There are many definitions of grammar depending on which country you live in and the language you speak. Each country has its own rules of grammar. However in England it is enough to say that grammar is “the accepted rules by which words are formed and combined into a sentence” (Chambers Dictionary)
It is the order in which the words are placed into a sentence. Young children generally have to learn these rules usually with the help of their parents who will gently correct any inaccuracies in the word order of their child’s sentence.
For private English tutors it is beneficial that their pupils understand the rules of English grammar in order not only to control their own writing but to make that writing suit the audience, purpose and the format.
Also people whose first language is not English also stumble at the first hurdle, so to speak, with regards to placing words in the right order.
In order to understand the rules of grammar the private English teacher needs to ensure that her pupils are able to identify, understand, know and apply the nine parts of speech or word classes in which words of the English Language are categorised.
- Article
- Noun
- Adjective
- Pronoun
- Verb
- Adverb
- Preposition
- Conjunction
- Interjection
Some private English tutors teach their pupils using simple acronyms for example if you can learn the word “cappavain” you have the first letters of the nine parts of speech. All you need to do is remember which word begins with the spoken letters.
David Crystal writes: “Grammar is the business of taking a language to pieces, to see how it works”
In fact that is exactly what is done at key stage 3 as well as at key stage 4 and 5 (for those doing English Language and Literature A/S and A level)
Not only is the language analysed and de-constructed but by doing this pupils are learning to write using these same tools and employing similar constructs. The private teacher of English will expose pupils to range of text, allowing them to read, understand and identify the text for Purpose Audience. They are learning to de-construct firstly other people’s writing then re-construct their own works. This helps greater creativity but with technical accuracy. Furthermore children need to know these, in order to be able to analyse any text they are reading and to be able to comment on any inconsistencies in the text in preparation for the key stage 4 examination.
Areas Covered
South Manchester, Altrincham area including, Bowdon, Hale, Hale Barns, Sale, Timperley, as well as cover areas as Alderley Edge, Didsbury, Lymm, Knutsford and Wilmslow, etc. call if you are not sure.
Private English tutors: Contact me now for consultation and prices please call 07944 248917, or drop me an email.