Definitions, Examples, and Discussions of English Grammar

The grammar of a language includes basic axioms such as the existence of tenses of verbs, articles and adjectives and their proper order, how questions are phrased, and much more. Language cannot function without grammar. It would simply make no sense. People require grammar to communicate effectively. Speakers and listeners, authors and their audiences must function in like systems in order to understand one another. In other words, a language without grammar is like a pile of bricks without mortar to hold them together or the masons to build with them. While the basic components are present, they are, for all intents and purposes, useless. Fast Facts: Grammar Word Origin and Definition The word grammar  comes from the Greek, meaning craft of letters. Its an apt description. In any language, grammar is:The systematic study and description of a language (as compared with usage).A set of rules and examples dealing with the syntax and word structures (morphology) of a language.   We Learn Grammar From Birth British linguist, academic and author David Crystal tells us that  grammar  is the study of all the contrasts of meaning that it is possible to make within sentences. The rules of grammar tell us how. By one count, there are some 3,500 such rules in English. Intimidating, to be sure, but native speakers dont have to worry about studying each and every rule. Even if you dont know all the lexicographical terms and pedantic minutiae involved in the study of grammar, take it from noted novelist and essayist Joan Didion: What I know about  grammar  is its infinite power. To shift the structure of a sentence alters the meaning of that sentence. Grammar is actually something all of us begin to learn in our first days and weeks of life, through interaction with others.  From the moment were born, language—and the grammar that makes up that language—is all around us. We start learning it as soon as we hear it spoken around us, even if we dont fully comprehend its meaning yet. Although a baby wouldnt have a clue about the terminology, they do begin to pick up and assimilate how sentences are put together (syntax), as well as figure out the pieces that go into making up those sentences work (morphology). A preschoolers tacit knowledge of  grammar  is more sophisticated than the thickest style manual, explains cognitive psychologist, linguist, and popular science author Steven Pinker. [Grammar should not] be confused with the guidelines for how one ought to speak. Real-World Uses of Grammar Of course, anyone who wants to be an effective speaker or writer must have at least a basic grasp of grammar. The further  beyond the basics you go, the more effectively and clearly youll be able to communicate in almost any situation. There are several applications of grammatical study:(1) A recognition of grammatical structures is often essential for punctuation(2) A study of ones native grammar is helpful when one studies the grammar of a foreign language(3) A knowledge of grammar is a help in the interpretation of literary as well as nonliterary texts, since the interpretation of a passage sometimes depends crucially on grammatical analysis(4) A study of the grammatical resources of English is useful in composition: in particular, it can help you to evaluate the choices available to you when you come to revise an earlier written draft.—From An Introduction to English Grammar by Sidney Greenbaum and Gerald Nelson In a professional setting, having advanced knowledge of grammar can help you interact efficiently and easily with your colleagues, subordinates, and superiors. Whether youre giving directions, getting feedback from your boss, discussing the goals of a particular project, or creating marketing materials—the ability to communicate effectively is extremely important. Types of Grammar Teachers follow a course of  pedagogical grammar  when instructing English language learners. While students mainly have to deal with the nuts-and-bolts of prescriptive,  traditional  grammar (such as making sure verbs and subjects agree and where to put commas in a sentence), linguists focus on the infinitely more complex aspects of language. They study how people acquire language and debate whether every child is born with a concept of universal grammar, and examine everything from how different languages compare to each other (comparative grammar) to the variety of permutations within a single language (descriptive  grammar) to the way in which words and usage interrelate to create meaning (lexicogrammar). More Grammar to Explore Case grammarCognitive grammarConstruction grammarGenerative grammarLexical-functional grammar (LFG)Mental grammarTheoretical grammarTransformational grammar Sources Crystal, David. The Fight for English. Oxford University Press. 2006Pinker, Steven. Words and Rules. Harper. 1999Greenbaum, Sidney; Nelson, Gerald. An Introduction to English Grammar. Second Edition. Pearson. 2002