Hello. Do you have to learn grammar? I have to learn grammar sometimes. I'm a grammar
teacher. And I know grammar is really, really difficult sometimes. And it just makes you
want to scream, pull your hair out, freak out, and cry sometimes. "I hate grammar."
The reason why grammar is so difficult is because it's confusing; you have to remember
so many rules; and then, there are exceptions to these so many rules; and it's just really
confusing; and it's very different from your native language or languages, depending on
how many you speak. So really, really easy, really effective method to learn any grammar
ever in the world. So today's lesson is how to learn, remember, and use any grammar that
is on a test, whether you're taking TOEFL or TOEIC or IELTS or Cambridge -- anything
that you have to remember grammar for, this is going to be a godsend for you. It's going
to help you so much. Great. So let's get into it.
First one, you have two points to remember. That's it. Two. Done. The first one is the
structure. You have to remember and know how the grammar is made. Okay? The second point
is how or why do we use this? Why do I need to learn this stupid grammar? Am I ever going
to use it in real life? Why would I say this? Why do I need present perfect? Why can't I
just use simple past? Why do I need continuous? Why do I need passive? These are the questions
you have to ask two people, one, your teacher, and two, yourself. If you are teaching English
and you don't know structure, and more importantly, how and why, you've got some homework to do.
People -- students have asked me, "Teacher, why?" "I don't know." Just say to them,
"I don't know." Go look it up. Do some research. Find the answer. The best thing is to find
your own answer if you have to do this. So let's dive into this.
First of all, when I say "structure", I mean how do you make the grammar? How do you make
the sentence? So if I give you the example of present continuous, this is the name of
the grammar. If you just remember the name of the grammar, it's useless. So it comes
to the test and it says, "Write a present continuous sentence." He's like, "Uh, I know
present continuous. How do you make it?"
So the way that I always remember grammar is I always like to use a subject. Now, if
you want to replace the word "subject" with any other word like [random sounds] or "dog",
that's cool. But I like to use "subject" as my beginning.
Then, for present continuous, it's going to be "to be verb". But instead of just writing
"to be verb", it really, really helps you if you write out the different forms of the
"to be" verb. So for example, "I am", "he is", "we are". Okay?
The second thing -- sorry. The last thing in the present continuous that makes the verb
continuous is you're going to have the -ing. So the structure or the form that I like to
use for the present continuous is subject + "am", "is", "are" + verb + ing. The present
continuous also has another name, which is "present progressive". They're exactly the
same grammar point. The usages are the same. But it's just a different word for it. Don't
worry. It's cool. Don't worry about it. So
next step -- we've got the structure. Next step, very important, how or why do I use
this? Why do I need to use this grammar? Why do I need to learn this grammar? You need
to learn it because it's on your test. But as soon as the test is finished, why would
I use this? How would I say this in my life? Answer -- actions you are doing now. What
are you doing right now? Are you watching a video? I think you are. So maybe you're
watching a video. Maybe you're eating something. Maybe you're brushing your teeth. I can't
see you. You can see me. What are you doing? Ah. Okay. Good. So present continuous, as
an example, structure, how and why.
Another really, really good thing to do is to write down as many examples as you can.
It's always good to practice the grammar written. Also, talk. Speak. Get a video recorder and
talk into it -- or tape recorder, digital recorder. Listen to yourself saying the new
grammar sentences. It will help you remember if you play it back.
Let's use this theory. Let's learn some new grammar. Maybe it's old grammar. It's okay.
Past simple, so first of all, structure. How do I make past simple? Do you know? Do you
know? Okay. Past simple is going to be subject + a past tense of the verb, and usually, we're
going to have a noun or a complement to the verb. So you have subject + past tense + noun.
For example, "I ate dinner." Yay. Okay. Uh-oh. So what -- hold on. So I've remembered the
structure, but I need to know why would I use this? Why is this useful in my life? How
or why? How do we use this? We use this to talk about past -- I'm going to say "boring".
Some people like to say "routine". But it's basically for past events. And usually, we
have a time marker in this. We don't have to have a time marker as a rule, but usually,
we throw in a time marker just to help us distinguish it from present perfect.
So rule No. 1, structure. How do you make the grammar? No. 2, how and why do I use this?
Why do I use this? This is how you're going to connect this for your brain. Step 3, I
didn't write it down, but that's okay. Think of, write down, talk about as many examples
as you can. But very importantly, make the examples relevant to you, to your life. Don't
think about examples about someone else that you don't know or things that you don't care
about. Try and make them for you. This will help you remember why the grammar is important.
What are you doing right now? What did you do yesterday? So simple past. "I ate dinner.
I went for a walk. It was really cold. It was so cold. But I did it." Right now, I'm
teaching you. I'm breathing. Are you breathing? I hope you're breathing. I'm watching you.
You're watching me. It's fantastic.
So the next time you're in grammar class or you're trying learn grammar by yourself -- it
doesn't matter what language it is -- always think of these two very easy steps. One, structure;
two, how and why. I guarantee you that this will help you so much. I guarantee it so much
that you will get your money back from somewhere if it doesn't work. Call this 1-800 number.