In this lesson, we’re stepping into the world of functional grammar — which sounds terribly academic, but don’t worry, it’s actually much more intuitive than it sounds.
Functional grammar is all about how language works to create meaning. Instead of treating grammar as a list of rules we have to memorise, this approach looks at why someone chose a particular structure in a particular moment. It’s grammar with a purpose — grammar that actually behaves like language used by real humans, not robots with a clipboard.
In this session, we’ll explore:
- How function shapes form — why speakers choose this tense, that modal, that word order
- How context, audience, and intention influence grammar choices
- Simple ways to help learners understand meaning before rules
- How to move from “What’s the rule?” to “What does this structure do?”
We’ll also look at practical classroom moves that help learners notice these connections — things like guided text analysis, noticing tasks, small tweaks to your questioning techniques, and quick activities that highlight meaning without adding workload.
By the time we wrap up Lesson 2, you’ll be able to explain functional grammar clearly, recognise it in the texts your learners use, and integrate it naturally with the rest of your teaching — not as an extra burden, but as a way of making your lessons richer, clearer, and more meaningful.
Alright, let’s jump in.
When you’re finished, take the quiz for this lesson, and then join me in Lesson 3, where we’re going to unpack scaffolding, modelling, and sentence-building support that actually works.
