Grammar has begun to resume a prominent place in language teaching, but there are possible problems associated with grammar‐oriented teaching. Form tends to dominate meaning, with all the well‐known problems associated with this. A partial solution to these problems can be found if (a) a meaning‐based grammar is used, and (b) grammar is taught only when it is clearly required and learnable. A Systemic model for a semantico‐grammatical approach is presented, along with an illustration of its usefulness in finding underdeveloped parts of the semanticogrammatical system and a description of a successful preliminary trial in treating them. Since the approach is in its early stages, strong claims are n