THE ENGLISH GRAMMAR: A GUIDE; NOT A CAGE One of the meanings of grammar is that it is an embodiment of the rules that guide the standard or appropriate usage of a language. Languages are rule governed and every language has its own rules. Expressions that conform to the rules of a language are tagged grammatical and those that flout the rules are said to be ungrammatical. A good mastery of the rules of a language gives a language user the necessary confidence during any speaking or writing engagement. As important as these rules of standard usage are, a question that comes to mind is: ARE THE SPEAKERS OF ANY LANGUAGE SLAVES TO THESE RULES? A language is, first and foremost, a medium of expression and a carrier of thought. It is a veritable tool for the conveyance of emotion. All these vital functions of the human language make rules…