Does Grammar Matter to Gen Z? Analyzing Their Interest and Attitude Toward Grammar in Everyday English Conversations

Abstract

This qualitative study explored whether grammar still matters to Generation Z by analyzing their interest and attitudes toward grammar in everyday English conversations. Specifically, the study examined how Gen Z individuals express grammar awareness, what attitudes they hold toward grammatical correctness, and how these perspectives influence their actual conversational practices. Guided by the theories of Communicative Competence, Language Attitude, and Sociolinguistic Variation, the study employed a descriptive qualitative research design. Twenty-five purposively selected Gen Z undergraduate students from selected higher education institutions in the Ilocos Region and Eastern Visayas, Philippines participated in semi-structured interviews. The collected data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings revealed that participants demonstrated context-dependent grammar awareness, becoming more conscious of grammatical accuracy in formal and professional interactions while adopting relaxed language practices in casual conversations. Participants also associated grammar with credibility, clarity, and self-confidence, although many prioritized communicative effectiveness and conversational comfort over strict grammatical correctness. Furthermore, the study found that participants intentionally adjusted their grammar depending on audience, social setting, and communicative purpose. These findings suggest that Gen Z does not reject grammar entirely; rather, they treat it as a flexible communicative resource shaped by context and interactional needs. The study highlights the evolving role of grammar in contemporary communication and emphasizes the importance of contextualized language instruction in modern English education.