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Introduction
Grammar confuses people. People dont like learning it. English seems like a complex
language where nothing makes sense. It follows convoluted rules that makes speech sound
pompous, but you still must obey. Teachers enforce these beliefs and write textbooks that
explains English this way. Theres a reason people who enforce grammar are compared to
Nazis.
But grammar doesnt have to be painful. And when learned right, it can be quite easy. The No
Fear Grammar approach aims to strip away all the rules, exceptions, and militant
enforcement of language by following a few simple principles:
Grammar is a natural phenomenon. We cant disobey grammar rules any more than
we can disobey gravity. It should be studied scientifically, rather than enforced like the rules
of a board game.
Grammar should be quick, and simple. There are a lot of irregularities in English. Ill
even ignore a few of them for the sake of clarity. But for the most part, No Fear Grammar
will explain concepts in a way that makes most irregularities regular.
Lessons should be short and clear. Adding too much instruction will only confuse
students.
Ill provide the instruction and a few examples for each lesson. Ill leave the activities and
drills up to you. I suggest you set aside a very short amount of time at regular intervals to
work on it. This will give students a longer time to process simpler ideas. Besides, studies
show that a working knowledge of grammar doesnt improve all that many other areas of
knowledge. Ideally, it will help improve writing and punctuation, but thats a long way off.
The first several lessons may be difficult, but take your time and learn them well; if you get
them down, the later lessons will only take a sentence or two to explain. And wouldnt you
like to be able to tell people the difference between who and whom in one sentence?
(Who is a subject; whom is an object.)
So keep it short, sweet, regular, and have fun.