Why Learning New Grammar Makes You “Forget” Old Grammar

Many years ago, German linguist Dr. Nina Garrett made a fascinating observation:
when students learn a new grammatical category—say, the past tense—they often start making mistakes in something they had already mastered, like the present tense.

It feels counterintuitive. Shouldn’t learning more make you better, not worse?

Here’s what’s actually happening.

1. Your brain is reorganizing the system, not adding a file

Grammar isn’t stored as isolated rules. When you learn a new category, your brain reshapes the entire network of forms, meanings, and patterns.
That reorganization temporarily destabilizes what was previously solid. It’s not regression; it’s restructuring.

2. Similar forms compete for airtime

Past and present tense share a lot of features—same verbs, similar endings, overlapping contexts.
When a new form enters the system, the brain tests it everywhere, including places it doesn’t belong.
This is why learners suddenly say things like “I go-ed” or “I am go yesterday.”

3. Overgeneralization is a sign of progress

Mistakes aren’t failures. They’re evidence that the learner is building a generative system—one that can produce new sentences, not just memorize old ones.
Overgeneralization means the learner has internalized the pattern deeply enough to apply it creatively.

So what can learners do about it?

1. Expect the wobble

When you add a new structure, your old structures may shake a little. That’s normal. Anticipating it reduces frustration.

2. Alternate between “new” and “old”

Practice the new form, then deliberately switch back to the old one.
This strengthens the boundaries between categories.

3. Use contrastive mini-drills

Not worksheets—micro-moments of awareness:

Today I go.
Yesterday I went.
Every day I go.
Last week I went.

The contrast sharpens the system.

4. Speak or write slowly enough to notice

Rushing forces the brain to grab whatever form is most activated—which is often the new one.
Slowing down gives the older, more stable form time to surface.

5. Trust the process

The “mistake spike” is temporary. Once the system settles, both the old and new forms become stronger and more automatic.

For more posts on language learning, click HERE.

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