Introduction to Greene’s Descriptive Grammar

Definitions and Divisions

Grammar is the science dealing with the general principles of a language.

English grammar deals with the principles and usage of the English language. English grammar principles are used to better understand English so that it can be used effectively in speaking and writing.

Grammar consists of subdivisions that deal with:

the elementary sounds of the language.

the relationship of the sounds of the language to the letters used to write the language.

the classification and modifications of the words of the language.

the structure of the phrases, clauses, and sentences of the language.

Grammar can be seen to consist of four parts:

Phonology

Orthography

Morphology

Syntax

Phonology deals with the elementary sounds of the spoken language. While Greene’s original text included a chapter on this, it will not be included in this text.

Orthography deals with the relationship of these elementary sounds to the letters and letter combinations that represent them, and with the combination of letters into written syllables and words. Again, orthography is discussed in the original Greene text but will be presented only briefly in this revision.

Morphology, also called Etymology, deals with the classification of words into categories based on their use. It also deals with the derivation of word forms from other words and with the various forms a word can take.

Note

In the original Greene Grammar text, the Morphology section was called the Etymology section. Etymology is the study of origins of words. Etymology, for example, tells us that the linguistic origin of the past tense of the verb go – went – comes from the past tense of the older verb wend. Etymology also explains things like the fact that the English word noun derives from the Latin word nomen. Etymology is an interesting and important subject.
Morphology, on the other hand, is the study of the different forms that a word takes in different sentence situations. An example would be the way that a present tense verb takes different forms depending on the number of its subject. The present tense form of the verb see is see when the subject is the singular I or is any plural. It takes the form sees, with an s ending when its subject is singular.

For example

The writers see the main point.
A writer sees the main point.

Syntax deals with combining words into phases, clauses, and sentences.

Most sections of the text link to exercises. These exercises can be used to help in the reader understand and be able to use a knowledge of grammar to improve the ability to read and understand English prose and to be able to better write clear and correct English.

Trackback URL