Why words matter more than grammar (Lesson 432)

On these pages, the author put forward the viewpoint that words matter more than grammar. A language learning include some aspects. There are words, grammar, facial expression and so on. I agress with this viewpoint. But acutually, It’s my big problem is how to remember the words. Now let me talk back the importance of words at first.

Once I traveled to Europe in English, I only wanted to seek the local museum. So I had to speak “museum” as a word to the local people. Otherwise, if I said the station or cinema, there are totally different meanings. In fact, unfortunately I didn’t learn the grammar well, I traveled a foreign country just to use some specific words or phrases. I could not speak very long sentense include more grammar. For me, It’s very basic daily conversations that only a very shallow content. In many case, I wanted to know more history about something. At that time, I must knew some specific words. It’s more important to know some words.

At work, this is even more true. Sometimes, I connected to the foreign client with email. I send the email attach the pdf if the client asked a pdf. If I didn’t understand what is the “pdf”. There is no doubt that I can’t work. Back to email, although the business email always have the fixed format, but the more important is real-time communication.

The other day, there is a little problem with a grammar. I said “the goods were shipped 15 days after they were maked”. Actually the meaning is the goods were shipped 15 days after they are start make. I confused the past tense with the present tense. Fortunately, we all know that the time is generally calculated from the begin of the production. So he indicated this grammatical mistake immediately. And the misunderstanding was corrected in time.

Back to words, I had readed more many words and phrases before I tried to remember them, but I didn’t memorize them. I knew I must remember them deeply. I’d better connect the words to the daily life. But I don’t really know what to do. To be honest, it has bothered me for a long time. I just don’t remember plenty of words, I alway felt blank whether talking or writing something in English.