grammar, grammar everywhere

English is a silly language.  I make this claim with the humble understanding that I do not have a solid grasp on the language in its entirety but nonetheless it’s silly.  Even though I know that native speakers are not taught their native tongue, they acquire it; it is unbelievable how much I did not know about the language I speak everyday. 

For example, folks… Can anyone tell me what the difference between 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd conditional is? Or maybe when and why we use module verbs like will, must, might, shall, could, and can and their respective levels of probability?  How about explaining present perfect simple when we describe a completed event that started at an indefinite time in the past but could possibly continue in the future?  Oh, or try this one: why does English have 2 tenses: past and present but 3 times: past, present and future.  Silly, huh?

I can’t believe this is happening to me but I’m becoming a grammar nerd.  While this stuff can be mind-numbingly well, mind-numbing, I have really enjoyed learning why the heck we say what we say.  And there is no way in the world I could describe to yall just how amazing my instructors are.  Everyday they teach us grammar that not only helps us grasp the actual grammar we need to know and then be able to teach, but also HOW to teach it.  The exact methods they use will be the ones we adopt as our own to teach our future students.  Dan and Terry (other lead instructor) are constantly changing their styles, techniques, approaches, everything so that we can see all the different ways we can effectively teach grammar.  And it’s fun.  I know, I told you I’m becoming a grammar nerd :) 

If you understand these particular nuances of grammar and the English language as a whole, hats off to ya and I apologize for any offense my tiny brain has inflicted on you.  For the rest of us folks, we should be happy we can communicate at all...