grammar
GRAM-uh
Grammar (noun) means the set of rules governing how words are structured and combined into sentences in a language. Example: “Our teacher marked down the essay for poor grammar and spelling mistakes.”
noun
1
The set of rules governing how words are structured and combined into sentences in a language.
"Our teacher marked down the essay for poor grammar and spelling mistakes."
"She studied English grammar to improve her writing."
"His grammar was perfect, but his pronunciation still needed work."
How to use grammar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe rules for how a language is put together — word order, verb tenses, punctuation, and so on.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
grammar rules
grammar mistake
good grammar
grammar check
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- grammars
- Past tense
- grammared
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Our teacher marked down the essay for poor _____ and spelling mistakes.
Etymology
From Old French gramaire ("classical learning"), from Latin grammatica, from Ancient Greek grammatike ("skilled in writing"), from gramma ("letter, writing").
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “grammar” mean?
The word “grammar” means the set of rules governing how words are structured and combined into sentences in a language. In plain terms, the rules for how a language is put together — word order, verb tenses, punctuation, and so on.
How do you pronounce “grammar”?
“Grammar” is pronounced GRAM-uh (/ˈɡɹæm.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “grammar” in a sentence?
Here is “grammar” used in a sentence: “She studied English grammar to improve her writing.”
What part of speech is “grammar”?
“Grammar” is a noun.
Where does the word “grammar” come from?
The word “grammar” comes from Ancient Greek. From Old French gramaire ("classical learning"), from Latin grammatica, from Ancient Greek grammatike ("skilled in writing"), from gramma ("letter, writing").
Is “grammar” a common word?
“Grammar” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
What is the difference between "grammar" and "syntax"?
Grammar is the full set of rules for how words are formed and combined in a language, covering areas like word forms and sentence structure. Syntax is one part of grammar, dealing specifically with how words are arranged into sentences.
How do you spell "grammar" — "grammar" or "grammer"?
The correct spelling is "grammar," ending in -ar, not -er. "Grammer" is a common misspelling and is not accepted in standard English.
What is the difference between "grammar" and "spelling"?
Grammar governs how words are structured and combined into sentences, while spelling concerns the correct sequence of letters within a single word. A sentence can be spelled perfectly yet still be grammatically incorrect.
What is the difference between "grammar" and "punctuation"?
Grammar is about how words combine into well-formed sentences, whereas punctuation is the system of marks, such as commas and periods, that clarify structure and meaning in writing. Punctuation is often taught alongside grammar but is a separate system.
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