In today's post in the Language Learning in 2025 series I am focusing on grammar study, offering tips to aid even the most grammar-adverse language student. As always, I have no paid affiliation with any of the resources mentioned in this post; I am only suggesting them as options that have worked for me. They may not suit everyone's learning style.

Grammar

Grammar is probably the greatest divider out of the six main areas of language study. Some (like me) love it, while others shudder at the mere mention of the word. Likewise, there are different approaches available when it comes to studying it.

The most old-school of these (which many of you may know from your school days) is memorising verb conjugation tables: study the rules and drill the conjugations. This is likely where much of the horror of grammar originates, and that’s understandable. After all, this type of study is deathly dull.

Grammar is a necessary component of any language study, but fortunately you don’t have to stare at boring verb tables; there are methods you can use to make it more interesting.

Before we get to that, though, I want to touch briefly on another school of thought that I see mentioned online: not studying grammar at all.

In recent years, increasingly I see people suggesting that you can learn grammar simply through exposure to the language, mimicking how children learn their native language. To my mind, though, this has problems. The way we learn as adults, and the way our brains make connections, is different from when we were children, so it’s not possible to exactly replicate our learning method from when we were young.

Missing grammar study completely could leave gaps in your understanding, making it harder to form your own sentences and rendering you more prone to making mistakes. That is why, in this booklet, I aim to make some suggestions for grammar study that fall midway between the two schools of thought. This will hopefully help you to get a good grammar foundation in your language learning journey without the oft-associated boredom of pure grammar study.

We will cover the following:
1.    Grammar books
2.    Textbooks
3.    Video lessons and online courses
4.    Grammar through other skill areas
5.    Gamified apps

1. Grammar books

Having a grammar book at your disposal is a really good idea. I always buy one for each new language I study. However, I do not sit and drily go through them page by page. I might have a general flick through when I first get the book, pausing to read if something interesting catches my eye, but then I set it aside on my shelf and simply refer to it when I come across an element of grammar I don’t understand and wish to read up on, or if I want to confirm something while I am practising writing. For me, grammar books are a reference work and study aid, not something I actively study from.

Budget Tip: If grammar books are pricey new, look for second-hand copies. If this is still too expensive for you, seek out a free-to-view website for your target language that offers detailed posts breaking down different elements of grammar. Find recommendations for these from other language learners to ensure it is a trustworthy resource and that the information presented there is correct.

2. Textbooks

Many textbooks will feature grammar and some even have it as the principal focus. A textbook can therefore be a good option if you prefer a more formalised approach to language study with a set path to follow. Look for a book with clear and simple explanations of each grammar point, plenty of example sentences, and opportunities to craft your own sentences and complete exercises to test and reinforce your comprehension.

Budget Tip: Textbooks are not often reused once you reach the end (unless you are a huge fan of repetition). This can make them an expensive resource to work with, especially if you get through them quickly. Instead of writing in the books themselves to complete the exercises, grab a notebook and pen your answers there. This will leave the book unmarked and in good condition, so you can sell it second-hand once you’ve finished with it to get some funds to put towards your next resource. Likewise, you could again look for second-hand copies in good condition when you are buying them or see if they are available through any eBook subscription service you may already have.

3. Video lessons and online courses

You can find video lessons either through online courses (including those free-to-audit MOOCs I mentioned before) or on YouTube. These are a good supplement to textbook explanations or could be used instead of textbooks if you are someone who learns better with an audio component to your resources. Online courses will offer a clearer path in terms of building your study step by step; however, there are YouTubers who also group their videos into ‘courses’ or at least by level (beginner, intermediate, advanced), so if you look around you should be able to find a content creator who fits your needs. As with websites, you do need to ensure you are getting correct information, though, so check comments and reviews and get recommendations from other learners to confirm the channel you have chosen has a good reputation.

Budget Tip: If you are considering signing up for a paid course or website subscription service, check first to see if their terms allow for a trial/cooling-off period. It’s best if you have the opportunity to review the materials and confirm they are going to be a good fit for your study style before you commit. Also, many paid websites and courses offer discounts during key sales periods throughout the year, so it’s often worth waiting for a month or two to get a better price.

4. Grammar through other skills

If you are not a fan of textbooks or can’t afford them, another method you can use for grammar study is to pursue a slightly more naturalistic path by combining it with other areas of study. Done well, this can still give you a good foundation in grammar and its usage while not feeling like ‘grammar study’.

What do I mean by this?

Suppose you are listening to a podcast. As you listen, you hear a verb ending or other grammar point you are not familiar with. When this happens, jot it down (this will be easiest if your podcast has a transcript available), and look it up later. Make some notes on the grammar point in your notebook and try writing a few sentences of your own to consolidate your understanding. The same method can be used if you are reading, or if you are watching native-language content, whether that’s a vlog on YouTube or an episode of a drama on a streaming service. The key factor here, though, is to try to study in a way appropriate for your level, and I will discuss that more when I talk about finding resources for listening and reading practice in later sections.

Budget Tip: You can find plenty of free materials online for reading and listening/watching practice, so it’s easy to study grammar this way without any cost involved if you also employ free resources for finding out more about each grammar point.

5. Gamified apps

The final option I want to touch on for grammar study is gamified apps (either websites or phone-based apps). These can be a mixed bag in terms of quality (some definitely better than others), and I wouldn’t personally recommend them as the sole focus of your study, but they can be a useful additional resource for fitting in a bit of revision during ‘dead time’ such as your daily commute.

As with other web-based resources, seek recommendations from other learners as to which apps are the best for your language.

Budget Tip: Many apps will have some free functionality but will require a subscription for additional features. If you need to save money, just try the free versions. Often these will give you enough usability for a little light practice even if it doesn’t come with all the bells and whistles. If you find one particularly useful and you want to subscribe, wait until the next sale period to get a better deal on the price.

In some languages there can be a cultural component to grammar (e.g. polite versus casual speech styles). Understanding grammar can therefore also improve your cultural awareness and vice versa. It can also offer insight into the way people from that country organise their thoughts or approach different ideas and concepts.

Grammar is about more than just verb conjugations, which is why I would encourage learners not to ignore it entirely. Even if you are not overly fond of grammar study, at least aim to get the basics down so you understand the core foundation of the language — its building blocks — as this will help you to communicate more freely across the other skill areas.

At the other end of the scale, one trap I would advise against is getting so carried away with grammar that you move too far ahead of your level. I know I have fallen down the rabbit hole more than once pursuing interesting grammar points. They are fun to learn, but if you start studying advanced grammar when you are still a beginner, this can be counter-productive. You make tons of notes on different aspects of grammar, but you are not yet ready to use any of them. It’s good to test yourself and want to learn more, but be realistic about your current level and try to study grammar in a way that keeps pace with your ability to make use of it. Otherwise you end up with several notebooks full of grammar details, but you are unable to employ any of them in your writing or speaking. Work steadily, building slowly in terms of level of difficulty, and you’ll see better results. Often more advanced grammar points are rarely used or highly formal; it's best to start with the foundations and learn well the grammar you will come across regularly in daily life. Once you have this under your belt you can have fun with more complex concepts.