7 Effective Steps to Study English Grammar

Learning grammar is more than just memorizing definitions and verb conjugations. It’s about understanding. How to study English grammar rules to help you master the English language?

What Is English Grammar?

English is a complex language in which words can have different meanings depending on their context and structure. Grammar is the study of rules of a language that are necessary to be able to write in that language.

It is a set of rules that make up the patterns of a language. No two languages are the same, and the rules change as that language changes. That being said, grammar is more akin to how a language is used and how it is structured.

Why Is Studying English Grammar Important?

Grammar is a way of communicating. So when you struggle with one or more specific grammar rules, you’re going to have a hard time communicating the way you want to.

As a result, it will also hurt your chances of success in academic and professional fields.

The English language follows a specific set of rules, which includes the basic components of sentences and their structures. There are a lot of companies that need an employee with a good command of English grammar rules.

They need people to find the grammar mistakes within their written materials or correct the grammar that others have written.

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Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash

How to Study English Grammar: Seven Effective Steps

Grammar is the system of rules that govern the English language. This is different from the English language itself, which includes the vocabulary, alphabet, and sentence patterns that make up a person’s vernacular.

Grammar doesn’t just exist on the pages of a textbook. It also exists in conversations, and it’s a fundamental building block of good written English and effective communication.

Below are the seven best steps to help you study English grammar.

1. Learn New Words Every Day

Words are the foundation of any language, which makes grammar easy to learn. Get a dictionary or download one and memorize as many words as possible.

Use each new term as much as possible to help you remember it. Learn new words and concepts gradually by learning one new word or concept a day for one month.

Don’t worry about grammar until you’re confident in using the new terms and understanding at least half of what you hear.

2. Talk & Communicate with People

Language allows you to participate in society and communicate with people. Take any opportunity to speak with others, even over the phone.

Trying to learn and be fluent in a language without talking to people is difficult. Learning grammar becomes easier when you hear people use specific terms, even if you don’t know the rules.

The more you hear the terms appropriately utilized, the more you will understand.

3. Learn through Watching.

One of the most efficient approaches to learning grammar is watching movies and television programs in the target language.

Watch English movies and shows in English and make notes about what you see and are watching. Make sure to watch episodes that demonstrate how English grammar is used in the context of different situations.

Break the content down for easy understanding and make notes about grammar problems.

4. Understand the Parts of Speech

Part of speech refers to the category each English word can fall into. One of the most important aspects of learning grammar is comprehending parts of speech. Knowing parts of speech will help you understand the usage of words or terms in a sentence.

The eight basic parts of speech include noun, pronoun, verb, adverb, preposition, conjunction, and interjection. Depending on the situation and context, you need to use the correct verb, noun, or adjective.

5. Look for the Patterns

As you identify parts of speech in a sentence, you’ll discover patterns. Try to spot them without using your grammatical notes, and then repeat the patterns in your own phrases. You’ll notice how far your efforts have paid off and learn and remember the usage of the words better.

6. Solicit Feedback & Corrections

Most individuals are hesitant to tell you if you use a word incorrectly because they fear offending you. Feedback from others is important so you can learn from your mistakes.

When you’ve finished editing and proofreading something, compare it to the original to identify where you went wrong. Keep track of any corrections and put them into practice!

7. Practice Verb Forms

One of the most challenging aspects of studying grammar is the conjugation of verb forms. Conjugating a verb alters it in some way to convey the correct information. Present, past, and future tenses are a conjugation of time. The two types of verb conjugation are regular and irregular.

Regular verbs follow a pattern and are easy to learn. For example, the past tense of the present form of the verb ‘save’ is ‘saved.’ You simply need to add a ‘d’ at the end to make the past tense. You add the words “will” or “shall” before the verb in the future tense, as in “will save” or “shall save.” All regular verbs follow this pattern.

However, you can have some difficulties with irregular verbs. Because there are no fixed guidelines, you must know how to conjugate each word individually. The past tense of “come,” for example, is not “comed,” but rather “came.” Therefore, it’s essential to practice verb form to learn their correct usage in sentences.

To Wrap Up

English grammar is essential to developing yourself as a well-rounded individual in using the language. Examining and mastering the English language is a great way to learn about yourself and the world around you.

Students should take the time to familiarize themselves with grammar to help with the process of writing and understanding. This article is a quick guide on how to study English grammar faster and better.

Pam is an expert grammarian with years of experience teaching English, writing and ESL Grammar courses at the university level. She is enamored with all things language and fascinated with how we use words to shape our world.

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