For those ESL teachers-memorize grammar rules?

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Hi,I am just wondering if you actually memorized all the grammar rules?If not, what if the students ask you about certain specific rules?I am a Chinese. I don't know any rules when I speak Chinese but Chinese is my native language.Thanks.

Nokia · Accepted Answer

Sorry. Might have posted in the wrong section...

CalifJim · Answer

nokiaI am just wondering if you actually memorized all the grammar rules?

No, no, no! Of course not. There is no such thing as "all the grammar rules". At least I am not aware of anyone having made a count or a list of them. Native speakers can often tell you that one way of saying something is good while another way is bad without knowing any rules associated with the situation. After you work with a language for a long time, you know ways of advising students which can be put in the form of rules, but that doesn't mean you've actually memorized a list which has been drawn up previously.
CJ

Goodman · Answer

Hi Nokia,
Personally speaking, There are basic rules which we must remember; like 3rd singular and tense rules etc..
After we familiarize with these basic rules, they become your platform on which you build your English on.
A lot of what we've learned come from reading, listening from qualified media and using the language ourselves
frequently. Over time, with some hard work, we can develop a sense what looks and sounds right, or otherwise.
As Jim said, a lot natives can not explain why certain sentences are formed and spoken the way they were, but
they can tell if they sound wrong.

For those ESL teachers-memorize grammar rules?

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