How to improve my english?Do I really need grammar?

@yunzhbh (147)
China
August 14, 2010 8:50am CST
I am not a student any more,but I haven't stop learning english,it's my hobby,I like it.But I have some questions, if your mother language is english or your english is very good, I need your advise. My question is I don't like grammar at all,I think it's boring,Do I really need to learn it thoroughly.I still remember when I was at school,sometimes I even didn't know what the teacher had talking about.I just read ,I like reading,though sometimes I can't fully understood(like The Economist).It doesn't matter. Now I need your advises,my friend!
13 responses
@ptower76 (1616)
• United States
15 Aug 10
Yunzhbh, I believe grammar is indeed very important in mastering English. It is quite essential for clear and effective communication especially in writing. The better the grammar the better one can understand what you say, hear, or what you write. It has been quite boring to me over the years but truth to tell, has made my written and verbal skills a lot better. Perhaps one of the reasons that you don't fully understand English as much as you would want is because of your challenges in the area of grammar. There are many good websites that teach basic grammer for example subject verb agreement, comma usage, and sentence structure. You will see that if you go back to basics understand becomes clearer. Hope this helps.
@yunzhbh (147)
• China
22 Aug 10
Thanks for your advice.
• India
15 Aug 10
there is no need of grammar for speaking english.now a days the spoken english institutions are creating english as a vast language and coaching is needed for it.but there is no need for it.you can learn english by talking with your friends in english.it cant be learned by reading or taking coaching.it os learned only by talking...committing mistakes ...correcting. ok all the best buddy
@ebuscat (5935)
• Philippines
15 Aug 10
For me grammar is more important ever without them then your said not valid.
• China
15 Aug 10
To any language, the important thing is perseverance. You don't need to force yourself to learn grammar deliberately. If you keep on reading,listening and speaking English a few minutes every day.You would make the big progress.Just to be natural and make English be a part of your life.I'm trying hard. Let's work hard together.
@BigTips (304)
• China
15 Aug 10
For most people whose mother tongue is English, it is unnecessary to learn the grammar. So, you are not good at learning grammar, don't get worried about that. As you have said above, you have interests in reading, then you can improve your English skills by reading a lot day by day. Even if you can't fully understand the meaning of your reading, it is still useful to help you gain a higher level. Of course, you can improve your writing skills by starting new discussions on myLot.
@dream_ozn (1754)
• Singapore
15 Aug 10
I think the best answer to your question is READ. By reading regularly, you get to absorb lots and lots of information, and at the same time, learning English subconsciously as well. This would work very well for you since you mentioned that you like reading very much. Take this to your advantage and i believe your English would improve at a very fast rate. It is however true that grammar is an extremely important component of English. However, there are lots of grammar rules and it takes lots of hard work to read them, much less memorizing them in order to put them into good use. Therefore, reading would help improve your grammar and vocab!
• Goa, India
15 Aug 10
Try to talk to your friends in english as much as possible. Also try to talk in english at home if possible. That will surely help you to improve your english. Watching english channels as well as watching english news channels is also a really good way to improve your english.
• China
14 Aug 10
I guess you are also a Chinese like me.Then my suggestion is that you needn't master very very well grammer of English,but at least you have to know the basic grammar principle,then otherwise probably you can't understand others' words at all.Whatever,the most useful universal rules in learning English I think is: more recite,more read,more speak and more practise.I hope you can make great progress in future.Cheers!
@amelly (1554)
• Malaysia
15 Aug 10
well..i learn about english through reading,talking and observing others...and try to used english as much as you can although you know that you use the wrong words or grammar...soon you will learn and apply it..
@tovk12 (234)
• India
14 Aug 10
Watch a lot of english movies and serials. Also try to practice speaking when in company of people fluent in English. Dont feel shy or discouraged when you make a mistake. Speak Speak and speak and only then you will be perfect
@RamRes (1723)
• Argentina
15 Aug 10
Of course grammar is esential to any language, not just english. Everything I know about english have learned myself, by just observation, either in computer games, webpages or movies. Perhaps the best is not thinking about grammar itself, but instead think as "what's the correct way of say that?". For sure, you don't think in grammar when learning your maternal language, we all spoken it naturaly, but earing what others say.
@clevengay (129)
• Philippines
15 Aug 10
that's also my problem..i posted here and hope to learn something from here..im hoping that there will be one of great help..im not that good in speaking english too..but i know pratice makes it better...
@ellechoi (281)
• Hong Kong
14 Aug 10
you need grammar for sure . And you can learn from watch Tv which is speak Englissh or you could buy a dvd tivi series you like . By that way , you learn english very good