grammar is the structural foundation of our ability to express ourselves. The more we are aware of how it works, the more we can monitor the meaning and effectiveness of the way we and others use language• (David Crystal, "In Word and Deed," TES Teacher, April 30, 2004).• It is necessary to know grammar, and it is better to write grammatically than not, but it is well to remember that grammar is common speech formulated. Usage is the only test. (William Somerset Maugham, The Summing Up, 1938) 4/8/2012 3
Activity: Describe a Picture
Bring pictures of different people or animals to the classroom.
Students describe the picture using possessive nouns. For example, they might say: The man’s blue shirt. The women’s green dress.