If you've studied English grammar using traditional methods and found yourself confused by sentences like "I made him leave," "She seems to understand," or "I want him to go," you're not alone. Traditional grammar, developed centuries ago, struggles to explain many common English constructions systematically.
Modern English Grammar - a systematic, scientifically-based approach that explains English structure as it actually works.
You'll discover that constructions that seemed arbitrary in traditional grammar follow clear, predictable patterns in modern analysis.
Let's begin your journey from traditional confusion to modern clarity.
1.Traditional English grammar, based on Latin models, creates several fundamental problems for learners
Problem 1
Forced Categorization
Traditional grammar tries to fit all sentences into patterns like:
- Subject + Verb + Object + Complement (SVOC)
- Subject + Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object (SVOO)
But what pattern is "I made him leave"?
- S + V + O + C? (But "leave" isn't describing "him")
- S + V + O + ? (What is "leave"?)
Traditional Analysis Fails
The sentence doesn't fit any standard pattern cleanly.
Problem 2
Inconsistent Terminology
Consider these sentences:
- "I want to go" - traditional: "to go" is infinitive phrase
- "I want him to go" - traditional: "him to go" is... what exactly?
- "To go is fun" - traditional: "to go" is gerund phrase (but it's the same form!)
Traditional Analysis Fails
Same forms get different labels depending on position.
Problem 3
Missing Relationships
Traditional grammar can't explain why these sentences behave similarly:
- "I made him angry"
- "I made him leave"
- "I consider him intelligent"
All feel like the same construction, but traditional grammar treats them differently.
Problem 4
No Systematic Testing
Traditional grammar relies on meaning and intuition rather than systematic tests. This leads to inconsistent analysis and confusion about borderline cases.