Definition

1. Noun:
   • The system and structure of a language: The set of rules that explain how words are used in a language to form phrases, clauses, and sentences. This includes syntax (sentence structure) and morphology (word formation).
   • A book describing these rules: A book or manual that contains the grammatical rules of a language.
   • A person's use of this system: An individual's adherence to or knowledge of grammatical rules, as in "good" or "bad" grammar.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • Studying English grammar helps you write more clearly.
  • She bought a new grammar to help with her French studies.
  • His email was difficult to read because of its poor grammar.

Advanced Usage

• Generative grammar: A theory in linguistics that proposes a system of rules for generating the grammatical sentences of a language.
  • Noam Chomsky's work on generative grammar was revolutionary.
• Grammar school: In some educational systems, a secondary school focused on academic preparation.
  • He passed the exam to attend the local grammar school.

Variants and Related Words

• Grammatical (adj): Relating to grammar or conforming to its rules.
  • That sentence is not grammatical.
• Grammatically (adv): In a way that relates to or follows grammatical rules.
  • The phrase is grammatically correct.
• Grammarian (n): An expert in or student of grammar.
  • The grammarian wrote a detailed critique of the text.

Synonyms

• Syntax: The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences (a core part of grammar).
• Structure: The way in which the parts of a language are arranged.

Related Phrases

• Grammar police (idiom, informal): People who are quick to correct others' grammatical mistakes.
  • Don't be the grammar police; just enjoy the story.
• Grammar Nazi (idiom, informal, potentially offensive): A derogatory term for a person who obsessively corrects others' grammar.
  • He's such a grammar Nazi that he corrected my text message.

Noun

1. the branch of linguistics that deals with syntax and morphology (and sometimes also deals with semantics)