Gourt > Kids and Teens > School Time > English > Grammar (9)
Grammar is the study of rules governing the use of language. The set of rules governing a particular language is also called the grammar of the language; thus, each language can be said to have its own distinct grammar. Grammar is part of the general study of language called linguistics.
The subfields of contemporary grammar are phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, and pragmatics. Traditional grammars include only morphology and syntax.
Types of grammar
- A prescriptive grammar presents authoritative norms for a particular language, and tends to deprecate non-standard constructions. Traditional grammars are typically prescriptive. Prescriptive grammars are usually based on the prestige dialects of a speech community, and often specifically condemn certain constructions which are common only among lower socioeconomic groups, such as the use of "ain't" and double negatives in English. Though prescriptive grammars remain common in pedagogy and foreign language teaching, they have fallen out of favor in modern academic linguistics, as they describe only a subset of actual language usage.
- A descriptive grammar attempts to describe actual usage, avoiding prescriptive judgments. Descriptive grammars are bound to a particular speech community, and attempt to provide rules for any utterance considered grammatically correct within that community. For example, in many dialects of English, the use of double negatives is very common, though ungrammatical from the point of view of a prescriptive English grammar. A descriptive grammar of a speech community where "I didn't do nothing" is acceptable will treat that sentence as grammatical, and provide rules that account for it. A prescriptive grammar of formal English would rather provide rules for "I didn't do anything."
- Traditional grammar is the collection of ideas about grammar that Western societies have received from Greek and Roman sources. Prescriptive grammar is usually formulated in terms of the descriptive concepts inherited from traditional grammar. Modern descriptive grammar aims to correct the errors of traditional grammar, and generalize them, so as to avoid shoehorning all languages to the model of Latin. Nearly all materials used in teaching language, however, are still based on traditional grammar.
- A formal grammar is a precisely defined grammar, typically used for computer programming languages.
- A generative grammar is a formal grammar that can in some sense "generate" the well-formed expressions of a natural language. An entire branch of linguistic theory is based on generative grammars. Generative grammars were popularized by Noam Chomsky. Generative grammar may include Transformational grammar, which is a broad term mostly describing natural language grammars which have been developed in a Chomskian tradition. Transformational grammar is usually synonymous with the slightly more specific transformational-generative grammar (TGG).
Horrible grammar offends me. THERE IS NO EXCUSE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE SPELL CHECK #Youknowyourfat
justinleon (Justin Leon) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:06:40 -0000
Horrible grammar offends me. THERE IS NO EXCUSE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE SPELL CHECK #Youknowyourfat
(despite that bad grammar) #youknowyourfat when you can't see your toes.
hgreilly (Harrison Reilly) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:06:02 -0000
(despite that bad grammar) #youknowyourfat when you can't see your toes.
RT @HannaAeneas: #youknowyourfat Is grammar really that hard?
hnydip_ (Aazia MickensDessaso) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:03:07 -0000
RT @HannaAeneas: #youknowyourfat Is grammar really that hard?
Boo on bad grammar in trending topics! #youknowyourfat
sonja_77 (Sonja Tofani) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:02:41 -0000
Boo on bad grammar in trending topics! #youknowyourfat
#youknowyourfat Is grammar really that hard?
HannaAeneas (Hanna Burrows) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:01:42 -0000
#youknowyourfat Is grammar really that hard?
@zbeauvais check: 50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice http://clicky.me/6VW Picks apart Strunk & White. /via @EagerEyes
gridinoc (Laurian Gridinoc) Tue, 22 Dec 2009 14:01:30 -0000
@zbeauvais check: 50 Years of Stupid Grammar Advice http://clicky.me/6VW Picks apart Strunk & White. /via @EagerEyes
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Meta Description: [ ESL EFL English Tense Usage Quiz For Beginning Level Learners for in class use or on your own ]
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Meta Description: [ a directory of english grammar topics ]
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Meta Description: [ Free on-line English lessons - grammar practice. ]
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Meta Description: [ The concept of language errors has always been indistinct. GrammarStation is concerned with glaring deviations from standard English. ]
Guide to Grammar and Writing - Contains scores of digital handouts on grammar and English usage, computer-graded quizzes, and recommendations on writing in various issues. [Acrobat Reader, sound card, and PowerPoint recommended but not required.]
Meta Description: [ The Guide to Grammar and Writing contains scores of digital handouts on grammar and English usage, over 170 computer-graded quizzes, recommendations on writing -- from basic problems in subject-verb agreement and the use of articles to exercises in parallel structures and help with argumentative ... ]
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Rats - Features a game of adjectives and adverbs. [Requires shockwave plugin]
Schoolhouse Rock: Grammar Rock - Offers lyrics to songs that aid with grammar and parts of speech.
Sentence Builder - Has helpful tips on parts of sentences.
Stufun: Grammar - Provides grammar, dictionary, similar sounding words, and interactive exercises.
Meta Description: [ Online grammar tutorials, Download free sample exercises, Gictionary: The Picture Dictionary Interactive Exercises, grammar is scoring not boring. Literacy Gold Award Winning site. Mumbai, Bombay India based. ]
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The Plural Girls - Fun game teaches pluralization. Help the cats find their way through the world of 'S' in a multiple choice and fill in the blanks games.
Meta Description: [ Improve your spelling skills. Fun game teaches pluralization. For kids and children of all ages and grades. ]
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