Grammar remains a mystery to many adults

A study led by academics found less-educated adults have more difficulty identifying the meaning of passive sentences.

And the study concluded that the assumption made by many linguists that all native speakers have a core ability to understand the simple grammar of their language is incorrect.

The research at Northumbria University showed 50 adults a series of pictures, with sentences like "the soldier was hit by the sailor".

The study suggests that one reason for this is that less-educated native English speakers have less experience of grammar.

Passive sentences occur more frequently in formal written texts, which higher educated speakers have more experience using.

Researcher Ewa Dabrowska said: "Regardless of educational attainment or dialect, we are all supposed to be equally good at grammar, in the sense of being able to use grammatical cues to understand the meaning of sentences.

"Of course some people are more literate, with a larger vocabulary and greater exposure to highly complex literary constructions. Nevertheless, at a fundamental level, everyone in a linguistic community is supposed to share the same core grammar, in the same way that given normal development we can all walk."

"These findings could have a number of implications. If a significant proportion of the population does not understand passive sentences, then notices and other forms of written information may have to be rewritten and literacy strategies changed."