Short and quick answer by GrammarGramps: Grammar is the system of rules that governs how words combine to form sentences in a language. The main types of grammar includeprescriptive grammar, descriptive grammar, traditional grammar, transformational grammar, and generative grammar. Each type explains language structure, usage, and meaning from a different perspective.
Definition and Special Introduction to Grammar by GrammarGramps
The definition of grammar is as follows:
The word “grammar” refers to the collective set of rules that govern the verbal and written usage of a language.
That’s about it.
Short and sweet.
It makes me sound like the smart intellectuals you would read in your school textbooks who’d reduce the entire chapter’s length of explanations to a short one-liner…and just get away with it.
You know those dudes from the 17th century who go “Botany is plants, studied” with a dash and an italicized signature.
Technically, the sentence above is all that you need to define grammar. But that alone won’t get you very far. It’s important to know things like the history of grammar, the types, the common rules, etc.
In this guide on what is grammar, we’re going to cover all of those.
What is the History of English Grammar?
The history of English grammar is quite…turbulent. Grammar changed quite a bit, dating back from the mid-5th century to now in 2026.
Old English (450–1100)
Old English relied heavily on inflections. Word endings indicated grammatical roles, which meant that nouns had gender and verbs followed complex conjugation patterns. Because endings carried meaning, word order was relatively flexible.
Middle English (1100–1500)
Following the Norman Conquest, French vocabulary entered English in large numbers. As a result, inflectional endings began to disappear, and grammar gradually simplified. Meaning became less dependent on word endings and more dependent on sentence structure.
Early Modern English (1500–1700)
The introduction of the printing press encouraged standardization. Grammar books appeared, many of which attempted to impose Latin-based rules on English. While this approach was flawed, it contributed to a more consistent written language.
Modern English (1700–Present)
Grammar became increasingly codified as dictionaries and style guides gained authority. Over time, descriptive grammar emerged to document actual usage rather than enforce rigid rules, reflecting how English continues to evolve in real contexts.
Where Does the Word Grammar Come From?
The word grammar comes from the Greek word grammatikḗ, which referred to the art of reading and writing. It is derived from the root word “grámma“, meaning “letter” or “written mark.”
Historical Origin and Etymology of the Word Grammar
According to Oxford Languages, the word grammar entered English in the late Middle English period through Old French (gramaire). The term traces back through Latin to the Greek phrase grammatikē (tekhnē), meaning “the art of letters.”
The Greek root gramma (or grammat-) referred to a letter of the alphabet or something written. This historical development shows how the concept of grammar evolved from a focus on written symbols to a broader framework for understanding language.
Has English Grammar Always Been the Same?
English grammar has never been static.
In Old English, inflections carried grammatical meaning, which allowed flexible word order. In Modern English, most inflections have disappeared, and meaning now depends largely on word order and auxiliary verbs such as do, have, and will.
These shifts occurred through long-term language contact, social change, and the natural tendency of speakers to favor efficiency and clarity.
Types of Grammar
Grammar can be studied from multiple perspectives, each focusing on a different aspect of language use. Those perspectives are what form the various “types.”
1. Prescriptive Grammar
Prescriptive grammar defines how language should be used and establishes rules for correctness in formal contexts.
2. Descriptive Grammar
Descriptive grammar records how speakers actually use the language, without evaluating usage as right or wrong.
3. Traditional Grammar
Traditional grammar focuses on parts of speech, sentence structure, and basic rules. This is the model most commonly taught in schools.
4. Transformational-Generative Grammar
Developed by Noam Chomsky, this approach examines the mental structures that allow speakers to generate and understand sentences.
5. Functional Grammar
Functional grammar analyzes how grammatical choices convey meaning, intention, and context in real communication.
Table Illustrating the Different Types of Grammar with Examples
Here is a table that I have made that illustrates the various types of grammar with examples.
| Type of Grammar | Focus | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Prescriptive Grammar | Rules for correct and formal usage | Do not end a sentence with a preposition. |
| Descriptive Grammar | How language is actually used | Who are you talking to? |
| Traditional Grammar | Parts of speech and sentence rules | The noun “dog” is the subject of the sentence. |
| Transformational-Generative Grammar | Underlying sentence structure | The active sentence can be transformed into a passive one. |
| Functional Grammar | Meaning and purpose in context | The passive voice is used to emphasize the action, not the subject. |
The Main Parts of Speech in English Grammar
English grammar classifies words based on the role they play in a sentence. These roles determine how words interact with each other and how meaning is constructed.
In standard English grammar, words are grouped into eight main parts of speech. Each part of speech performs a distinct grammatical function, and every complete sentence relies on a combination of them.
The 8 Main Parts of Speech
- Nouns: Nouns name people, places, things, or ideas.
- Pronouns: Pronouns replace nouns to avoid repetition in a sentence.
- Verbs: Verbs express actions, states, or occurrences.
- Adjectives: Adjectives describe or modify nouns.
- Adverbs: Adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
- Prepositions: Prepositions show relationships between nouns or pronouns and other words in a sentence.
- Conjunctions: Conjunctions connect words, phrases, or clauses.
- Determiners: Determiners limit or specify nouns by indicating quantity, ownership, or definiteness.
Common Rules of English Grammar
Some grammatical rules are consistently applied in standard English usage.
- Subject–Verb Agreement: Singular subjects require singular verbs, while plural subjects require plural verbs.
- Use of Articles: A and an introduce non-specific nouns, while the refers to specific ones.
- Tense Consistency: A sentence or passage should maintain a consistent tense unless a shift is logically required.
- Word Order: English generally follows the Subject + Verb + Object structure.
- Pronoun–Antecedent Agreement: Pronouns must agree with their antecedents in number and person.
- Avoiding Double Negatives: Standard English uses a single negative to express negation.
- Use of Commas: Commas clarify meaning and prevent misinterpretation.
How Can I Learn Grammar?
An excellent way to learn grammar is to read the detailed guides on grammar concepts by GrammarGramps. The guides on the site are segmented, allowing you to tackle them all one by one.
And of course, one of the best way to solidify your understanding of English grammar is to read a lot.
When I was a kid, I used to read so much that long before I knew what an adverb or pronoun or gerund or subject-verb agreement was, I would read a sentence and simply know if it wasn’t right.
I couldn’t explain why it wasn’t right, but if you asked me to fix it, 8-year old me would do it easily.
Are Grammar Rules the Same in All Languages?
Grammar rules differ from language to language.
English relies heavily on word order. Latin relies on inflections. Chinese depends on particles and context. Turkish uses agglutination, while Arabic includes dual forms. Japanese handles plurality differently from English.
Although all languages have grammar, their systems operate according to different principles.
Quick Quiz on “What is Grammar”: Multiple Choice
Take this short quiz to see how well you’ve learned. It’s a very simple quiz and you will find the answers below. Don’t cheat, though. Answer them all first and then check the answers.
- What term refers to the rules governing how a language is spoken and written?
A. Grammar
B. Semantics
C. Linguistics
D. Predicates - How many major historical stages of English grammar are commonly recognized?
A. One
B. Two
C. Three
D. Four - What is the standard word order in English?
A. Subject + Verb + Object
B. Object + Subject + Verb
C. Verb + Subject + Object
D. Verb + Object + Subject - Grammar rules are identical across all languages.
A. True
B. False - Which list correctly identifies types of grammar?
A. Prescriptive, Descriptive, Traditional, Transformational-Generative, Functional
B. Semantic, Analytical, Objective, Narrative
C. Prescriptive, Interpretive, Adaptive, Evaluative
D. Constructive, Symbolic, Expressive, Comparative
Answer Key
- A
- C
- A
- B
- A
Resources Used for This Guide
Among others, here are some resources that I used for this guide:
