Grammar has two branches: morphology, which applies to the formation of words, and syntax, which applies to the arrangement of words to form phrases, clauses, and sentences. The following sections dig deeper into these two branches of grammar to give you a general understanding of what it’s all about.
PRACTICAL POINT
Grammar is both descriptive and prescriptive. Linguists approach grammar as descriptive; they analyze and describe the way native speakers actually use a language. English teachers, on the other hand, tend to treat grammar as prescriptive—a set of rules that must be followed. We like to think of grammar, usage, and mechanics as both prescriptive and descriptive, because we all need to agree on some rules in order to communicate effectively with one another while recognizing the fact that language evolves over time. In other words, we need to follow rules, but those rules are subject to change.