For several years I've volunteered as a todor for ESL students.  Having a Masters degree in Linguistics and having studied English Grammar extensively, I thought it would be nice to know whether the principles I had learned, or some of the insights I had accumulated might be helpful to such students.  When the student didn't seem to understand a new phrase or other structure, I found myself paraphrasing it, or explaining it as idiomatic, give some analogous structures, etc.  I don't suppose teaching grammar in the schools has many parallels to my methodolgy, but let me ask you if you find yourself using paraphrase.  

My training in logic and mathematics has led me to try to be very strict in what is acceptable as a true paraphrase.  For example, the difference between a proposition, about whose truth we don't make a commitment, and an assertion (of a proposition), which we claim to be true:  for John to come vs. John came.  Hence, my strong dislike for sentence-combining as usually practiced.  What we usually have is a proposition embedded into a sentence.   Could we have some reaction to this contrast?  Do you think it is useful?  

Bruce Despain
Volunteer ESL tudor
Salt Lake City, Utah

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