The grammar of a language contains basic axioms such as verb tenses, articles and adjectives, how questions are phrased, and much more. Language cannot work without grammar. It would simply make no sense; people require grammar to communicate.

Speakers and listeners, authors and their listeners, must function like systems to understand one another. A language with no grammar is like a pile of bricks with no mortar to hold them together. While the necessary components are present, they are useless for all intents and purposes.

Fast Facts: Grammar Word Origin and Definition

The word grammar comes from Greek, meaning “craft of letters.” It’s an apt description. In one language, grammar is:

• The methodical study and description of a language (compared with usage).
• A set of rules and examples deals with a language’s syntax and word structures (morphology).