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[GRAMM] Do I need grammar to learn a language?

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Basler Biker
Switzerland

[GRAMM] Do I need grammar to learn a language?

Post by Basler Biker »

Strictly speaking? no. Children learn to speak before they go to school to learn grammar.
Grammar is needed when one needs to explain why some sentences are OK, whilst others are not and sound odd.

Grammar explains by using terms, which describe the category of words, and the purpose of each category in a sentence.

This rhyme speaks about those categories.

Every name is called a NOUN, As field and fountain, street and town.
In place of noun the PRONOUN stands, As he and she can clap their hands.
The ADJECTIVE describes a thing, As magic wand or bridal ring.
Most VERBS mean action, something done, To read and write, to jump and run.
How things are done the ADVERBS tell, As quickly, slowly, badly, well.
The PREPOSITION shows relation, As in the street or at the station.
CONJUNCTIONS join, in many ways, Sentences, words, or phrase and phrase.
The INTERJECTION cries out, “Hark! I need an exclamation mark!.

So there we have them. In Each category there are sub-categories.
Just as an example see here the subcategories for PRONOUN on wiktionary.

That said, how do you start learning a language from scratch?
-- you need to learn by heart a minimal vocabulary, a few, ten, hundred words in each category

Next, words are only words...they will fullfill a "role" in the sentence. Then come another set of terms in play
-- subject,
-- verbal expression,
-- direct onject,
-- indirect object,
-- adverbial expressions,
-- main clause,
-- sub clause,
-- secondary clause
-- etc.

Next, sentences are built by using patterns of "roles". The most simple pattern is SVO, and it's valid for so many European languages, Dutch, French, German, ... and Swedish (and so many other languages worldwide)
-- S stands for Subject
-- V for Verbal expression
-- O means Object

When the "roles" are rearranged, such as for building a question, or when the sentence starts with an adverbial expression, then comes in play the V2 rule for the verb. Whatever, in a sentence pattern, takes the first position, the verb shall remain in the second position. hence V2.

Conjugations
-- you need to know about the interaction between "roles", how the gender of a noun affects the adjective spelling

Verb tenses
-- you need to be aware of verb tenses, expressing "when" the action takes place (present, past, future)

Alternative role patterns
-- you need to know how to turn a statement into a question, and the effect of this on word order
-- you need to know how to confirm or negate a statement

Words having a figurative meaning
-- you need to know about words which always form a group (phrases, expressions)

Making long sentences
-- you need to know how to link two sentences together

When you will be at the point that you "feel something is not OK", that means that you notice the inproper use of words, in a wrong "role" or words not matching the rest of the sentence, then you can say that you are near "advanced." You recognize expressions, the way to say things by using words which don't take their "normal" meaning.

But before all that ... the BASIS, the foundation must be laid, and the most simple grammar shall be learned right from the beginning.
So start working on Simple Swedish Grammar and the word order rule named SVO.


BB - Basler Biker - Positivity and constructiveness will prevail
Native :belgium: :netherlands: / fluent :fr: :de: :uk: / learning :sweden: / fan of :switzerland: (bs/bl)

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