Fundamentals of English Grammar

1. Embrace an Eclectic, Balanced Teaching Approach

The principal aims of Fundamentals of English Grammar are to present clear, cogent information about English grammar and usage, to provide extensive and varied practice that encourages growth in all areas of language use, and to be interesting, useful, and fun for student and teacher alike.

Balance is key. The guide advocates for an eclectic approach, blending form-focused activities with communicative practice. This means dedicating time to explicit grammar study while also providing ample opportunities for students to use the language purposefully in speaking and writing. The goal is not just theoretical knowledge but practical usage ability.

Beyond rules. Teaching grammar isn't merely lecturing on rules or terminology. It's about helping students make sense of the language system gradually. The text supports this by offering a wealth of material designed to be adapted, ensuring the learning process is engaging and promotes overall English usage, not just grammatical correctness in isolation.

Teacher partnership. The textbook functions as a partner to the teacher. It provides the structure and materials, but the teacher animates the content, directs activities, and creates a relaxed environment where students feel comfortable experimenting with new structures and taking risks in their language production.

2. Position the Teacher as Facilitator, Students as Active Learners

Teaching grammar is the art of helping students make sense, little by little, of a huge, puzzling construct, and engaging them in various activities that enhance usage abilities in all skill areas and promote easy, confident communication.

Facilitate discovery. The teacher's primary role is to guide and facilitate the learning process, not simply to transmit knowledge. Students are active participants who learn by doing, exploring, and interacting. This involves knowing when to step back and allow students to lead their own learning.

Reduce inhibition. Interactive work, especially in pairs or small groups, significantly increases student talk time and reduces the inhibition some students feel in teacher-centered activities. It fosters a comfortable environment where students can help each other, experiment with language, and build confidence.

Errors are natural. Mistakes are an inherent part of language learning. Teachers should monitor errors constructively, perhaps addressing common issues after an activity, but not every mistake needs immediate correction. Exposure to imperfect English among peers does not impede progress; it's a realistic part of language use.

3. Prioritize Interactive Practice and Real-World Context

The here-and-now classroom context is, of course, one of the grammar teacher’s best aids.

Maximize interaction. Many exercises are designed for group or pair work to maximize student speaking and listening practice. This interactive format allows students to use target structures in dynamic exchanges, practicing communication skills like agreeing, disagreeing, and cooperating.

Connect to life. Relating grammar structures to the immediate classroom context or students' real lives makes learning more relevant and memorable. Using students' names, activities, and interests in examples helps them see the practical application of the grammar.

Beyond the book. Teachers are encouraged to adapt exercises and create spontaneous interactions. This might involve:

• Role-playing scenarios (e.g., TV reporter)
• Using visual aids (pictures, objects)
• Incorporating student experiences and opinions
• Turning exercises into games or discussions

By grounding grammar practice in meaningful interaction and relevant contexts, students are better able to internalize structures and use them effectively in real communication.

4. Adapt and Vary Techniques for Charts and Exercises

Adapt the material to your own needs and techniques.

Charts as guides. Grammar charts are concise visual summaries, but they are starting points, not rigid rules to be memorized. Teachers should vary presentation techniques based on student needs and learning styles. Some students prefer detailed explanations, while others learn best by doing exercises first.

Flexible presentation:

• Explain charts with additional examples.
• Elicit examples from students before presenting the chart.
• Assign charts/exercises for homework and discuss questions later.
• Lead students through exercises before discussing the chart.
• Use quick quizzes as previews.

Exercise variety. The text offers diverse exercise types, from controlled fill-in-the-blanks to open-ended writing and discussion. Teachers should select and adapt these based on their goals, class size, and available time, ensuring a mix of form-focused and communicative practice.

Seatwork and homework. Exercises can be done as in-class seatwork (individually or in groups) or assigned as homework. Homework allows students time to prepare, while seatwork lets them discover problems before discussion. The key is to ensure students engage actively with the material.

5. Address Common Grammar Challenges Systematically

Final -s is troublesome for all ESL/EFL students.

Identify key difficulties. The guide highlights specific grammar points that are frequently challenging for learners, such as:

• Final -s on nouns and verbs
• Irregular verb forms (past tense, past participle)
• Count vs. noncount nouns and article usage
• Passive voice formation and use
• Gerunds and infinitives following verbs and prepositions

Provide focused practice. The chapter structure and exercises are designed to provide repeated exposure and practice with these difficult areas. Error analysis exercises, often based on real student writing, help students identify and correct common mistakes, improving self-monitoring skills.

Build understanding gradually. Complex topics like the passive or noun clauses are introduced step-by-step. For instance, the passive is first shown with the agent, then the omission of the by-phrase is discussed, followed by passive progressives and modals. This layered approach helps prevent overload.

Terminology as a tool. Grammar terms like "subject," "verb," "object," "transitive," "intransitive," "gerund," and "infinitive" are introduced as needed to facilitate communication about the structures. Students are not expected to memorize definitions but to understand the concepts they represent.

6. Utilize Diverse Exercise Types for Varied Practice

The majority of the exercises in the text require some sort of completion, transformation, combination, discussion of meaning, or a combination of such activities.

Multiple formats. The textbook provides a wide array of exercise formats to cater to different learning styles and practice needs. These range from highly controlled drills to more open-ended communicative tasks.

Key exercise types:

• Fill-in-the-blanks: Practice form and meaning in controlled contexts.
• Open completion: Encourage creative use of structures with personal information.
• Transformation/Combination: Focus on manipulating grammatical forms.
• Oral exercises: Maximize speaking and listening practice, often in pairs or groups.
• Writing exercises: Promote independent language use in compositions.
• Error analysis: Develop self-correction skills by identifying and fixing typical mistakes.
• Discussion of meaning: Deepen understanding by comparing and explaining nuances.

Purposeful design. Each exercise type serves a specific pedagogical purpose, whether it's reinforcing form, practicing pronunciation, developing fluency, or improving written accuracy. Teachers can select and combine these types to create dynamic lessons.

Beyond the page. Many exercises encourage moving beyond the written text, incorporating physical actions, role-playing, or using real objects to make the grammar more tangible and the practice more engaging.

7. Integrate Pronunciation and Written Conventions

Paying attention to the spoken sounds of these endings greatly benefits students in their written English.

Connect sound and form. The guide emphasizes the importance of pronunciation, particularly for grammatical endings like final -s/-es and -ed. Understanding how these are pronounced helps students not only speak more clearly but also use them correctly in writing.

Focus on awareness. Pronunciation exercises aim to make students aware of distinct sounds (e.g., /s/, /z/, /əz/ for final -s) and common reductions or contractions in spoken English (e.g., "gonna" for "going to," "'ll" for "will"). While production is encouraged, awareness for comprehension is key.

Mastering conventions. Punctuation and capitalization are presented as essential tools for clear written communication. The guide explains the rules for commas, periods, and capitalization, especially in compound and complex sentences, helping students avoid common errors like comma splices.

Practical application. Exercises specifically target these written conventions, often using unpunctuated passages to highlight how proper marking clarifies meaning and improves readability. Students learn that these rules are not arbitrary but serve practical purposes in written discourse.

Continuous reinforcement. These aspects are woven throughout the chapters, reinforcing the idea that spoken and written forms, as well as grammatical accuracy and conventional usage, are interconnected components of language proficiency.

8. Leverage Supplemental Resources for Enhanced Learning

The Workbook contains selfstudy exercises for independent study...

Extend practice. The accompanying Workbook provides additional self-study exercises keyed to the main text's charts and chapters. This allows students to get extra practice outside of class, reinforcing concepts covered in lessons.

Flexible use. The Workbook can be used in various ways: assigned to the whole class, recommended for students needing extra help, or used by motivated learners for independent study of units not covered in class. The perforated answer key allows students to check their own work.

Additional tools. The guide mentions other resources like "Fun with Grammar" for communicative activities and a "Test Bank" for assessment. These provide teachers with supplementary materials to diversify classroom activities and evaluate student progress.

Online support. The Azar website's Grammar Exchange is highlighted as a place for teachers and students to ask grammar questions and interact with the author and other users, fostering a community of learners and educators.

Comprehensive system. The textbook, workbook, and supplementary resources form a comprehensive system designed to support both teachers and students in the process of learning English grammar, offering flexibility and ample opportunities for practice and reinforcement.

Last updated: May 7, 2025