crops

In David Mulroy's The War Against Grammar, Chapter Two, the claim is made that, "Questioning the value of basic grammar is like asking whether farmers should know the names of their crops and animals." The same as it is ludicrous to wonder why it is necessary for a farmer to be familiar with the plants and animals that are their livelihood it is nonsensical for any individual that wants to be successful in reading and writing to ask why they should master the statutes of basic grammar. The same as a farmer is not going to automatically know all of the in-and-outs of farming, it is not expected that one should know all of the rules of grammar instantly. One must learn from mistakes and practice in order to reach perfection.

Moreover, there are some basics that a farmer must be aware of before they can run a farm. There is a good chance that there will be minor slip-ups along the way, but the basics of what cows should eat and how much water tomatoes need should be known for the most part. Similarly, the basics of grammar: verbs, nouns, subject, etc. should be laid down as the groundwork for writing and reading in order to have a lush intellectual garden.