Guide • Grammar
Grammar that sticks: a simple loop for adult learners
I tried to absorb grammar by watching anime. I also tried memorizing tables. Neither stuck. The combo did.
Adult learners benefit from explicit rules, but grammar only becomes usable when you keep seeing it in real context. Here is the loop that worked for me.
TL;DR: Learn one rule, use it in real sentences, then review tomorrow.
What to do today: Pick one grammar point and write three sentences about your day.
Explicit rules help adults
A good grammar explanation saves time. A meta analysis by Norris and Ortega found that explicit instruction leads to stronger gains for adult learners. That matches my experience. When I knew the rule, I could start noticing it in real speech.
The trick is to keep rules small. One pattern at a time is enough.
Real input makes it usable
Grammar sticks when you see it used, not just explained. Krashen argues that comprehension drives acquisition. That meant I had to look for the grammar I just learned in real sentences.
A single textbook sentence is not enough. You need short, repeated exposure in context.
Example grammar point: te kudasai
I used the request form because it shows up everywhere. I kept three sentences on my phone and said them out loud once a day.
Please heat it up.
atatamete kudasai. 温めてください。
A konbini classic. You will hear it and say it a lot.
Please write your name here.
koko ni namae o kaite kudasai. ここに名前を書いてください。
You will hear this at clinics and delivery counters. The grammar is the same.
Please wait a moment.
chotto matte kudasai. ちょっと待ってください。
You hear this back to you, which makes it easy to notice and copy.
Clerk: atatamemasu ka? (温めますか？)
Me: atatamete kudasai. (温めてください。)
Clerk: kashikomarimashita. (かしこまりました。)
Once I knew the pattern, I could hear it in the wild and connect it to the rule in my head.
Second example: te mo ii desu ka
This one means "may I". It is useful for small requests and permissions.
May I take a photo?
shashin o totte mo ii desu ka? 写真を撮ってもいいですか？
Useful at temples, shops, and events where photos might be restricted.
May I sit here?
koko ni suwatte mo ii desu ka? ここに座ってもいいですか？
Handy on trains, in waiting rooms, or in shared spaces.
May I pay by card?
kaado de haratte mo ii desu ka? カードで払ってもいいですか？
This is a polite way to ask about payment options.
Me: koko ni suwatte mo ii desu ka? (ここに座ってもいいですか？)
Other person: hai, ii desu yo. (はい、いいですよ。)
Me: arigatou gozaimasu. (ありがとうございます。)
The 20 minute grammar loop
This is the exact loop I use when a grammar point feels slippery.
- Pick one grammar point. Keep it tiny. For example, the te form for requests.
- Read a short explanation. Use a textbook or a trusted guide. Do not overdo it.
- Write three sentences about your day. Even simple ones are fine.
- Find three examples in the wild. Short dialogues, subtitles, or graded readers.
- Review tomorrow. A fast review is more useful than a long cram.
In TabiTalk, I run the same loop with a short scenario so the grammar shows up in actual speech, not just in notes.
I used this loop for particles, politeness changes, and conditionals. It is boring in a good way. The key is that you can reuse the same grammar in a real situation within a week.
Where TabiTalk fits
TabiTalk helps me pressure test grammar in real situations. I can take a new pattern, then use it in a short scenario so it does not stay stuck on a flashcard.
Related guides to practise with
Sources
If you want to rehearse grammar in real situations
TabiTalk is built around short scenarios, which makes it easy to reuse new grammar in context. It is available on iOS and Android.