A Fast Track Grammar Review.pdf

Ted Tucker

INSIDE

THIS

GUIDE

What is grammar?

Why do I need to know about it?

Page

Numbers

3-5

Section Two:

Parts of Speech

6-21

Section Three:

Phrases, Clauses, and Sentences

22-32

Section Four:

The Structure of Sentences:

Parts, Agreement, and Conditionals

33-40

Section Five:

Articles, Quantifiers, Verbals,

and Reported Speech

41-54

Section Six:

Coordination, Subordination & more,

Basic Punctuation Review

55-65

Section Seven:

Grammar Resources

where to learn more

Section One:

Section

The Basic Idea

What it is

and why we need to know about it.

What is Grammar?

Check all the answers that you feel are true.

□ A system designed to confuse students and teachers

□ An antiquated system of rules that no one uses anymore

□ An incomprehensible jumble of rules with too many exceptions

□ The first thing to embarrass me in the classroom

If you checked all four responses—you are not alone. This course book

is designed to get you up and running—and comfortable with the basics

in just a few weeks. Here we go . . .

Section

What is Grammar?

Different sources define grammar in different ways.

Merriam-Webster’s online dictionary defines grammar as:

1 a : the study of the classes of words, their inflections, and their

functions and relations in the sentence b : a study of what is to be

preferred and what avoided in inflection and syntax

2 a : the characteristic system of inflections and syntax of a language

b : a system of rules that defines the grammatical structure of a

language

Are you confused yet? Here’s another one:

Ask Jeeves has a “Quick Definition” that reports

grammar as “studies of the formation of basic

linguistic units.”

Some grammarians also refer to descriptive and

prescriptive grammars. Descriptive grammar refers to the way lan-

guage is actually used. Prescriptive grammar as the way it experts say it

should be used. Consider how you would research how to write a lan-

guage that has no writing system. First, you might listen to how people

speak the language. Then you might also ask the more educated speak-

ers how it should be spoken.

Perhaps the easiest way to get a good grasp of the concept is with the

TOEFL© test’s use of the word “ Structure ” as the name of the grammar

component of the test. Think of grammar as providing the structure

and organization for language.

Exercise 1.1.

Start thinking about a definition of grammar that is simple and useful.

Make it simple enough that you can use it to explain grammar to your

students. Write that definition here:

_______________________________________

When you finish this book, return to this exercise and see if you wish to

improve your definition, or leave it as it is. If you improve it, write it

here:

_______________________________________

Section

Why do I need to know grammar?

Check all the answers that you feel are true.

□ so I don’t get embarrassed in the classroom

□ because it is an important part of learning English

□ so I can explain it to my students when they ask about it

□ to help increase my confidence level in the classroom

Once again, if you checked all the answers, no need to worry.

Most new teachers have all these concerns and more.

The Most Important Reasons

Professional:

A taxi driver needs to know his/her way around town, you need to know

your way around grammar. Grammar is an important part of most EFL

programs. You need a good grasp of grammar and know how to explain

it simply and clearly to your students.

Student Expectations:

Your students will expect you to have an in-

depth understanding of grammar, and you will

quickly lose confidence in you if you can’t

deliver.

Confidence:

When you are standing in front of a classroom

of five, ten, or even twenty or more students—

you’ll be much more confident when those

grammar questions show up. When you least

expect it, students can ask you the most

obscure questions, often in front of a large

classes. Won’t feel a lot better knowing you

have put in the effort to communicate the basics

in a professionally effective manner?

Last of all , remember that EFL students, or

their parents, often pay what is for them, a very

large amount of money for English lessons.

Do a good job for them and deliver the value and

quality education they deserve.

Plik z chomika:

Inne pliki z tego folderu:

Inne foldery tego chomika: