English has become a dominating language in all walks of life in the past few decades and it has become imperative to inculcate a culture of speaking clean English among the younger generation at a young age in this day. Parents are tasked most overwhelmingly with the burden of teaching their children English and improving both, their grammar and vocabulary.
Here are a list of methods to help your child hone their English grammar and vocabulary-
- Have them read good literature
- Buy them a copy of Wren and Martin
- Appreciate your child when they use clean language, good grammar, and unexpectedly excellent vocabulary
Quick Tips of How to Teach Basic English Grammar for Kids:-
However, these approaches can be taken once a base is created in learning the language. Here are some tips to create that base in the language so you can work on your child’s language skills thereafter-
- Communicate with your child in English along with the mother tongue
- Read them stories in English
- Lead them to watch language-rich English online content
- Push the child to communicate in English with strangers/people less known and in the mother tongue/local language with those who are known to them. This distinction will help the child practice both languages
Importance of English Grammar for Kids:-
It is very important for children to master English grammar in this day and age. Learning good grammar at a young age can benefit the learner in the following ways-
- That people understand the speaker better: The main reason you are learning English is communication and good grammar and pronunciation are key!
- That people don’t judge: The world is a cruel place and it is a very frequent occurrence that non-native speakers of English are bullied and judged for a lack of fluency in language, diction, and pronunciation. Such people may feel obliged to take efforts to improve on these fronts and Simpli English hosts classes specifically for this.
- New avenues open up: Fluent English speakers are often preferred when new positions open up in educational and professional spaces. It is very important for you to learn fluent English with correct pronunciation to take one step forward towards success.
Some of the English Grammar Tenses for Kids:-
One of the first things that young learners of the English language must be introduced to when learning English are tenses. Accurate use of tenses, which are the most commonly used parts of speech in conversational English, is an important aspect of learning and retaining English as a child. A child will be introduced first to the most commonly used “simple present” tense, which enumerates what is the state at the present time and is most used by children to express their thoughts, like “I am hungry.” Children are then taught to use present continuous and simple past tenses, which are both widely used by people their age as well, and other tenses including perfect and future tenses are taught at later stages in their linguistic pedagogy.
Daily Use of Basic English Sentences for Kids:-
There are also some basic sentences that the youngest formal learners may use more often than others. These sentences can be used by them to express their wants and needs, communication of which is the most important at that age. These may include sentences like-
- I am hungry
- I am sleepy
- I am tired
- I want food
- I want to play
- I want to sleep/
- I want to go to my mother
Common English Phrases for Kids:-
Some common phrases that children can use frequently and find use for in everyday life include-
- I like that
- I love you
- You make me happy
- Please
- Thank you
- I appreciate that
- Excuse me
- I’m sorry
- What do you think
- How does that sound
Basic English Words for Kids:
Apart from this, there are some basic words that children may start their linguistic journey using. Here are some words that you can use to get your child interested in learning the language.
a
all
am
and
at
ball
be
bed
big
book
box
but
car
cat
cow
dad
did
do
fat
for
go
hat
he
hen
here
hot
I
if
is
let
look
man
may
me
mom
not
of
oh
old
pan
pet
pig
ran
rat
red
ride
run
sat
see
she
sit
six
so
stop
sun
ten
the
this
top
toy
up
us
yes
In conclusion, it is very important for parents to help their children to learn English and these pointers can aid in navigating the study of the language.
English Grammar Exercises for Kids:-
1. Choose between ‘some’ and ‘any’:
- I need ___ help from you.
- Can I borrow ____ money from you?
- Do you have ____ issue with your teacher?
- Is there ___one you’d like to speak about this?
- ___ people can’t stand a sight of it.
- Badminton is a sport that ___one can play.
Answers:
a. Some
b. Some
d. Any
e. Some
f. Any
2. Choose the correct adjective:
- I feel frightened/frightning walking alone at night.
- My grandson finds gets overwhelming/overwhelmed with the idea of traveling.
- I was disheartened/disheartning when I saw James grades.
- Our teacher had interesting/interested things to talk about.
- She had a thrilling/thrilled rollercoaster ride experience.
Answers:
- Frightened
- Overwhelmed
- Disheartened
- Interesting
- Thrilling
English Grammar Worksheets for Kids:-
1. Place the adverb in the correct place:
- There is a seat at the restaurant. (always)
- We watch TV shows during the weekend. (never)
- I go to the museum. (rarely)
- He drinks juice. (normally)
- I have fast food. (sometimes)
Answers:
- Always a
- Never watch
- Rarely go
- Normally drinks
- Sometimes have
2. Fill in the blanks with the correct conjunction:
- Suresh is __ tall __ Ramesh.
- Vivek is generous ___ polite.
- She is learning to play guitar ___ tabla.
Answer:
- As, as
- And
- And
English Grammar Books for Kids:-
1. High School English Grammar & Composition by Wren & Martin
2. English Vocabulary in Use by Cambridge University Press
3. Scholastic Grammar Workbook Series
4. Essential Grammar in Use/English Grammar in Use by Raymond Murphy
5. A Practical English Grammar by Thomson and Martinet
6. The Elements of Style by Strunk and White
7. Fowler’s Modern English Usage
8. The Only Grammar Book You’ll Ever Need
9. Nouns and Verbs Have a Field Day by Robin Pulver
10. The Great Grammar Book by Jennie Maizels
FAQs
1. What should I do if my child is struggling with English grammar?
Ans– If your child is struggling with English grammar, there are a number of things you can do. Here are a few tips:
- Talk to your child’s teacher. Your child’s teacher can provide you with additional support and resources.
- Get a tutor. A tutor can help your child to understand grammar concepts and practice using them correctly.
- Use online resources. There are many great online resources that can help kids learn grammar.
- Make it fun. Find ways to make learning grammar fun for your child. Use games, activities, and real-world examples.
2. What are some of the most important grammar concepts for kids to learn?
Ans– Some of the most important grammar concepts for kids to learn include:
- Parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc.)
- Sentence structure (subject, verb, object)
- Verb tenses
- Subject-verb agreement
- Pronouns
- Articles (a, an, the)
- Prepositions
3. How can kids improve their English grammar skills?
Ans– Improving English grammar skills can be a fun and interactive process for kids. Here are some ways they can do so:
a. Reading books
b. Watching English movies
c. Grammar worksheets and exercises
d. Playing grammar games
4. What are some common mistakes kids make in English grammar?
Ans– One common mistake that kids make in English grammar is using incorrect verb tenses. Another common mistake is using pronouns incorrectly. Kids also often struggle with subject-verb agreement. It’s important for kids to practice and learn these grammar rules to improve their English skills.