EL102 (STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH)

01
DESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR
AND PRESCRIPTIVE 02
GRAMMAR
Presenters:
IVAN DURAN 03
ANGELIKA ASHLEY GOMEZ
ANGELINE VILLAMAYOR
04
01

02

03

04
 Fact or Bluff?!
01

1. The phrase “long time no see” is

believed to be a literal translation of 02

a Native American or Chinese

phrase as it is not grammatically 03
correct.

04
 Fact or Bluff?!
01

1. The phrase “long time no see” is

believed to be a literal translation of 02

a Native American or Chinese

phrase as it is not grammatically 03
correct.

04
Fact or Bluff?!
01

2.“Yes” is the shortest

grammatically correct 02
sentence in English.
03

04
Fact or Bluff?!
01

2.“Yes” is the shortest

grammatically correct 02
sentence in English.
03
CORRECT ANSWER: GO! is the shortest
grammatically correct sentence in English.

04
Fact or Bluff?!
01

3. The original name for 02

butterfly was flutterby.
03

04
Fact or Bluff?!
01

3. The original name for 02

butterfly was flutterby.
03

04
Fact or Bluff?!
01

4. The word ‘good’ has the highest 02

number of definitions.

03

04
Fact or Bluff?!
01

4. The word ‘good’ has the highest 02

number of definitions.

03
CORRECT ANSWER: SET

04
Fact or Bluff?!
01

5. Shakespeare invented many

02
words, such as birthplace,
blushing, undress, torture and
many more. 03

04
Fact or Bluff?!
01

5. Shakespeare invented many

02
words, such as birthplace,
blushing, undress, torture and
many more. 03

04
Fact or Bluff?!
01

6. The word ‘Goodbye’ originally

comes from an Old English phrase 02
meaning ‘good baby’.
03

04
Fact or Bluff?!
01

6. The word ‘Goodbye’ originally

comes from an Old English phrase 02
meaning ‘good baby’.
03
Correct answer: GOD BE WITH YOU

04
Fact or Bluff?!
01

7. The two most common words in 02

English are I and you.
03

04
Fact or Bluff?!
01

7. The two most common words in 02

English are I and you.
03

04
Learning Objectives
At the end of the discussion, you should be able to:

01

01 02
Describe the differences
Distinguish grammar associated
between descriptive
to either descriptive or
grammar and prescriptive
prescriptive.
grammar. 02

03 Explain the context of use

associated to descriptive
grammar. 04 Explain the context of use
associated to prescriptive
grammar.
03

05 Answer the provided activity

to evaluate learning.
04
 Introduction
• When I think of grammar, I think of word usage—which, of course,
01
everyone butchers.”
• “I despise grammar. I find the rules trite and boring.”
• “Grammar makes my stomach churn.”
02
This lesson is an overview of what grammar is. We examine what exactly
grammar is from the two perspectives: prescriptive and descriptive. Throughout
the lesson, you are encouraged to exercise your knowledge as a non-native or 03
highly proficient non-native speaker of English—knowledge that you may only
have had until now, implicitly.
04
LESSON PROPER
What is Grammar?
The idea that grammar is a set of rules, often seen as arbitrary or
unrealistic, is only one narrow view of grammar. Such a view is 01
based on the belief that grammar:
• must be explicitly taught;
• is absolute and fixed, a target or goal that speakers need attain in 02
order to be “good” speakers or writers of the language;
• is inherently difficult and confusing, its mysteries apparent only to
teachers, language mavens, or linguists. 03
From the linguist’s point of view, grammar is not a
collection of rules—often obscure, arcane, and often illogical—that
must be taught, but rather a set of blueprints that guides speakers
in producing comprehensible and predictable language. 04
Let us take an in-depth view of two of the most controversial
school of thoughts in English grammar: 01

DESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR 02
and
PRESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR 03

04
 What is Descriptive
Grammar?
Descriptive Grammar - focuses on describing the language as it is 01
used, not saying how it should be used.
A descriptive grammar is a study of a language, its structure, and its
rules as they are used in daily life by its speakers from all walks of life,
including standard and nonstandard varieties. That is, descriptive 02
grammar describes the language, its structure, and the syntactic rules that
govern sentence and phrase constructions (Greenbaum & Quirk, 1990).
Example: 03
I don’t like it.

04
What is Prescriptive
Grammar?
Prescriptive Grammar - describes 01
when people focus on talking about how a
language should or ought to be used; tells you how
you should speak, and what type of language to
avoid. 02

Prescriptivist view of language

implies a distinction between "good grammar" and 03
"bad grammar," and its primary focus is on
standard forms of grammar and syntactic
constructions.
04
 Examples of prescriptive rules in English include:
• Do not use who, but whom, as the object of a verb or preposition.

PRESCRIPTIVE RULES IN ENGLISH: DESCRIPTIVE 01

PRESCRIPTIVE GRAMMAR GRAMMAR

•Do not use ain't. She does not have time. She ain’t no time.
02
•Do not use seen as the I seen her at the party I saw her at the party
past tense of see. last night. last night.
•Do not start a sentence Many people fear
with a conjunction. Many people fear
crashing in an airplane. 03
crashing in an airplane,
But riding in a car is
but riding in a car is
actually more
actually more dangerous.
dangerous.
04
 •Do not use contractions(such as
I cannot..., I do not…, I will not…. I can’t…, I don’t…, I won’t….
can't, don't, won't).
Who did that? -> My brother is the one
•Do not use sentence fragments. Who did that? -> My brother.
who did that.
•Do not end a sentence with a
preposition. (According to some
principles, prepositions should not This is what I came here or Where are This is what I came here for or Where 01
occur in a sentence-final position. you going? are you going to?
For standard English this is not true,
though.)
•Do not use split infinitives.
(According to some principles, the 02
verb and its preposed particle to We were told to view each star or We We were told to carefully view each
should not be separated in infinitives. were told to view each star carefully. star.
For standard English this is not true,
though.)
VERB:
VERB:
 The person who you need to talk
03
•Do not use who, but whom, as the  The person whom you need to
to is not here right now.
object of a verb or preposition. talk to is not here right now.
 Who did you see last night at the
   Whom did you see last night at
movies?
the movies?
 
04
 Conclusion :
Descriptive grammar does not say “this is right” or “this is wrong.” 01
Instead, descriptive grammar focuses on understanding how language is
organized into meaningful, systematic patterns, which are generally below the
level of conscious awareness of most speakers. 02

On the other hand, Prescriptive grammar is the grammar taught in

school. Prescriptive grammar tells people how they should say something, what 03
words they should use, when they need to make a specific choice, and why they
should do so. At times, prescriptive grammar rules are overextended to the point
that speakers hypercorrect, that is, they apply the grammatical rules in situations
where they should not 04
Conclusion :
01

To simplify the descriptive and prescriptive

grammar dichotomy and their practical characteristics,
02
most linguists or language hobbyists are likely to be
descriptive grammarians who analyze and explain a
language's uses while most practicing teachers probably
work with prescriptive grammars (Andrews, 2006). 03

04
 01
THANK YOU FOR
LISTENING! 02

READY FOR THE GAME? 03

04
 ₱ 10,000

It is a set of rules, often seen as arbitrary or unrealistic, is only

one narrow view of grammar.

A Sentences B Grammar
: :
C Language D Dialect
: :
 01
₱ 10,000

It is a set of rules, often seen as arbitrary or unrealistic, is only

02
one narrow view of grammar.

A Sentences B Grammar 03
: :
C Language D Dialect 04
: :
10 ₱ 1 MILLION
9 ₱ 900,000
8 ₱ 800,000
7 ₱ 700,000
6 ₱ 600,000
5 ₱ 500,000
4 ₱ 350,000
3 ₱ 250,000
2 ₱ 100,000
1 ₱ 10,000
 ₱ 100,000

From the _________ point of view, grammar is not a collection of rules—often obscure,
arcane, and often illogical—that must be taught, but rather a set of blueprints that
guides speakers in producing comprehensible and predictable language.

A Linguist’s B Neurologist’s
: :
C Psychologist’s D Neuropsychiatrist’s
: :
 01
₱ 100,000

From the _________ point of view, grammar is not a collection of rules—often obscure,
arcane, and often illogical—that must be taught, but rather a set of blueprints that 02
guides speakers in producing comprehensible and predictable language.

A Linguist’s B Neurologist’s 03
: :
C Psychologist’s D Neuropsychiatrist’s 04
: :
10 ₱ 1 MILLION
9 ₱ 900,000
8 ₱ 800,000
7 ₱ 700,000
6 ₱ 600,000
5 ₱ 500,000
4 ₱ 350,000
3 ₱ 250,000
2 ₱ 100,000
1 ₱ 10,000
 ₱ 250,000

It is a study of a language, its structure, and its rules as they are used in daily life by its
speakers from all walks of life, including standard, nonstandard varieties and , it focuses
on describing the language as it is used, not saying how it should be used.

A Prescriptive Grammar B Theoretical Grammar

: :
C Reference Grammar D Descriptive Grammar
: :
 01
₱ 250,000

It is a study of a language, its structure, and its rules as they are used in daily life by its
speakers from all walks of life, including standard, nonstandard varieties and , it focuses 02
on describing the language as it is used, not saying how it should be used.

A Prescriptive Grammar B Theoretical Grammar 03

: :
C Reference Grammar D Descriptive Grammar 04
: :
10 ₱ 1 MILLION
9 ₱ 900,000
8 ₱ 800,000
7 ₱ 700,000
6 ₱ 600,000
5 ₱ 500,000
4 ₱ 350,000
3 ₱ 250,000
2 ₱ 100,000
1 ₱ 10,000
 ₱ 350,000

It describes when people focus on talking about how a language should or ought
to be used; tells you how you should speak, and what type of language to avoid.

A Descriptive Grammar B Language

: :
C Prescriptive Grammar D Grammar
: :
 01
₱ 350,000

It describes when people focus on talking about how a language should or ought
to be used; tells you how you should speak, and what type of language to avoid.
02

A Descriptive Grammar B Language 03

: :
C Prescriptive Grammar D Grammar 04
: :
10 ₱ 1 MILLION
9 ₱ 900,000
8 ₱ 800,000
7 ₱ 700,000
6 ₱ 600,000
5 ₱ 500,000
4 ₱ 350,000
3 ₱ 250,000
2 ₱ 100,000
1 ₱ 10,000
 ₱ 500,000

___________ view of language implies a distinction between "good grammar" and

"bad grammar," and its primary focus is on standard forms of grammar and syntactic
constructions.  

A Prescriptivist B Descriptive
: :
C Theoretical D Structural
: :
 01
₱ 500,000

___________ view of language implies a distinction between "good grammar" and

"bad grammar," and its primary focus is on standard forms of grammar and syntactic 02
constructions.  

A Prescriptivist B Descriptive 03
: :
C Theoretical D Structural 04
: :
10 ₱ 1 MILLION
9 ₱ 900,000
8 ₱ 800,000
7 ₱ 700,000
6 ₱ 600,000
5 ₱ 500,000
4 ₱ 350,000
3 ₱ 250,000
2 ₱ 100,000
1 ₱ 10,000
 ₱ 600,000

It is _______ rules in English that do not use who, but whom,

as the object of a verb or preposition.

A Traditional B Prescriptive
: :
C Language D Sentences
: :
 01
₱ 600,000

It is _______ rules in English that do not use who, but whom,

02
as the object of a verb or preposition.

A Traditional B Prescriptive 03
: :
C Language D Sentences 04
: :
10 ₱ 1 MILLION
9 ₱ 900,000
8 ₱ 800,000
7 ₱ 700,000
6 ₱ 600,000
5 ₱ 500,000
4 ₱ 350,000
3 ₱ 250,000
2 ₱ 100,000
1 ₱ 10,000
 ₱ 700,000

It is the grammar that does not say “this is right” or “this is wrong.” Instead, It focuses
on understanding how language is organized into meaningful, systematic patterns,
which are generally below the level of conscious awareness of most speakers. 

A Descriptive B Prescriptive
: :
C Structural D Theoretical
: :
 01
₱ 700,000

It is the grammar that does not say “this is right” or “this is wrong.” Instead, It focuses
on understanding how language is organized into meaningful, systematic patterns, 02
which are generally below the level of conscious awareness of most speakers. 

A Descriptive B Prescriptive 03
: :
C Structural D Theoretical 04
: :
10 ₱ 1 MILLION
9 ₱ 900,000
8 ₱ 800,000
7 ₱ 700,000
6 ₱ 600,000
5 ₱ 500,000
4 ₱ 350,000
3 ₱ 250,000
2 ₱ 100,000
1 ₱ 10,000
 ₱ 800,000

____________ Grammar is the grammar taught in school.  It  tells people how they
should say something, what words they should use, when they need to make a
specific choice, and why they should do so. 

A Structural B Prescriptive
: :
C Theoretical D Descriptive
: :
 01
₱ 800,000

____________ Grammar is the grammar taught in school.  It  tells people how they
should say something, what words they should use, when they need to make a 02
specific choice, and why they should do so. 

A Structural B Prescriptive 03
: :
C Theoretical D Descriptive 04
: :
10 ₱ 1 MILLION
9 ₱ 900,000
8 ₱ 800,000
7 ₱ 700,000
6 ₱ 600,000
5 ₱ 500,000
4 ₱ 350,000
3 ₱ 250,000
2 ₱ 100,000
1 ₱ 10,000
 ₱ 900,000

It describes the language, its structure, and the syntactic rules that govern sentence and phrase constructions
(Greenbaum & Quirk, 1990).  
​Example:  
I don’t like it.

A Prescriptive Grammar B Structural Grammar

: :
C Theoretical Grammar D Descriptive Grammar
: :
 01
₱ 900,000

It describes the language, its structure, and the syntactic rules that govern sentence and phrase constructions
(Greenbaum & Quirk, 1990).  
​Example:   02
I don’t like it.

A Prescriptive Grammar B Structural Grammar 03

: :
C Theoretical Grammar D Descriptive Grammar 04
: :
10 ₱ 1 MILLION
9 ₱ 900,000
8 ₱ 800,000
7 ₱ 700,000
6 ₱ 600,000
5 ₱ 500,000
4 ₱ 350,000
3 ₱ 250,000
2 ₱ 100,000
1 ₱ 10,000
 ₱ 100,000,000

The ________ and __________ grammar dichotomy and their practical characteristics, most linguists or
language hobbyists are likely to be descriptive grammarians who analyze and explain a language's uses
while most practicing teachers probably work with prescriptive grammars (Andrews, 2006).

Descriptive and Describe and

A Prescriptive B Prescribe
: :
Structural and Grammar and
C Theoretical D Language
: :
 01
₱ 100,000,000

The ________ and __________ grammar dichotomy and their practical characteristics, most linguists or
language hobbyists are likely to be descriptive grammarians who analyze and explain a language's uses 02
while most practicing teachers probably work with prescriptive grammars (Andrews, 2006).

Descriptive and Describe and

A Prescriptive B Prescribe 03
: :
Structural and Grammar and
C Theoretical D Language 04
: :
10 ₱ 1 MILLION
9 ₱ 900,000
8 ₱ 800,000
7 ₱ 700,000
6 ₱ 600,000
5 ₱ 500,000
4 ₱ 350,000
3 ₱ 250,000
2 ₱ 100,000
1 ₱ 10,000