Grammar has long been a study...dating back to ancient Greece and Rome. Grammar was one of the seven liberal arts that were studied in medieval times. Although the methods of studying grammar have changed dramatically in recent times, the reasons for studying grammar have remained essentially the same. Grammar allows us to talk about language. It names the types of words and word groups that make up sentences, not only in English but in all languages. Humans are capable of putting together sentences even as young children. The National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) have this to say, "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 seem like a dull subject to many but beyond being able to talk about language, there are other reasons why it's important to study grammar. The study of language is part of general knowledge. Just as doctors and others in science study the human body to understand themselves, people study grammar to understand the complexities of human language. The study of grammar, or sentence structure, allows all of us to be able to interpret literature. it also allows students to form better sentences in his own compositions. Humans don't stop needing to compose our thoughts just because they finish their formal education. Humans (and this frog, too) write things every day. From email to business letters to blogs, and beyond, we all have the need to write things every day. And what about talking? Grammar is just as important there, as well. Just imagine how our communication would go if there wasn't grammar!
The study of your own grammatical system can be interesting, useful, and insightful. Anne Lobeck and Kristin Denham, co-authors of the book Navigating English Grammar: A Guide to Analyzing Real Language, wrote this, "With an understanding of how language actually works, and a concise vocabulary to talk about it, you will be equipped to make more informed decisions and choices about grammar and usage, and to tease out linguistic fact from linguistic fiction."
Martha Brockenbrough, founder of the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar, designated National Grammar Day in 2008. What is the best way to celebrate National Grammar Day? Use your best grammar. Need help with that? There are several programs and apps available that will correct your grammar as you write. I use Grammarly every day to correct my blogs and other posts. By-the-way...it's FREE!
I wish you a wonderful week ahead. Please stop by tomorrow for a fascinating look at Fat Tuesday. Until then, I wish you PEACE.
Nordquist, Richard. "Why Does Grammar Matter?" ThoughtCo, Dec. 7, 2018, thoughtco.com/why-does-grammar-matter-1691029.