Introduction to Grammar

Hi, everyone. My name is David and I am

here to introduce you to gramar on
Khan Academy.

Welcome, I´m so glad you can join me.

So, let´s start by asking the question:
"What is grammar?"

What is this thing, why is it worth to
study and why would you put up with listening to me?

First of all, grammar is a set of
conventions and rules that govern language.

So, what´s the difference between a convention and a rule? Well, a rule is a kind

of a bare minimum of what it takes to make your language understandable by other people.

Right, so, in order to a car work f.e. to make it forward as intended, the wheels have to go on

the bottom insted of on the roof. That´s a rule. The idea

that all cars should be painted teal f. e. is a convention. Now, is that true, that all cars should be teal?

No, not necessarily but that leads me to my

second point that grammar is
context-dependent.

The kind of grammar that you use throughout the day changes

It depend on who you are talking to, what
you are trying to say,

and how you are trying to say it. And so
we use multiple kinds of grammar

throughout our days and our lives.

And another thing you need to know
is that you already know so much

grammar just from living and
existing in the world and talking

to other people. You know how to put a
sentence together, if you can understand

me than you know so much about

grammar, you know more than I can

teach you. What these videos are for?
Is to give a name to the things

you already know, to give you a greater
command of them.

And I wanna say to these videos, they are

about a very specifc kind of grammar, called standard american English.

But I want you to know there are many
Englishes. And you know, what

they are all great. They are all wonderfull and vibrant and important and special.

And what I do not want to take away from these videos is

that I´m trying to teach you what is right and

what is wrong. If the kind of English you

speak doesn´t sound like the English
I speak that is OK.

You know, you´re great. What
I want to do is give you

the tools to harness language.
To harness English. And use it

anyway you want. I mean I don´t care
what color your car is,

it could be pink, it could be green,
it could be purple,

it could be paisley.
You know, I´m just trying to make sure

your wheels run straight.

You are the grammarian. You´ve made a

study of grammar throughout
your entire speaking and reading life.

And I firmly believe that you can learn

anything. Welcome to grammar
on Khan Academy.

David