Why is Grammar useful?

GRAMMAR
Welcome to our Presentation!
DO WE REALLY NEED
TO STUDY GRAMMAR?
NO! Very many people in the world speak their own, native language without having studied its grammar. Children start to speak before they even know the word “grammar”

But if you are serious about learning a foreign language

YES! Grammar can help you to learn a language more quickly and more efficiently. When you understand the grammar (or system) of a language, you can understand many things yourself, without having to ask a teacher or look in a book.
OUTLINE

1/ Grammar & the Importance of Grammar
2/ Common Problems
3/ Tips for improving Grammar
4/ Materials for learners
5/ Games
Grammar is the whole system and structure of a language or of languages in general.
Grammar is usually taken as consisting of syntax and morphology (including inflections) and sometimes also phonology and semantics.
GRAMMAR
BEAST ! WOMAN !
???
The cavemen tried to speak !!
While it may seem like proper grammar is only important to English teachers, there are many good reasons why you should give yourself grammar training, to make sure you are well skilled in how to speak and write properly. Here are a few reasons why proper grammar is important.
THE IMPORTANCE
OF GRAMMAR
Proper grammar
helps you get your point across
Sometimes a small grammatical error can change the entire meaning of a sentence. If you wish to be understood, it is essential to have a good working knowledge of English grammar rules.
Proper grammar
gives you credibility
If you are writing a paper or speaking to someone about your area of expertise, but your speech is fraught with grammatical errors, it will make you appear ignorant, even if you are, in fact, quite knowledgeable.
Proper grammar
allows the reader to focus only on
the subject presented in text
Grammatical mistakes in a text can easily draw readers’ attention away from the content of the writing forcing them to think about grammar in a sentence. When there is error, it makes the reader focus on your grammar instead of what you are trying to communicate
Proper grammar might
help get you a job
We live in a time where the job market is increasingly competitive. With many more applicants vying for the same positions, job seekers need to work harder to make themselves stand out in the crowd. A person who knows how to speak and write well will have a clear advantage over someone whose grammar skills are less than stellar.
Proper grammar
makes you look more intelligent
The ability to speak and write properly makes a person appear to be more intelligent and better educated. Knowing the difference between who and whom, or that and which, definitely signals a higher intellect to others. Who doesn`t want to look smart?
Top Ten Grammar Problems 
The Comma Splice
The Abused Apostrophe
Subject-verb Agreement
Coordinated & Subordinated Conjunctions
Double Negatives
Disruptive & Misplaced Modifiers
Unclear Antecedents
Preposition Overuse
Fragments
Run-ons

COMMON PROBLEMS
1. The Comma Splice

● If only a comma appears between two independent clauses without a 
coordinating conjunction, the error is called a comma splice.




● A comma splice also occurs when a comma and a transitional expression join two independent clauses.




2. The Abused Apostrophe


● Misusing the apostrophe in plurals




●Forgetting the apostrophe

3. Subject-verb Agreement



● When you use the present tense, subject and verb must agree in person and number.
● Two key points about Agreement:
- Generally, you can put an -s on a noun to make it plural, 
- You can put an -s on a verb to make it singular.
=> An -s on both is not standard English.




4. Coordinated & Subordinated Conjunctions


● Coordinate conjunctions indicate units of equal status (yet, and, but, or, so, for, nor…).



● Subordinate conjunctions indicate that one unit is more important than the other (after, although, because, if, that, unless, until, when, where, while…).


5. Double Negatives



● Avoid using two negatives in one sentence, or you will end up saying the opposite of what you mean.

6. Disruptive & Misplaced
Modifiers


● Disruptive Modifiers




● Misplaced Modifiers
7. Unclear Antecedents



● The antecedent is the noun that a pronoun refers to. The pronoun and antecedent must be in agreement.
● When pronouns and the nouns they replace are separated by several words, sometimes the agreement in number is lost.

8. Preposition Overuse




9. Fragments


● Fragments are incomplete sentences that are punctuated to look like sentences. Fragments lack key elements-often a subject or verb-or else are a subordinate clause or phrase.
● How to turn fragments into sentences:
- Incorporate the fragment into an adjoining sentence


- Add the missing element.
10. Run-ons



● Run-ons jam together two or more sentences, failing to separate them with appropriate punctuation.
● The writer must be careful to determine where one main clause stops and the next begins.

● Speak in English, assuming English is the language whose grammar you wish to improve upon
Learning grammar can be hard if we don`t really know how to speak English. Improve your grammar by continuous practice. Your speech will reflect patterns you hear, and the rest will fall into place. Find a friend who can speak to you in English, and move on. Whenever you feel stuck, ask for help!
● Pay close attention to grammar when you read English
When you`re trying to learn correct English grammar, it`s not enough to understand general idea of what you read. You`ll need to understand exactly why each sentence is written that way.
When you read a sentence, ask yourself if you can make similar sentences. If you can`t or you`re not sure, find text book exercises for those grammar points and practice.
TIPS
TIPS
● Read and practice
The more you read, the better you get with your vocabulary. It improves grammar, too. If possible, read aloud. Functional grammar deals with the way in which words and word order are used in social perspectives to get the message across.
However, if you have a sudden dislike towards heavy grammar books, try the `parrot method.` This refers to listening and repeating things as many times as possible, so it becomes natural for you to say it that way.
● Vary the length of your sentences
In general, use short sentences to emphasize ideas. Use longer sentences to explain, define, or illustrate ideas.
● Actively edit and proofread
It`s easy to overlook errors when merely looking over your work. So be on the lookout for common trouble spots when studying your final draft.
TIPS
● Use a dictionary
When proofreading, don`t trust your spellchecker: it can tell you only if a word is a word, not if it`s the right word.
● Relax!
Grammar is easier than you think. We read and write so much every day that many of the rules of grammar are subconsciously embedded in you. If it sounds right and looks right, it probably is right.
Keep it simple - your words and ideas should be what shine, not your apostrophes and parentheses. If you don`t know how to use, say, a semicolon, then don`t. Your writing won`t suffer for it, you`ll be more comfortable, and your pristine grammar will impress your readers. You`ll seem smarter and more polished, and that`s a win no matter how you phrase it.
M
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R
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A
L
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The Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English is a revolutionary, corpus-based reference grammar of English, based on a groundbreaking research project to analyze the ways in which English grammar is really used.
The book looks at four text types  conversation, fiction, news reportage, and academic prose  and reports statistical findings as well as examining the reasons that condition a particular grammatical choice.
Understanding and Using English Grammar Interactive allows students to study grammar as they never have before! Through a dynamic combination of animation, audio, and voice recordings, this all-new multimedia program provides more than 100 hours of instruction and interactive practice.

It is perfect for independent study or for teachers who want to combine classroom instruction with computer-based learning in the lab.
English Grammar in Use Third edition is a fully updated version of the classic grammar title. It retains all the key features of clarity and accessibility that have made this book so popular with students and teachers alike. This edition, with answers and CD-ROM, is ideal for self-study. The CD-ROM includes hundreds of interactive exercises to reinforce the language learned in the book.
Practical English Usage is a dictionary of problem points in the language for foreign learner’s and their teachers.It answers the learner’s question, ‘Is this right or wrong,and why?’ and the teacher’s questions, ‘How can I explain this to my classes?’.It gives information and advice that is practical, clear, reliable and easy to find.Most of the book is about grammar, but it also covers selected points of vacabulary, idiom, style, pronunciation and spelling.
GAMES
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2
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4
Question 1
Correct this sentence:

I explained her the problem twice

Answer : I explained the problem twice to her.

Question 2
Identify the mistake:

I can`t find nothing in my neighborhood

Answer : I can`t find anything in my neighborhood.


Question 3
We always use “I am...” as in “I am a doctor”

So,when do we use....” I is” ?

Answer : “I is an alphabetical letter”
Question 4
Do you believe that this sentence is correct?

“Do you know where is the nearest police station?”
Answer : “Do you know where the nearest police station is?”
Question 5
Which sentence is correct and why?
a. In president Lincoln`s last speech, he talked about freedom and equality.
b. President Lincoln, in his last speech, talked about freedom and equality.
Answer : B
Question 6
Choose the correct answer:

Give the money to John or _________.
a.I
b.me
c.myself
Answer : B
Question 7
 Which is correct to say, “The yolk of the egg is white” or “The yolk of the egg are white?”

Answer : Neither.Egg yolk is yellow. GOTCHA ^^
Question 8
A man and a dog were going down the street. The man rode, yet walked. What was the dog`s name?

Answer : The dog’s name is Yet
It’s raining...
CATS
DOGS
and
● We should remember that Grammar plays a very important role in studying a language. It is the foundation making it possible for us to speak a language correctly.
● Therefore, students who are in major of language, especially in English should pay close attetion to Grammar while writing and speaking English.
● As far as you have seen, our group have shown you Top Ten Grammar Problems that we usually face and how to correct them.
● Take it easy but don’t forget one thing: Practice makes perfect. The more you read and do Grammar exercises as well as put it into practical use, the better you are at it.
Conclusion
THANK YOU
FOR LISTENING!