Syntax and grammar
Introduction to Linguistics
Level-3
Relationship between Syntax and Grammar
 Syntax is the study of sentences and their structure, and
the constructions within sentences. Syntax tells us what
goes where in a sentence.
 Grammar is a set of rules that set forth the correct
standard of usage in a language. These rules dictate
how we should say things correctly.
For example, agreement between words in relation to other
constructions in the sentence.
Grammar
Morphology Syntax
Words Sentence
• Grammar is the general term referring to the set of rules in a
given language including syntax and morphology, while syntax
studies sentence structures.
• This means that syntax is studied within grammar as a daughter
of grammar but sister of morphology where syntax has nothing
to share with internal structure of words but grammar have i.e. in
morphology.
• So morphology studies words forming, syntax deals with such
formed words by putting them in a correct position within a
phrase, clause or/and a sentence under the umbrella of
grammar.
Difference between Syntax and Grammar
• Grammar is the study of rules governing the use of
language. In linguistics, grammar is the set of structural rules
that governs the composition of clauses, phrases,
and words in any given natural language.
• Syntax studies how a sentence is structured. In Linguistics
syntax is “the study of the principles and processes by
which sentences are constructed in particular languages”. It
consists of the type of sentence, agreement and word order.
Traditional Grammar VS. Generative Grammar
Grammar is subdivided into two related areas called
morphology and syntax. It focuses on the approach to the
study of syntax taken in traditional grammar and also
generative grammar which is developed by Chomsky.
Traditional Grammar
• In traditional grammar, the syntax of a language is
described in terms of taxonomy of the range of different
types of syntactic structures found in the language.
• It assumes that phrases and sentences are built up of a
series of constituents, each of which belongs to a specific
grammatical category and serves a specific grammatical
function.
• In traditional grammar, words are assigned to two different
types of words named content words (lexical/substantive
categories) and function words (functional categories).
Generative Grammar
• A generative grammar of a language attempts to give a
set of rules that will correctly predict which combinations
of words will form grammatical sentences.
• Also, It is a study of language acquisition. It explains why
a baby speaker can acquire any languages. It aims
explanatory adequacy.
• In the generative grammar theory, Chomsky brought up a
concept called universal grammar to explain why native
speaker seems to “know” the grammar knowledge of his
or her native language.

Syntax and grammar

  • 1.
    Syntax and grammar Introductionto Linguistics Level-3
  • 2.
    Relationship between Syntaxand Grammar  Syntax is the study of sentences and their structure, and the constructions within sentences. Syntax tells us what goes where in a sentence.  Grammar is a set of rules that set forth the correct standard of usage in a language. These rules dictate how we should say things correctly. For example, agreement between words in relation to other constructions in the sentence.
  • 3.
  • 4.
    • Grammar isthe general term referring to the set of rules in a given language including syntax and morphology, while syntax studies sentence structures. • This means that syntax is studied within grammar as a daughter of grammar but sister of morphology where syntax has nothing to share with internal structure of words but grammar have i.e. in morphology. • So morphology studies words forming, syntax deals with such formed words by putting them in a correct position within a phrase, clause or/and a sentence under the umbrella of grammar.
  • 5.
    Difference between Syntaxand Grammar • Grammar is the study of rules governing the use of language. In linguistics, grammar is the set of structural rules that governs the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language. • Syntax studies how a sentence is structured. In Linguistics syntax is “the study of the principles and processes by which sentences are constructed in particular languages”. It consists of the type of sentence, agreement and word order.
  • 6.
    Traditional Grammar VS.Generative Grammar Grammar is subdivided into two related areas called morphology and syntax. It focuses on the approach to the study of syntax taken in traditional grammar and also generative grammar which is developed by Chomsky.
  • 7.
    Traditional Grammar • Intraditional grammar, the syntax of a language is described in terms of taxonomy of the range of different types of syntactic structures found in the language. • It assumes that phrases and sentences are built up of a series of constituents, each of which belongs to a specific grammatical category and serves a specific grammatical function. • In traditional grammar, words are assigned to two different types of words named content words (lexical/substantive categories) and function words (functional categories).
  • 8.
    Generative Grammar • Agenerative grammar of a language attempts to give a set of rules that will correctly predict which combinations of words will form grammatical sentences. • Also, It is a study of language acquisition. It explains why a baby speaker can acquire any languages. It aims explanatory adequacy. • In the generative grammar theory, Chomsky brought up a concept called universal grammar to explain why native speaker seems to “know” the grammar knowledge of his or her native language.