Grammar lesson

The teacher said:

A noun is a naming word.

What is the naming word in the sentence:

‘He named the ship LUSITANIA’?

‘Named’, said George.

Wrong, it’s ‘ship’.

Oh, said George.



The teacher said:

A verb is a doing word.

What is the doing word in the sentence:

‘I like doing homework’?

‘Doing’, said George.

Wrong, it’s ‘like’.

Oh, said George.



The teacher said:

An adjective is a describing word.

What is the describing word in the sentence

‘Describing sunsets is boring’?

‘Describing’, said George.

Wrong, it’s ‘boring’.

I know it is, said George.



Michael Rosen

Learning grammar

It has been reported that the teaching of grammar in English lessons is back on the agenda in Australian schools.
In the 60s, we were taught grammar in primary school by some teachers, and by a few in high school, but not all.
I found it much easier to understand when I studied French in high school and later Hebrew and Greek in theological college.
It was much easier to come to grips with when I had another language to compare and contrast English grammar with.
But I understand that more and more languages are being taught to fewer students these days.