What is a sentence with the word grammar in it

Most people think of themselves as grammar rebels, seeing the rules as strict, basic and arbitrary. But grammar is actually complex, not to mention essential: Incorrect grammar can cause confusion and change the way you’re perceived (or even keep you from landing a job).

That’s why a grammar checker is essential if writing is part of your workday — even if that’s just sending emails. Here’s what else you should know about grammar:

What is grammar in English?

At a high level, the definition of grammar is a system of rules that allow us to structure sentences. It includes several aspects of the English language, like:

Grammar’s wide scope can make proofreading difficult. And the dry, academic conversations that often revolve around it can make people’s eyes glaze over. But without these grammatical rules, chaos would ensue. So even if you aren’t a fan (and who really is?), it’s still important to understand.

Types of grammar (and theories)

As long as there have been rules of grammar, there have been theories about what makes it work and how to classify it. For example, American linguist Noam Chomsky posited the theory of universal grammar. It says that common rules dictate all language.

In his view, humans have an innate knowledge of language that informs those rules. That, he reasoned, is why children can pick up on complex grammar without explicit knowledge of the rules. But grammarians still debate about whether this theory holds true.

There are also prescriptive and descriptive grammar types:

Another theory emerges from these types of English grammar: primacy of spoken language. It says language comes from the spoken word, not writing — so that’s where you’ll find answers to what’s grammatically correct. Though not everyone agrees with that theory, either.

How did grammar become what it is today?

Grammar has been in a constant state of evolution, starting with the creation of the first textbook on the subject in about 100 BC by the Greeks (termed the Greek grammatikē). The Romans later adapted their grammar to create Latin grammar (or Latin grammatica), which spread out across Europe to form the basis for languages like Spanish and French. Eventually, Latin grammar became the basis of the English model in the 11th century. The rules of grammar (as well as etymology) changed with the times, from Middle English in the 15th century, to what we know today.

Another consequence of grammatical changes has been the development of various areas of linguistic study, like phonology (how languages or dialects organize their sounds) and morphology (how words are formed how and their relationships work).

The ancient grammar rules have changed as people have tested alternative ways to use language. Authors, for example, have broken the rules to various levels of success:

• Shakespeare ended sentences with prepositions: “Fly to others that we know not of.”
• Jane Austen used double negatives: “When Mr. Collins said any thing of which his wife might reasonably be ashamed, which certainly was not unseldom, she involuntarily turned her eye on Charlotte.”
• William Faulkner started sentences with conjunctions: “But before the captain could answer, a major appeared from behind the guns.”

Cultural norms shape grammar rules, too. The Associated Press, for example, recognized they as a singular pronoun in 2017. But before that, English grammar teachers the world over broke out their red pens to change it to he or she.

Yes, American grammar has a longstanding tradition of change — borrowing words from other languages and testing out different forms of expression — which could explain why many find it confusing. Although most people no longer call early education “grammar school,” it’s still an important topic of study. And as more people have access to updated information about the subject, it’s become easier to follow the rules.

Five authors on grammar

If anyone appreciates the role of grammar, it’s writers:

Six examples of grammar rules

Here are six common grammar mistakes (and example sentences) to help you improve your writing:

Semicolon use: Semicolons are typically used to connect related ideas — but often a new sentence (instead of a semicolon) is more fitting.

Ending a sentence with a preposition: Some used to consider it wrong to end with a preposition (e.g. to, of, with, at, from), but now it’s acceptable in most informal contexts.

Splitting infinitives: Avoid it in formal settings, otherwise, it’s fine.

Beginning a sentence with because: It’s ok as long as the sentence is complete. 

Subject-verb agreement: The verb of a sentence should match the subject’s plurality (or singularity).

Passive voice: In general, use active voice — that means the subject acts upon the verb. In passive voice, the verb acts upon the subject, resulting in a weaker sentence.

What is Grammar in English?

Grammar can be defined as the specific set of rules which helps us to arrange the words in the sentences to form a proper meaning.

It can also be defined as the structure and system of a language in which it usually consists of Morphology and syntaxes.

Every language has its own grammar and usually, English grammar has its own set of rules to organize the words in the sentences.

So after learning grammar, you can use, classify and structure the words together to form reasonable written and spoken communication.

Types of Grammar in the English Language

There are 9 different types of Grammars which are available in the English Language. Those are,

• Descriptive Grammar
• Prescriptive Grammar
• Comparative Grammar
• Generative Grammar
• Mental Grammar
• Performance Grammar
• Traditional Grammar
• Transformational Grammar
• Universal Grammar

Descriptive Grammar

Descriptive Grammar refers to the language structure. This type of grammar is mostly used by speakers and writers.

The descriptive Grammar can be defined as, “the set of rules of language based on how it is used actually. There is no right or wrong in the Descriptive Grammar.

Prescriptive Grammar

Prescriptive grammar also refers to the language structure (same as descriptive) but the only difference is that it is based on how the language should be used.

In this type of grammar, right and wrong language is also there. So, these rules are actually a standard set of rules of the grammar.

Comparative Grammar

Comparative Grammar is defined as a branch of linguistics in which the comparison and analysis of grammar structures of the language are considered.

Comparitive grammar is also known as Comparitive Philology.

Also Read: 12 Rules of Grammar | (Grammar Basic Rules with examples)

Generative Grammar

Generative grammar is a part of linguistic theory and it is one of the most influential. It is usually defined as a set of rules that describes the structure of the native speaker’s language.

It includes the study of the sound pattern (which is called as Phonology), morphology, semantics and syntaxes.

Mental Grammar

Mental Grammar (also called as Competence grammar & linguistic competence) is the Generative grammar which is stored in the human brain, that allows the person (speaker) to produce the language which can be understood by another person.

This concept was successfully proposed by the American Linguist Noam Chomsky with one of his work called “Syntactic Structures”.

Performance Grammar

The concept of Performance Grammar was used by Noam Chomsky in the year 1960. It is actually used to indicate the actual usage of the language in concrete situations.

So, it is used to describe both comprehension and production of the language.

Traditional Grammar

The set of rules which describes the structures of the language in which it is usually taught in schools are known as Traditional Grammar.

Generally, traditional grammar is prescriptive because it focuses on the distinction between what people thought to do with the language (structure) and what are actually doing.

Transformational Grammar

It is the theory of grammar that focuses on the construction of language by phrase and linguistic structures.

Transformational grammar is also known as TGG (Transformational – generative – grammar).

Universal Grammar

The system of categories, operations and principles shared by all languages are considered to be innate.

Quiz Time! (Test your knowledge here)

Summary: (What is Grammar?)

• Grammar is a set of rules which explains the structure of the sentences by arranging the words in order to form a proper meaning.

Also Read: Noun Definition and Examples | Best English Guide 2021

If you are interested to learn more, then you can refer wikipedia from here.

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