What does grammar (syntax) refer to?

What does grammar (syntax) refer to?

• A. The structure of language and words.
• B. The social cues or norms in language.
• C. The sounds of speech.
• D. The meaning of sentences.

Answer: (A)

Grammar, or syntax, is about how words are arranged to build sentences—the structure that shows how words relate to one another and how ideas are connected. It covers rules for word order, agreement between subjects and verbs, and how phrases come together to form a complete thought, plus punctuation that clarifies those relationships. For example, in English the usual order is that the subject comes before the verb, then the object, as in “The dog barks.” If the order is off, the sentence can sound strange or unclear. This is different from the sounds of speech (phonology), the meaning of sentences (semantics), or the social rules people use when talking (pragmatics).

Grammar, or syntax, is about how words are arranged to build sentences—the structure that shows how words relate to one another and how ideas are connected. It covers rules for word order, agreement between subjects and verbs, and how phrases come together to form a complete thought, plus punctuation that clarifies those relationships. For example, in English the usual order is that the subject comes before the verb, then the object, as in “The dog barks.” If the order is off, the sentence can sound strange or unclear. This is different from the sounds of speech (phonology), the meaning of sentences (semantics), or the social rules people use when talking (pragmatics).