English Grammar
Simplified & Enlightened
All that we know-of as: “Grammar” — SHOULD actually be separated into two distinct categories or “Aspects”. Doing-so is the first step towards removing ALL of the confusion caused by the mundane and un-enlightened “Traditional” grammar that is so VERY poorly taught in schools.
The Two “Aspects Of Grammar
“Prescriptive” & “Descriptive“
“Prescriptive” & “Descriptive” Grammar
Simplified & Enlightened
"Prescriptive"
[“Pre-“ = Before + “Script” = Writing + “-ive” = Having The Condition Or Quality Of]
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Literally = “The conditions that must be, before writing” (or speaking)
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These are the conditions that MUST be met before that which is written (or spoken) can actually “make sense”.
These are the REGULATIONS of Grammar
"Descriptive"
[“De-“ = Applying-To + “Script” = Writing + “-ive” = Having The Condition Or Quality]
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Literally = “A description of the Qualities or Conditions…”
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“Descriptive Grammar” is actually MOST of the grammar that is taught in a “traditional” setting. (And most of it is wrong.)
These are the RULES of Grammar
However!!! — There is a problem in the way that most people Know & Comprehend the words “Rule” & “Regulation”. (And, in most cases, this is not their fault.) The word “Rule” refers to some “device” with-which another thing is “measured”. The word “Regulation” refers to some limitation by-which something is controlled.
Therefore — what most people think of as a “Rule” is actually a “Regulation”. So how and why has something like this happened? This is because most native speakers learn by listening to their family & friends; by listening to music, television & movies (and now other media); and by listening to their teachers… None of whom ever take the time to think about the words that they listen-to, read, write, and speak. And so the language deteriorates successively with each generation… But not any longer with you! 😎
Summary
ALL Of The Regulations Of Prescriptive Grammar Are Absolutely Necessary For Clear Comprehension & Communication. If these regulations are not followed correctly — the communication will NOT make sense. (Or the information will be incorrect.)
Summary
The Rules Of Descriptive Grammar Are NOT Always Necessary For Clear Comprehension & Communication. It is quite possible (and VERY common) for these “rules” to be “broken” without changing the meaning of the communication or information.
“Prescriptive” Grammar
The Most Important Part Of Grammar
Although Prescriptive Grammar is FAR more important — the entirety of Prescriptive Grammar is actually MUCH smaller than Descriptive Grammar… (and that is why this Grammar Explanation is “Simplified”.)
(First And Fore-Most)
“Grammatical Elements”
That Which ALL The Language Is Made Of
Letters
The letters of the any language are used to build the words that express the thoughts, ideas, opinions, etc.. That is why learning the letters of the alphabet is usually one of the first things that is taught & learned.
Numbers
The Symbol Form of the numbers function very much the same as the symbols of the letters. The only difference is that they represent quantity of some thing — rather than the quality of some sound.
Punctuation
Yet another set of symbols — these elements are necessary to regulate the information that is being expressed. Otherwise, all would be a jumbled mess, and communication would be almost impossible.
(Secondarily)
A Sub-Set Of Elements
Though More Complex Than The Above Elements, They Are Not Yet “Units”
"Pre-Fixes"
Usually spelled “Prefixes” (without the hyphen) — these are abbreviated words, or derivative forms of words or terms (usually from another language like Latin, or older form of English) — that are added to the beginning of a word, to change it’s meaning.
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- They come before (Pre-) what we refer to as the “Root-Word”
- They are attached (Fixed) to the “Root-Word”
- Prefixes almost always add a + or – charge to a word
- Prefixes sometimes indicate the time or place of the word
- Prefixes usually act like Prepositions
In the word “Prefix” — “Pre-” is the “prefix” — which is said to come from the Latin “Prae” — which means “Before”.
"Su-Fixes"
Usually spelled “Suffixes” (without the hyphen) — these are abbreviated words, or derivitive forms of words or terms (although often more obscure than “prefixes” — e.g. “-ed”, “-s/-es”, and “-ing”) — that are added to the end of a word, to change it’s meaning.
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- They come after (“Su- ⇒ “Sub” = below, “after”) the “Root-Word”
- They are attached (Fixed) to the “Root-Word”
- Suffixes almost always add some quality to a word
- Suffixes often add some condition to a word
- Suffixes usually act like Adjectives
In the word “Knowledgeable” — “-able” is the “suffix” — which is literally the word “Able”, and has the same meaning.
Notice!!! — Although both “Prefixes” and “Suffixes” are actually made up of multiple Grammatical Elements themselves — they do not fit into any other category — and they actually function as “Elements” of the “Units” that they are attached to.
Therefore — “Prefixes” & “Suffixes” are not “Base Elements”, and can be thought of as either “Complex Elements” — or as “Sub-Units”. Either way, they function as “Elements” in their actions, similar to the way “Numbers” and “Punctuation” do. They: Quantify, Qualify, Limit, & Regulate the “Units” that they are attached to.
Summary
Just As Everything In The Existance That We Know-Of As “Matter” Is Made-Up Of “Elements” — Everything within ALL of Grammar is made-up of the Grammatical Elements. Without them — no communication is possible.
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- Without Letters — There Can Be No Words To Describe Any Thing, And/Or That Thing’s Quality
- Without Numbers — There Can Be No Way To Describe The Amount Of Some Thing, Or That Thing’s Quantity
- Without Punctuation — There Can Be No Way To Describe The Conditions Of A Thing — No Way To Put That Thing Into Time or Space
And without the “Sub-Unit” Elements of Prefixes & Suffixes — It would take FAR more words to describe any thing — rather than simply adding a “Complex Element” to a single word to convey the meaning.
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