Why is grammar important?
Grammar is the knowledge of how words and sentences are constructed to make meaning. It uses terminology such as nouns, verb groups, prepositions, phrases and clauses. Grammar gives you: • a language with which to talk about language • an understanding of how to write clearly and logically • the ability to explain why writing is unclear or incorrect. You will be expected to teach basic grammar in primary schools. Two books that explain grammar very clearly are: Dykes, B. 1992, Grammar Made Easy, Hale & Ironmonger, Sydney. Walker, P. 1996, Pascal’s Basic Primary Grammar, Pascal Press, Sydney.
Grammar is important because it is the language that makes it possible for us to talk about language. Grammar names the types of words and word groups that make up sentences not only in English but in any language. As human beings, we can put sentences together even as children — we can all do grammar. But to be able to talk about how sentences are built, about the types of words and word groups that make up sentences — that is knowing about grammar. And knowing about grammar offers a window into the human mind and into our amazingly complex mental capacity. People associate grammar with errors and correctness. But knowing about grammar also helps us understand what makes sentences and paragraphs clear and interesting and precise. Grammar can be part of literature discussions, when we and our students closely read the sentences in poetry and stories. And knowing about grammar means finding out that all languages and all dialects follow grammatical patterns. • Is grammar included in t
