31 Basic Grammar
The grammar of our first language comes to us almost automatically, without our thinking much about it or even being aware of it. Listen in, for instance, on a conversation between a six-year-old and her sister.
Audrey: My new bike that Daddy got me has a pink basket and a loud horn, and I love it.
Lila: Can I ride it?
Audrey: Sure, as soon as you get big enough.
This simple conversation features sophisticated grammar used effortlessly. Every language has grammar (basic structures), and native speakers understand and use these structures long before they learn what to call parts of a sentence or the different options for putting the pieces of sentences together effectively. Thinking carefully about the basic structures of English can help you make wise choices for your audience and your rhetorical situation.
Grammatical Terms
TALKING THE TALK
“I never learned any grammar.” You may lack conscious knowledge of grammar and grammatical terms (and if so, you are not alone—American students today rarely study English grammar). But you probably understand the ideas that grammatical terms such as auxiliary verb and direct object represent, even if the terms themselves are unfamiliar. Brushing up on the terms commonly used to talk about grammar will make it easier for you and your instructor—as well as other readers and reviewers—to share a common language when you want to discuss the best ways to get your ideas across clearly and with few distractions.