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Google Images:
The Grammaring Matrix
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Needless
to say, there is no such word as grammaring in English – or, at least there hasn’t been one until Diane
Larsen-Freeman, Professor at University of
Michigan
School of Education, began to refer to it as the fifth skill alongside reading, writing, listening and speaking.
Grammaring is understood as the ability to use grammar structures accurately,
meaningfully, and appropriately. Grammar lessons are no longer about knowing language systems (declarative knowledge), but about knowing how to use language (procedural knowledge).
In her book Teaching Language: From Grammar to
Grammaring, Larsen-Freeman herself seems pulled in both directions: on the
one hand, she says that students want and
need to learn the rules of grammar, but also that the rules are confusing and not complete in themselves. She goes on
to say that ‘... in most cases students don't need to know about the language –
they need to be able to use the language.’ Still, there is a delicate and at the same time unclear
balancing: it is a ‘myth’ that
grammar need not be taught, yet there
is ‘reason to question’ whether students should adhere to the interactional
norms of English speakers.
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Larsen-Freeman admits to
still seeking the answers herself, but one ‘teachers’ voices’ quote is perhaps
telling: ‘I tell my students that
they don't need to be accurate to communicate. They do need to be accurate to be
respected.’
Throughout the book, there
is a message to teachers about how we should analyze our students’ problems and
find ways to help them understand the issues they face. The three inseparable
components form, meaning and use still are of paramount importance. And I for one will stick to
them!
1.3 The
simple sentence: direct and indirect objects
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1.3 A Subject + verb +
indirect object + direct object:'Show me that photo'
1 We can use two objects
after verbs like give and buy.
Instead of:
Give the book to me,
we
can say:
Give me the book.
Instead of:
Buy the book for me,
we
can say:
Buy me the book.
2 Some
verbs combine with TO: bring, give, lend, pay, post, sell, send, show, tell,
write: Bring that book to me. -» Bring me that book.
3 Other verbs combine with FOR: buy,
choose, cook, cut, do, fetch, find, get, make, order: Please order a meal for
me. -» Please order me a meal.
4 We can put it and them after the verb: Give it
to me. Buy them for me. (But not *Do me it*) We
say: Give it to John. Buy them for John. (Not *Give
John it* *Buy John them*)
Write: You want people to do things for you. Write suitable polite
requests using it, them or one [Ø One is the
reference pronoun substituting a previously mentioned count noun accompanied by
a/an ]
1 Where are my shoes?
(find) Please......................................................................
2 John needs a new coat. (buy) Please.....................................................................
3 I can't reach that cup. (pass) Please......................................................................
4 Ann wants to see our flat. (show) Please...............................................................
5 I can't do the shopping. (do) Please.......................................................................
6 I’d like a copy of that book. (order) Please............................................................
1.3B
Verb + object + 'to' + noun or pronoun: 'Explain it to me'
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1 There are some verbs like explain which do not behave in
exactly the same way as give. For example, we can say:
Give the book to me, or
Explain the situation to me.
Give me the book, (but not 'Explain me
the situation. *)
2 We cannot use an indirect object (me)
immediately after explain.
We can only have: verb + object + 'to':
He explained the situation to
me.
He confessed his crime to the court.
3 Other verbs like explain and confess are: admit, announce, declare, demonstrate, describe, entrust,
introduce, mention, propose, prove, repeat, report, say, suggest.
Write: Complete these sentences giving the right order of the words in
brackets.
1 You must declare (the
Customs/this camera).....................................................
2 Aren’t you going to introduce (me/your
friend)?..................................................
3 You can say (me/what you
like).............................................................................
4 Who suggested (this
idea/you)?............................................................................
5 He confessed (his crime/the
police)......................................................................
6 I have never admitted
(anyone/this).....................................................................
7 Can you describe (me/this
man)?..........................................................................
8 Please don't mention (this/anyone)......................................................................
9 I’m going to report (this/the
headmaster)............................................................
10 I don't want you to repeat (what I told
you/anyone)..........................................
1.3C The two meanings of 'for'
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1
We can use for after all verbs which have two objects.
2 When we use for after verbs normally
followed by to (give, post, read, sell, show, tell, etc.) it can mean
'instead of: I'll post it for you. (= to save you the trouble)
3 When we use for after verbs normally
followed by for (buy, choose, do, find, keep, order, etc.) the meaning
depends on the context. It can mean for someone's benefit':
Mother cooked a lovely meal for me. (= for my benefit, for me to enjoy)
It can mean 'on someone's behalf/instead of:
I’ll cook the dinner for you. (on
your behalf/instead of you - to save you the trouble)
Write: Tick on the right to show whether for means instead of you/me
or
for your/my benefit.
'instead of’ 'for your/my
benefit'
1 I've cooked a meal for
you and I hope you enjoy it.
__ __
2 Let me cook the dinner
for you this evening.-Thanks!
__ __
3 I've made this cake for
you. Do you like it? __ __
4 I'll post this letter for
you, shall I?
__ __
5 I've bought this
especially for you. __
__
6 I've got some change. Let
me pay the bill for you. __ __
7 As you're busy, let me
book a room for you.
__ __
8 I've saved some of this
pudding for you.
__ __
9 I can't choose a tie
myself. Please choose one for me.
__ __
10 My father has bought a wonderful present for me. __ __
1.3D Context
Write: Put a tick where you think you can change the word order.
Then write the alternative.
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A CURE FOR HYSTERIA
[adapted from Longman
English Grammar Practice by L G Alexander]
When I was a girl, my parents sent me to a very strict school.
They had to buy an expensive uniform for me1 __ and pay
school fees for me2__. Our headmistress, Miss Prim, never
smiled. She explained the school rules to us3__and expected
us to obey them. 'I will never say anything to you4__twice,'
she used to say. We had to write a letter to our parents5__ once
a week and show it to Miss Prim6__ before we sent it. I can
still remember some of the school rules. We were not allowed to lend
anything to anyone7__. We were not allowed to give each other
help8__with homework. We had to report unusual situations to
the headmistress9__. One morning, during assembly, a girl
fainted. The next morning, two more fainted. This continued to happen for
several mornings. Mass hysteria had set in! But Miss Prim put an end to it. She
announced a new rule to us10__: 'No girl will faint in
College!' And after that, no one did!
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How would you interpret the message on Jim Carrey's upper face - I mean, what do you understand by that?
