5 Speaking Rules you need to know! (1) 1. DON'T STUDY GRAMMAR TOO MUCH This rule might sound strange to many ESL students, but it is one of the most important rules. If you want to pass examinations, then study grammar. However, if you want to become fluent in English, then you should try to learn English without studying the grammar. Studying grammar will only slow you down and confuse you. You will think about the rules when creating sentences instead of naturally saying a sentence like a native. Remember that only a small fraction of English speakers know more than 20% of all the grammar rules. Many ESL students know more grammar than native speakers. Do you want to be able to recite the definition of a causative verb, or do you want to be able to speak English fluently? Rule #2 coming up.