The word “grammar” can strike fear into the hearts of many home-teaching parents and their children. How does a non-nerdy, normal type of person learn when to say “Him and me” or “He and I”? Or what is correct “have gone” or “have went” or just plain “went”?
No matter how confusing or scary grammar may seem, it is actually simple, if you learn it simply and then teach it simply. The above examples all have “tests” a person can use to know which one is correct. Learning the tests and the other elements of grammar will provide the speaker and writer with a comfortable and useful way with words that will make him/her stand out and communicate clearly and concisely. The real point of speech and writing is to convey thought, so the more tools you possess to convey your thoughts, the better.
<center>
</center>
As our society removes itself from live communication and dissolves into digital, cyber-based communication, those who can still function beyond lol, btw, brb, etc., will have an advantage in the still-dominant “real” world. Just as it is important for those who speak English as a Second Language to know English grammar as much as possible, millennials and younger who know English grammar will be noticed and valued for their skill. These people can be trusted to compose important correspondence, house memos, proofread and the like, because they actually have the mechanics of English at their fingertips – and, they know if they don’t know something or are unsure about it — and where to look to find it.
There is a thrill in having learned the mechanics of English enough to have that learning manifest itself in something one writes one day. . . suddenly your word choice has increased, your composition is more complex and intelligent; it may even spark or crackle with an electrical component you did not possess before. If you wish to hurl an insult at someone, you are not chained to four-letter words and other bottom-tiered expressions, but realize that you have a wealth of higher-minded words and phrases to serve you. Of course, this wealth of words is not grammar, per se, but vocabulary; however, as you learn grammar, you will assimilate words and phrases that carry your mind beyond the mundane and trivial; you will develop larger thoughts and then larger ones or more of them. In this process, one is adding brain cells and neurons and it is exciting to experience!
If you are a homeschooling parent and know the need for your child to learn grammar, avail yourselves of the excellent grammar resources that cater to homeschoolers and open the door to this wonderful world of wordsmiths.
