what is grammar ? compare descriptive grammar with prescriptive grammar explain with examples

Grammar is the system of a language and is the rules and structures that dictate how a particular language is spoken and written. It includes various components like syntax (sentence structure), morphology (word structure), phonology (sound system), semantics (meaning), and pragmatics (context).

Descriptive Grammar and Prescriptive Grammar are two different approaches to grammar.

1. Descriptive Grammar: This approach describes how language is actually used by its speakers. It doesn't judge language as correct or incorrect but rather observes and records how it is used in real life. For example, in English, ending a sentence with a preposition is often considered incorrect in prescriptive grammar. However, in descriptive grammar, a sentence like "Who are you going with?" is perfectly acceptable because it's commonly used in everyday speech.

2. Prescriptive Grammar: This approach tells people how they should use the language, based on established rules and standards. It prescribes what is correct and incorrect. For example, in prescriptive grammar, the sentence "I ain't got no money" would be considered incorrect because "ain't" is not standard English and double negatives are not allowed.

In summary, descriptive grammar is about describing how language is used, without making judgments about right or wrong, while prescriptive grammar is about prescribing how language should be used, based on certain rules and standards.