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10 Questions

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Descriptive vs Prescriptive Grammar

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Questions and Answers

Prescriptive grammar rules for English are based on the idea that English should be like which language?

Spanish

French

Italian

Latin (correct)

What is the reason given in the text for why infinitives cannot be split in Latin?

Latin grammar does not allow for split infinitives.

Latin infinitives have a different structure compared to English infinitives.

Latin infinitives are always used in their complete form.

Infinitives in Latin are single words and cannot be interrupted by other words. (correct)

Which of the following is an example of a split infinitive in English?

To eat quickly

To eat and run

To eat and walk

To quickly eat (correct)

What is the grammatical option for including certain expressions in English when it comes to split infinitives?

To avoid split infinitives Signup and view all the answers

Does the rule of not splitting infinitives apply to all languages?

No, it depends on the specific language. Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of the article mentioned in the text?

Prescriptive grammar Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of prescriptive grammar rules?

To standardize the English language Signup and view all the answers

Why do some prescriptive grammarians think English should be like Latin?

Because they believe Latin is the ideal language Signup and view all the answers

What is the main point the text makes about language patterns?

Languages can have different rules in their grammars. Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference between descriptive and prescriptive grammar?

Descriptive grammar focuses on usage, while prescriptive grammar focuses on rules. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Prescriptive Grammar Rules

Prescriptive grammar rules in English are based on the idea that English should be like Latin.

Infinitives in Latin and English

In Latin, infinitives cannot be split because Latin infinitives are single words.
In English, infinitives can be split, and an example of a split infinitive is "to boldly go".
The grammatical option in English for including certain expressions is to split infinitives.

Universality of Grammar Rules

The rule of not splitting infinitives does not apply to all languages.

Purpose of Prescriptive Grammar Rules

The purpose of prescriptive grammar rules is to standardize language use.

Grammarians' Viewpoint

Some prescriptive grammarians believe English should be like Latin because they think Latin is a "perfect" language.

Language Patterns

The main point the text makes about language patterns is that they vary across languages.

Types of Grammar

Descriptive grammar focuses on describing how language is used, whereas prescriptive grammar focuses on prescribing how language should be used.

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Description

Test your knowledge on descriptive and prescriptive grammar rules with this quiz. Explore the origins of these rules and learn about common prescriptive grammar rules in English, such as the avoidance of split infinitives.