Grrrrammar

My academic career has so far been quite smooth. I didn't fail any class in my first year, which is unusual in my home University. My second year was not bad either, but I did fail a course. And I failed again in the second exam period. It was no surprise to me that this haunting course is Dutch grammar.

I have never liked grammar and actually, I don't know anyone who is fond of it. Especially in your native language, you feel how you can form a correct sentence. I understand that as linguists-to-be, we should understand grammatical rules. But I don't think it is useful to disect the most intricate sentences (which you would never actually encounter), just for the hell of it. In the end, the grammar exam comes down to memorizing theory. I would prefer to have a more practical exam, so that I can show that I master grammar, even if I am not always able to explain the framework of a sentence.