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Getting Gritty with Grammar
I have seen uplifted brows whenever I would talk about grammar. Many of my students have asked, why is grammar so predominant in a language?
My reply has always been: Why do the best recipes suggest marinating chicken or vegetables before putting them in the pan? In both cases, with or without marination, the chicken will be edible. The flavours it would carry will make a complete difference. Grammar is that flavour of the language which can help you play around with words, and phrases, to an extent, where language becomes a creative tool.
To present yourself as a linguist, adorn the jewel of grammar, and you will show the world the most authentic version of the language.
Look at these two examples:
- She decided to stay at home because she was not keeping well and was feeling sick.
- Owing to her sickness, she decided to stay back at home.
In the language fraternity, example 2 shall be considered more refined, though both express the same meaning. This is an admirable aspect of grammar.
It’s crucial to not dread grammar as if it were a monster. It’s a tool which makes you successful with your language skills. It’s not advisable to compare every grammar concept with corresponding (if existing) in the English language. The best is to perceive it the way a foreign language would present it to you. Let your mind analyse the concept; you may observe similarities with English or other languages. Rather than trying to twist and fit it in a specific mould, let it just flow through. It will come naturally when you start reading, writing, and speaking.
Miracles don’t happen: such is the case with grammar. To crack it correctly, you need to understand the concept by solving related exercises so that the impression is drilled into your mind. The more you practice, the better is your understanding. And let me tell you, most concepts are interlocked with one another.
Believe me, once you are open to grammar, you’ve learnt the language in the real sense. And this is the truth: good grammar seriously impresses a native speaker. Many people can speak a foreign language, but few can converse grammatically correctly.
Wiedersehen
Hitixa