grammar

noun

gram·mar | \ ˈgra-mər

Essential Meaning of grammar

1 : the set of rules that explain how words are used in a language the rules of grammar English grammar can be hard to master. See More Examplesa grammar lesson comparing English and Japanese grammar comparing the grammars of English and JapaneseHide

2 : speech or writing judged by how well it follows the rules of grammar "Him and I went" is bad/poor grammar. I know some German, but my grammar isn't very good.

3 : a book that explains the grammar rules of a language an English grammar

Full Definition of grammar

1a : the study of the classes of words, their inflections (see inflection sense 2), and their functions and relations in the sentence

b : a study of what is to be preferred and what avoided in inflection (see inflection sense 2) and syntax (see syntax sense 1)

2a : the characteristic system of inflections (see inflection sense 2) and syntax of a language

b : a system of rules that defines the grammatical structure of a language

3a : a grammar textbook

b : speech or writing evaluated according to its conformity to grammatical rules appalled at the bad grammar of college students

4 : the principles or rules of an art, science, or technique a grammar of the theater also : a set of such principles or rules

Other Words from grammar Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About grammar

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Examples of grammar in a Sentence

English grammar can be hard to master. comparing English and Japanese grammar comparing the grammars of English and Japanese “Him and I went” is bad grammar. I know some German, but my grammar isn't very good.

Recent Examples on the Web The prevalence of texting and short messaging has led to sloppy spelling and woeful grammar. — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Sep. 2021 Children in Charlotte's year are tested in math and reading (and there's an optional test in English that covers grammar, punctuation, and spelling). — Kayleigh Roberts, Marie Claire, 23 Aug. 2021 Keep your eyes open for bad grammar or frequent typos. — Kayla Keegan, Good Housekeeping, 15 Aug. 2021 To get the evening down to an intermissionless hour and 50 minutes, Bioh has chucked one of Shakespeare’s subplots and a bushel of jokes about, among other things, Welsh pronunciation, heraldry, and Latin grammar. — Helen Shaw, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2021 This means that commercial bots are usually pragmatic, straightforward and understand just the standard terms and grammar. — Nastasya Savina, Forbes, 12 May 2021 Sitting next to Mom, copying her answers on grammar and vocabulary quizzes, Dad must have thought, during one lesson, How is less more? — Anthony Veasna So, The New Yorker, 5 July 2021 Turns out that English possesses a fairly simple apparatus of grammar unencumbered by complex noun and adjective inflections and gender markers. — Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Feb. 2021 Candidate responses have not been edited for grammar, spelling or accuracy. — Amy Huschka, Detroit Free Press, 5 Aug. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'grammar.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.