HOW MUCH GRAMMAR IS THERE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE

When children learn a language, they don't learn grammar. They imitate the sounds they hear and eventually the meaning of those sounds becomes clear. They don't learn the A-B-C either, simply repetitious sounds of sentences made, usually by their parents.

Thus, when adults learn languages, they should learn in the same manner as children ... by imitating the sentences of others. The difference with adults is that they MAY be given the meaning of those sentences in their native language unlike the child who has to guess what it means and eventually form knowledge about it.

Grammar, like the ABC should come later after a learner has sufficient knowledge of a language to involve themselves more deeply.

I doubt if anyone "knows" full English grammar as it is evolving and has differences in different countries. In many cases of grammar, there are no static rules. Grammatical topics are left open to individual interpretation and often preference. Grammar only becomes grammar when a majority of users accept it as a rule.

I'm not the best to comment on items 3 to 5, however, I would start with short, simple and common sentences about everyday life eg, meeting people, going shopping, cooking meals and other things that can be taught in context. Context helps to add meaning to the words.

Hope this helps to some degree.

Replies

Robinoz June 1, 2013 8:14

When children learn a language, they don't learn grammar. They imitate the sounds they hear and eventually the meaning of those sounds becomes clear. They don't learn the A-B-C either, simply repetitious sounds of sentences made, usually by their parents.

Thus, when adults learn languages, they should learn in the same manner as children ... by imitating the sentences of others. The difference with adults is that they MAY be given the meaning of those sentences in their native language unlike the child who has to guess what it means and eventually form knowledge about it.

Grammar, like the ABC should come later after a learner has sufficient knowledge of a language to involve themselves more deeply.

I doubt if anyone "knows" full English grammar as it is evolving and has differences in different countries. In many cases of grammar, there are no static rules. Grammatical topics are left open to individual interpretation and often preference. Grammar only becomes grammar when a majority of users accept it as a rule.

I'm not the best to comment on items 3 to 5, however, I would start with short, simple and common sentences about everyday life eg, meeting people, going shopping, cooking meals and other things that can be taught in context. Context helps to add meaning to the words.

Hope this helps to some degree.

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