Is Mastering Grammar Actually That Important?
Making grammatical mistakes when we write or speak is a natural part of learning a language. Now, you may be reflecting back to when you were a child and how your parents didn’t drill verb tables and tense formations into your head when you were developing your speaking skills. However, in order to improve your overall production skills for a second language, mastering grammar rules is an absolute must! Unfortunately, unless you are fully submerged in your target language from a very young age, you will not be able to acquire a second language like how you would naturally pick up your mother tongue.
Essentially, English grammar is an important element of your language study and below, I will tell you why.
Why Is Grammar So Important?
Vocabulary and grammar go hand in hand. I mean, what’s the point memorising the entire contents of the English dictionary if you don’t know how to put a sentence together? In a nutshell, grammar provides you with the structure you need in order to get your messages, ideas and thoughts across in an organised manner.
Here’s an analogy that will help portray the importance of grammar. Think about it, a train will not be able to get from station A to station B without properly maintained railways. Likewise, you should see grammar as the railway of your communications. If you are unable to implement grammar rules, then in turn, you will not be able to effectively transport your message to the end listener or reader. Here’s another analogy that will help you picture its importance. Imagine trying to build a house with no bricks, cement, wood or nails. The whole building will just fall apart as there is neither structure nor support. Similarly, if you try to construct a sentence without implementing proper grammar, then your sentence will end up being a jumbled pile of words. The concept is as simple as that!
Indeed, learning grammar is a daunting and difficult task, but in doing so, you’ll be one step closer to finally becoming fluent in written and spoken English. Knowing your grammar will help you to avoid blatant errors that make your English sound unnatural to native speakers. There are, in fact, countless situations whereby English grammar is particularly important. For instance, at job interviews, during academic applications, and even in your social life! Besides, when you are meeting new people or visiting new places, the last thing you would want is to be tragically misunderstood! As such, you should note that correct grammar won’t just demonstrate your top-notch English skills, but it will also show that you’re diligent and have a keen eye for detail. That being said, remember that it’s okay to relax your grammar in some situations, such as if you were texting your friend.
In short, it is imperative to view grammar as the building blocks of the language that will enable us to convey what we want to say properly and idiomatically.
So, how do you feel about learning grammar? Let us know your thoughts!