Some lessons explain grammar through terms like ‘subordinate clause’ and ‘imperfect aspect.’ I can often use the example sentence correctly without remembering what those labels mean. On the other hand, a shared vocabulary would make it easier to ask a tutor precise questions. How much grammar terminology has actually helped you learn, compared with practicing patterns in sentences? I don't want to avoid explanations, just avoid learning a second language about grammar itself.
Deciding how much grammar terminology is actually useful
- language-learning
- grammar
- terminology
- actually
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4 replies
The terms helped me when I started asking “why does this sound right?” instead of just copying sentences. Before that, the names felt like h...
The terms helped me when I started asking “why does this sound right?” instead of just copying sentences. Before that, the names felt like homework jargon. I don’t need every label, but having a few lets me look things up and stop guessing.
I’m more on the pattern side. I can talk about what a sentence does without naming every piece, and that’s usually enough for speaking and writing. The terminology is useful when a tutor or grammar book uses it, but I wouldn’t spend too much time memorizing labels by themselves.
That’s close to what I suspected. I don’t want to become fluent in grammar labels instead of the language.