Is English Grammar Useless?

Hi, this is Jiro.

In Japan, you often hear people say,
“English grammar is useless.”

No wonder.

They studied grammar for years, only to find that they still couldn’t speak English.

Some of them might even say that grammar should be banned from schools!
Well, not quite.

The real problem is not grammar itself.
It is a misunderstanding about what grammar is for.

Grammar is not something you learn for its own sake.
Grammar helps you learn English.

Let me explain.
Suppose you learn this sentence.

They demand that he (① resigns ② resigned ③ resign).

The answer is ③ resign.

Then comes the explanation.
After verbs such as propose, demand, order, and insist, the verb in the that-clause takes the base form.
Fine.

Now let me ask you a question.
Which is more important?
The explanation?
Or the sentence itself?

They demand that he resign.

To me, the answer is easy.
The sentence is more important.

The grammar explanation is important only because it helps you understand, remember, and use the sentence.

The other day, I asked one of my students exactly this question.
“Which is more important?”
Without hesitation he answered,
“The grammar explanation.”

He sounded so sure that I almost wondered whether I had been teaching the wrong way.

So I said,
“If I’ve given you that idea, I’m sorry.
The explanation is not the main thing.
The sentence is.
Read it again.
Say it aloud.
Keep saying it until it comes out naturally.”

He looked surprised.
Then, after a while, he nodded.
I think he understood.

So, let’s go back to our first question.
Is English grammar useless?

No.
It is very useful.
But probably not in the way many people think.

Grammar is not the goal.
Grammar is a helper.

It helps you understand English more quickly.
It helps you remember sentences more easily.
It helps you notice patterns.

But…
Grammar doesn’t learn English for you.
You do.

P.S.
You may have heard people say,
“Grammar is only a map.”
That’s true.

But people often forget one thing.
A map never walks for you.
You still have to walk the real ground yourself.

Grammar doesn’t learn English for you.
You still have to read.
You still have to listen.
You still have to speak.
You still have to think.

If grammar is only a guide, don’t just follow the guide.
Use your own eyes.
Use your own ears.
Use your own voice.

Grammar shows the way.
You do the walking.
Happy English learning!