[hamlet554]

First, I agree with Tdol that grammar can be very interesting in itself, too.

Second, I also have to admit that even with young learners it sometimes seems unavoidable to teach 'pure' grammar. Sometimes students don't seem to be able to grasp a certain grammar aspect in context although it occurs over and over again in a 'natural' text. In such cases it's simply necessary to take the problem out of the text and have an explicit example (or more) on the bord to look at, only going back to the text once the students really have understood how the separate pieces of a certain grammar structure are put together to make it work.

I am a big language lover and have to say that I do enjoy trying out different grammar structures myself to find out how to best express something as many structures apply and would work out fine to express a certain thing. But there sometimes is just the slightest difference in meaning if you change the grammar structure which sort of better hits what you're trying to express. I love playing around a little with my words. So, knowing grammar outside of a text sometimes better helps you when writing your own text.