Grammar is a set of rules for understanding language—any language. It includes punctuation, capitalization, sentence structure, parts of speech, spelling, tenses, and more. It is essential to know the rules of grammar in order to communicate orally or in writing.

March 4th is National Grammar Day. It was created by Martha Brockenbrough in 2008 to encourage the use of correct grammar in both verbal and written language.

Grammar used to be a major part of the educational system. Even if it still is a major part, texting ignores most of the rules, and AI has stepped in to replace the need to know grammar, because it will do it for you. Therefore, students who grow up texting and using AI will not practice good grammar. In fact, it’s probably pretty low on their list of important information to learn. They may never think about it. But, they should! Here’s why.

While AI is a wonderful tool to edit your writing, it also makes mistakes, changes your personal voice to make your writing sound robotic, and only fixes what you wrote. It does not explain why it’s changing it. Therefore, you can’t learn from AI. It needs to be used as a tool to edit your writing, rather than to create it. So, YES, you still need to learn the rules of grammar, and let AI become your personal editor.

Here’s a little quiz you can take to see if you know many of the rules of grammar.

How’s Your Grammar?

1. Which is a complete sentence? a) A number of people; b) The gaggle of geese; c) Jane ate the apple. d) Some plants
2. Which word is the subject of the sentence? The museum specializes in art from Greece. a) Greece; b) art; c) specializes; d) museum
3. Which word is the predicate of the sentence? The museum specializes in art from Greece. a) Greece; b) art; c) specializes; d) museum
4. How many nouns are in this sentence? The airplane flew over houses, towers and bridges.  a) 3; b) 4; c) 1; d) 2
5. Which word in this sentence is a common noun? Sally lives near the ocean. a) Sally; b) near; c) lives; d) ocean
6. Which word in this sentence is a proper noun? Sally lives near the ocean. a) Sally; b) near; c) lives; d) ocean
7. Which word in this sentence is a pronoun? He lives near the Hudson River. a) Hudson; b) he; c) lives; d) River
8. Which word in this sentence is a verb? Jack and Jill went up the hill. a) went; b) up; c) hill; d) the
9. What tense is the word “went” in Jack and Jill went up the hill? a) present tense; b) future tense; c) past tense; d) all of the above
10. Which word in this sentence is the adjective? Funny Fanny makes everybody laugh. a) Fanny; b) everybody; c) funny; d) makes.
11. Which word in the sentence is a compound word? Max wanted to win the goldfish at the fair. a) goldfish; b) Max; c) fair; d) wanted
12. Which word uses a prefix in the sentence? Would you please retell the story?  a) you; b) retell; c) would; d) please
13. Which two words are homophones? a) sea see; b) too two; c) waist waste; d) all the above
14. Which word is the adverb in the sentence? Aunt Jane spoke softly. a) Aunt; b) Jane; c) spoke; d) softly
15. Which word is the preposition in the sentence? Uncle Joe and Aunt Sue went into the store.  a) Uncle; b) Joe; c) into; d) store
16. Which word is the conjunction in the sentence? Uncle Joe and Aunt Sue went into the store. a) and; b) the; c) into; d) store
17. Which word is the helping verb in the sentence? Jack and Jill are helping the farmer.  a) helping; b) are; c) Jack; d) Jill
18. Which punctuation mark is used to separate a series of adjectives in a sentence?  a) comma; b) period; c) question mark; d) exclamation point
19. A word or group of words that expresses strong feelings is called a) a conjunction; b) interjection; c) question; d) none of the above
20. What punctuation marks do you put before and after the exact words of a speaker? a) quotation marks; b) colon; c) period; d) dash

Answers: 1) c; 2) d; 3) c; 4) b; 5) d; 6) a; 7) b; 8) a; 9) c; 10) c; 11) a; 12) b; 13) d; 14) d; 15) c; 16) a; 17) b; 18) a; 19) b; 20) a

Since there are 20 questions, count each as five points. If you, your students, or your children miss more than 7 questions, it indicates that grammar knowledge is lacking and it’s time to brush up, with or without AI.

Have fun,

Dr. Linda

P.S. How did you do on the quiz? Send me an email at linda@stronglearning.com, I’d love to know!