10 Questions
Which language(s) would it be descriptively impossible to strand a preposition in?
Romance languages
Which of the following sentences is grammatical according to a descriptive grammarian?
All of the above
Which of the following is NOT true about descriptive grammar?
Descriptive grammar means 'anything goes'
Why does the rule of not ending a sentence with a preposition make sense for some other languages?
Because it is descriptively impossible to strand a preposition in some languages
What are the two possibilities for ending a sentence with a preposition in English?
Both A and B
What is one of the goals of linguistics?
To understand the range of properties shared by all languages
Which of the following is NOT an example of a Romance language?
English
What is the correct version for Spanish speakers to say 'Who are you talking with'?
Con quién estás hablando
What is the incorrect version for Spanish speakers to say 'Who are you talking with'?
Quién estás hablando con
What does it mean when a linguist refers to 'grammar'?
The range of properties shared by all languages
Study Notes
Language and Grammar
- In some languages, such as Latin, it is descriptively impossible to strand a preposition.
- Descriptive grammar views sentence structures as grammatical if they are commonly used in spoken language, even if they break traditional rules.
Grammar Rules
- The rule of not ending a sentence with a preposition makes sense for languages like Latin, where the preposition must be attached to the word it modifies.
- In English, there are two possibilities for ending a sentence with a preposition: it is either acceptable or it sounds informal.
Linguistics
- One of the goals of linguistics is to understand how language is used in everyday life.
- When a linguist refers to 'grammar', they mean the set of rules that describe how language is structured and used.
Romance Languages
- Examples of Romance languages include Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese.
- Romanian is a Romance language, so it is not an example of a non-Romance language.
Spanish Language
- In Spanish, the correct way to say 'Who are you talking with' is 'Con quién estás hablando'.
- The incorrect version is 'Quién estás hablando con'.
Test your knowledge on final prepositions with this quiz! Learn why ending a sentence with a preposition may not be a rule in all languages, and see examples from Romance languages like Spanish. Challenge yourself to identify correct usage and expand your understanding of grammar.
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