句型学习是通过听说领先的方法去学习传统语法里最常用的语法项目(把它们变为句型去操练)。句型训练实际上吸取了传统语法与结构语法两派的长处。目前国内的英语广播(电视)教学,在入门阶段,多采用句型教学法。因此自学者或者收听广播(收看电视)进行学习,或者根据所选用的课本提供的句型用替换词进行替换练习。所学的句型应该是由浅入深,由简到繁;讲求熟练掌握,不要贪多冒进。每学一个项目,首先要把单项练习练熟,然后过渡到综合练习,最后则应做到扩大运用。
以定语从句这一项为例。把"I read a novel yesterday.和"It was extremely Interesting."这两个单句改为"The novel I read yesterday was extremely interesting."这就是定语从句的单项练习。首先要反复进行替换练习。如把"I saw a man this morning."和"The man is my teacher."改为"The man I saw this morning is my teacher."把"I saw a film last night."和"The film was very amusing."改为"The film I saw last night was very amusing."这种练习虽然是枯燥的,却是重要的基本功,务求把定语从句练到脱口而出的地步。这是第一步。