Sally Owen, bookseller

Is grammar vital? Does it pose an impact to our life? These are some of the concerns that the students gave me when I discussed with them the importance of grammar. The importance of grammar in written and spoken discourse is always emphasized in the educational institutions. Its absence in sentences or paragraph can lead students not to understand sub disciplines embedded in grammar such as the formation of the words, the sense of every discourse, the structure of the language and the sounds of the words.

In contrast to what most individuals believed, grammar comprises other aspects of the language other than vocabulary. This belief hinders the people from understanding that morphology, semantics, syntax and phonology are part of grammar.

The importance of grammar does not seize right after graduation from college. In reality, this is the right time when you are going to apply the rules of grammar that you learned in school. Even if, the use of correct grammar is subjective, in which the reason why is it is used is the gauge of its correctness, erroneous grammar is always wrong regardless of the objective of its usage. Thus, we should use correct grammar most of the time so that you won't lose your job, the chance to be employed, or business, and you can avoid the embarrassment brought by using erroneous grammar.

Regardless of the fact that English has many variations such American English and British English, both of them are governed with the same rules. For instance, in American English, the plural form of the linking verb is is are, British English has are also for the plural form of is. Hence, you should always follow the rules when using any of the variants. Nevertheless, don't fail to mind the differences of the word usage of these two variants. Just like lift for the British English and its american counterpart is elevator. Another thing that you should consider is the consistency in using a variant. As an example, if you will utilize the American English, make sure that, for the rest of your discourse, you won't shift to British English.

When it comes to the standard and nonstandard English, use the standard or formal English for business transaction, then use the nonstandard English when talking with friends or in non formal conversations only. For example, use the statement, It is I when you are in a business meeting or a formal speaking engagement, and use It is me for non formal speaking engagements.

Grammar is a complicated topic to discuss. Nevertheless, in the midst of its complication are the terrific things that they can do to every sentence that we write and speak. Absolutely, learning the rules of grammar is boring, yet when you employ the rules correctly, boredom will only be a noun that can be used to add sense and emphasis to every sentence you make.

After my students have thrown their concerns on the importance of grammar and its impact to our existence, I answered them simply that grammar is essential because it makes the meaning of the spoken and written sentence clear and precise. Then for its impact to our loves, I gave them a hanging answer that even if our existence will not be hampered its absence, our existence will be meaningless and purposeless.