it is noted as a preliminary investigation and not exhaustive, excluding certain verb classes like those taking sentential complements. The book is appealing to linguists and advanced English learners, but it lacks computational utility without additional resources. The author suggests that a more formal, theory-neutral system could enhance its use in computational linguistics. The book is also noted for its neutral stance on current phrase structure theories. The author concludes that the book is a significant contribution to the field, though it would be more useful with additional computational tools. The book is recommended for researchers in syntax and semantics, and its detailed references make it a first stop for Ph.D. students in the field.This book, "English Verb Classes and Alternations: A Preliminary Investigation" by Beth Levin, is a comprehensive study of over 3,000 verbs, classified based on their syntactic alternations and semantic similarities. The book is structured into two parts: the first part explores various syntactic alternations, such as transitivity, dative shift, and instrument subject alternations, while the second part classifies verbs by meaning, identifying 48 classes with about five subclasses each. The book is rich in references, with over 700 citations, making it a valuable resource for researchers in syntax and semantics. The author's theoretical perspective is rooted in the idea that lexical entries should minimize predictable information, focusing on idiosyncratic details. The book is intended as a resource for future research, not as a definitive classification. It complements general grammars like Quirk et al. (1985) by providing detailed information on a narrower topic. However, it is noted as a preliminary investigation and not exhaustive, excluding certain verb classes like those taking sentential complements. The book is appealing to linguists and advanced English learners, but it lacks computational utility without additional resources. The author suggests that a more formal, theory-neutral system could enhance its use in computational linguistics. The book is also noted for its neutral stance on current phrase structure theories. The author concludes that the book is a significant contribution to the field, though it would be more useful with additional computational tools. The book is recommended for researchers in syntax and semantics, and its detailed references make it a first stop for Ph.D. students in the field.