Dear Blue Tibet,
Now you have the answer from Mary, an accomplished native English speaker. However, I think some views from a self-taught learner, as I am, may help complement Mary's authoritative interpretations. :P
English grammar to English language is like laws to our life. Everything will go haywire without laws. Computers and the Internet go smoothly only on the premise that they all adhere to some basic protocols. Once these laws, rules, and protocals are disobeyed or ignored, things go wrong.
Well, important as these principles are, they are not the goal of everything. Practical use is. It makes no sense to put rules ahead of the object of our endeavor. Simply put, English grammar is indeed important, but the language itself
is more so.
The fear of risking making grammar mistakes often makes those who learn English
as second language clam up when they are facing a foreigner, who actually cares
little about how well your grammar is but the real ideas you want to convey. This is a good example of how too much emphasis on grammar makes things worse.
The scenario doesn't, however, mean that you can ignore grammar, especially when
writing. While conversing with foreigners verbally, not only English is spoken
, but you use a lot of body language as well, which goes a long way towards a successful communication. While writing, though, there's no room for body language; and that means what is seen on paper (or screen of course) is the only thing
you got to express yourself. In this case, articles written under loose, or even worse lousy, grammar is misleading at best, make you lose business relationship or friendship at worst.
According to my humble experience of learning this language, it's a good idea to
pay less attention than advised to, if not ignore, grammar study if you are a beginner. Read instead. Read, read, and read. And then try to put it to use from time to time; it's in fact a process of micmicking. As Mary suggested, books
designed for children are good recommendations. This should be a refreshing experience. After one year or two of such study -- myself three -- you may get more serious about this language, then it's a good time to begin your "formal" grammar study. It won't be a tough journey if you have been reading and practising
for the past years, anyway.
Only my two cents, for what it is worth,
Pan.
