SOME WAYS OF THINKING ABOUT GRAMMAR

1. What is prescriptive grammar?

Prescriptive grammar is the grammar providing the language user with normative rules by such people as dictionary publisher, editor, critics, writer and teacher...

Eg:

- Never end a sentence with a preposition. So, such sentences as "Who are you speaking to?" or "Who did you talk with?" are considered wrong.

- Never split a to-infinitive with an adverb. So, such sentence as "They are working hard to successfully pass the exam" is considered ungrammatical.

2. What is the typical feature of prescriptive grammar?

Prescriptive grammar is concerned with prescribing rules of language units. It consists of a number of rules or regulations prohibiting language use: it provides language users with normative rules.

For example, it advises language users not to split the infinitive with "to" or not to end a sentence with a preposition, of not use double negative to express negative idea.

Such sentences as follow would be considered ungrammatical: She don't care; Long time no see.

3. What is descriptive grammar?

Descriptive grammar is the grammar studying constitutive rules of language. It describes the grammar system of language exactly as it is. According to this grammar, there is nothing imposed, which is why it accepts such sentences: "They don't know nothing" or "She aren't a student".

4. What is the typical feature of descriptive grammar?

Descriptive grammar is concerned with describing language objectively as it is actually used. It describes all language elements and grants name for them without making any judgment. It tells what the language users know unconsciously and it also enables them to use and understand the language. According to this grammar, nothing is imposed, which is why this grammar accepts such sentences: She don't care; I won't do it no more.

5. What is the basic difference between prescriptive grammar and descriptive grammar?

- Prescriptive grammar lays down normative rules about how the language is supposed to be used.

Eg: Never end a sentence with a preposition.

It is wrong to split the infinitive with "to" with an adverb.

- In contrast, descriptive grammar aims to describe the grammar of the language exactly as it is. It tries to provide language users with constitutive rules.

Eg: The noun can act as subject and object in the sentence.

The adverb often stands after the verb and before the adjective it modifies.

6. What is the difference between global sense and narrow sense of the term "grammar"?

- The global sense (general sense) of the term "grammar", popularized by American linguist Noam Chomsky, subsumes all aspects of sentence patterning, including phonology and semantic, and introduces the term syntax as the more specific notion.

- In specific sense (narrow sense), which is more traditional, grammar is presented just as one branch of language structure, distinct from phonology and semantic.