How to Improve Your Grammar
Grammatical errors are acceptable if you’ve just started learning a new language so don’t worry, but you should know they play a very important role in our daily lives. A grammatical error can change the meaning of the sentence and create a bad impression…
1. Speak in English, assuming English is the language whose grammar you wish to improve upon.
English is understood in most parts of the planet, and its importance is increasing in our daily lives. 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, always remember to ask for help!
2. Make a plan.
Try to get an overview of English grammar from a textbook or online resource. Note the grammar points you need to work on and plan to work on each for at least a few days.
3. Identify common mistakes.
People who speak the same language often make the same mistakes in English grammar. For example, many Russian speakers have trouble using “a” and “the” in English. Find out what grammar points are often difficult for speakers of your native language. Pay extra attention to learning those grammar points.
4. Find some grammar exercises.
To learn English grammar well, you’ll need to practice each grammar point until you can use it easily. Look for a book of grammar exercises that also has answers. Online activities and quizzes can also help. Focus on just one grammar point each time you study.
5. 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 textbook exercises for those grammar points and practice.
6. Translate from your native language into English.
When you write or speak your own thoughts, it’s easy to avoid complicated grammar. When you translate, you have to work with whatever is on the page, even if the grammar is difficult. Start translating simple things like advertisements and then move to newspapers and magazine articles. Translating dialog in plays is another good way to practice.
7. 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.
8. Reading aloud is simpler.
Why? Because you eventually are listening to correct grammar as you read it; watching television also helps. It works better if we watch what we are really interested in, although the BBC is always a great option. The English spoken in America is different from that spoken in England. Some parts of spelling and grammar vary between the two countries as well.
9. Ask native speakers for advice.
If you know any native English speakers, ask if they could check some of your writing now and then. If there are no native English speakers near you, look online for language-learning forums or language-exchange sites. Just remember if the native speaker is not a teacher, he or she may not be able to explain grammar rules.
