1. Grammar 101
Metalanguage -
The awareness of one’s own
language use

2. Learning Objectives

To review areas of grammar knowledge that are
required to excel in upper primary levels.

To build the foundation for learning better and
easier through the understanding of how
metalanguage works.

3. Introduction
The word 'meta' means 'self-awareness'
For example, 'metacognition' means being aware
of one's own thoughts.
Metalanguage then refers to an awareness of one's
own language as it is being used.
Our metalanguage ability is directly related to our
knowledge of grammar and vocabulary since
both these form the mechanics – the bedrock –
of language.

4. Metalanguage in use
As an illustration, let’s read the following sentence:
“The boys is noisy and must saw the principle soon.”
Having metalanguage is to have an awareness that
something is not quite right. The way you read it, it
sounds funny. Isn't it?
There are two errors:
‘boys is’ – boys are (Subject-verb agreement) and,
‘must saw’ – must see (Modal Use)

5. Metalanguage explained
Metalanguage is the ability to sense that
something is wrong with a sentence
construction and explain it.
It takes proficiency in grammar – the rules on
language use – to be able to know that a
sentence is grammatically wrong and state the
reasons.

6. Metalanguage in use
How then is this metalanguage developed?
Through the consistent and persistent use of
language, your proficiency in it, trained and
guided by an competent user like your trainer,
increases. It bears repeating then that
metalanguage is formed and becomes highly-
refined over time after practice.
Metalanguage also involves a working knowledge
of the terms used in language. If not, the errors
you make will be nameless!

7. Developing Metalanguage
Throughout this course, we will be developing some
key areas of grammar knowledge to know the rules
in using English:
1) prefixes, suffixes, root words, parts of speech
2) tenses – past, past continuous and past perfect
3) Subject-verb agreement – rules for nouns and verbs
in a sentence
4) Connector – addition, exclusion, emphasis and
cause-effect
5) Sentence formation – simple, complex, compound

8. Activity
Identify and explain the errors in the following
sentences:
1) “It was great as it is fun swim.”
2) “I would never forgot what
3) “Mark never recovered and was subconscious after
the accident.”
4) “Although he is smart but he is lazy.”
5) “The passer-bys all stood and watched.”
6) “All the running and play has worn him out.”

9. Metalanguage's top 5 benefits
1) It gives you a vocabulary for your mistakes so
you remember them.
2) It helps you to communicate with your teacher
as you use a standard way of explaining errors.
3) It allows self-correction, having learnt the rules
of language, to identify and avoid them.
4) It forms the basis for building further knowledge
in vocabulary and grammar
5) It builds your confidence that you are learning
the correct things in language.

10. Discussion
1) What do you think is the reason why students
make lots of grammar mistakes?
2) State two benefits of being proficient in
metalanguage.

11. Discussion (with suggested answers)
1) What do you think is the reason why students
make lots of grammar mistakes?
They are not proficient in metalanguage – the
understanding of how grammar works so as to
identify and explain grammar rules
2) State two benefits of being proficient in
metalanguage.
1st – it gives us self-correction ability
2nd – it gives us confidence when using language

12. In Summary
• The ability of using language accurately
according to grammar rules carries great
weightage in English Language.
• Metalanguage – or the ability to understand
one’s own use of language – is built from a
strong grasp of grammar rules.
• Good metalanguage – to be able to identify
and explain grammar errors or poor language
use – helps us in correcting our own language
mistakes.