PRESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR

A set

of rules and examples dealing with syntax and

word structures of a language

Intended

as an aid to the learning of the language

Refers

to the structure of a language as certain people

think it should be used

A set

of norms or rules governing how a languageshould

or should not be used rather than describing the ways in
which a language is actually used.

Examples :
The

subject of the sentence must agree with the verb

( The instructions are clear NOT The instructions is clear )

Use

much for count nouns. Use many for non-count nouns.

( We dont have much coffee AND We dont have many cups

of coffee )
Capitalize

the first letter of a sentences

( The television is broken. It needs to be fixed )

 Use

subject pronouns after the verb be

( It was I who called you NOT It was me who called you )

Use

the definite article the before names of rivers and

geographical areas but not before the names of lakes or
continents.
( the Nile, the Middle East AND Lake Tahoe, Asia )

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN DESCRIPTIVE

AND PRESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR

DESCRIPTIVE

PRESCRIPTIVE

Linguists

Practiced by

Editors and teachers

Describe the rules that govern

what people do or can say

Definition

Prescribe rules governing what

people should/shouldnt say

Features

Prescriptive rules are not natural,

must be taught / learned in
school, often reflect value
judgements

Refers to

Refers to the structure of a

language as certain people think
it should be used

Focus

Lay out rules about what they

believe to be the correct or
incorrect use of language.

Descriptive rules are natural,

known intuitively, need not be
taught
Refers to the objective, it is a
non-judgemental description of
the grammatical constructions in
language
Study the rules or patterns that
underlie our use of words,
phrases, clauses, and sentences.