Grammar Vs Syntax – Understanding the Key Differences With Examples

Imagine you’re building a house. Construction has many rules, building guidelines, safety requirements, and blueprint adherence. One of those rules dictates how workers must make the house’s frame to stay upright. While the frame is the fundamental part of a house, it’s not the only element in the construction process.

Similarly, in writing, there are numerous rules to follow, and these rules are known as grammar rules. On the other hand, the structural frame of the sentence is considered as syntax. And it’s just one part of this entire list of grammatical rules. 

Mostly, these two factors confuse people as they consider them similar, but it’s not true. They are both slightly identical but quite distinct from each other. If you’re also facing this kind of confusion, this guide will clarify things for you. Let’s start reading and explore their differences with examples. 

What is Grammar?

In linguistics, Grammar is a set of rules for structuring a natural language.  It contains multiple factors such as tenses, verbs, adjectives, and clauses. English Grammar is the foundation of good communication, reading comprehension, writing, and story-telling.  

Grammar is considered the backbone of a Language. Without this main ingredient, languages would not make any sense, which is why it is an important part of learning. It assists you in expressing your thoughts and communicating precisely with others. If you want to improve your English skills, you should start by learning and practicing the grammar rules until it becomes your habit. 

What are the Basic Rules of Grammar?

• Words are divided into categories: nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.
• The subject and verb in a sentence must match in number.
• You should use the verbs consistently in the same tense.
• Pronouns must match their antecedents in both gender and number.
• You must capitalize your sentence’s first letter and proper nouns. 
• Proper use of punctuation is crucial for clear and concise writing.

Example 1: 

Incorrect: Most of the time travelers have to think about the future. 

Correct:    Most of the time, travelers must think about the future.

Example 2: 

You are such a sweet girl. Instead of it, you must write it in such a way: You’re such a sweet girl.

What is Syntax?

The syntax is part of Grammar in a particular language that deals with how words are combined to form sentences, phrases, and clauses. In simple words, if you change the position of even one word, it’s possible to change the meaning of the entire sentence. 

This set of rules tells you which word comes before and after another term in a sentence such that it makes complete sense. Meaning that it decides the way in which the subject, verb and object play their role in the formation of a sentence. It makes a huge difference in the context of your writing. 

What are the Basic Rules of Syntax in English? 

Now that you know exactly what syntax and its function are in English. Syntax is an essential tool that involves the structure of language and the way that words are arranged to create meaning. It is necessary to understand its basic rules to express your ideas clearly. 

Here are its several rules, lets explore them. 

• All sentences require a subject and a verb. But in the case of an Imperative sentence, there is no need for a subject. 

For Example: Switch off your Mobile phone. 

• A single sentence should have only one idea; if there is one or more ideas, then you can break it into multiple phrases. 
• Objects typically come after the subject and verb in a sentence. In the case of direct and indirect objects, the indirect one comes after the verb, and the direct object follows the indirect one. 

For Example: Olive brought us dinner. 

What is the Difference Between Grammar & Syntax?

• Many people think these two factors are the same, but they’re not. The following points make it clear what type of difference they both have. 
• Syntax is the accurate combination of words and phrases contributing to sentence construction. 
• Grammar, conversely, is the study of word classes, how they are conjugated, what they do, and how they fit into a sentence.
• Syntax is the order of words and how they are combined to form a readable and well-structured sentence. 
• Grammar is a factor that studies morphology, semantics, and phonology.
• Grammar is all about creating meaningful and logical sentences. It will explain how English works and how to use terms, phrases, marks, verbs, and other grammatical elements. 
• But syntax assists you in arranging words in a sentence based on the type of your sentences, whether it is a question, an affirmative, a negative, or an exclamatory.
• The study of syntax examines the rules and steps to ensure that your writing has correct grammar usage. 
• Instead, Grammar helps you understand how language works and how to use it correctly when speaking and writing.

Why do Both Matter in Communication? 

Communication is a crucial part of our everyday lives. Whether talking to friends, colleagues, or strangers, we rely on language to express our thoughts, ideas, and feelings. Therefore, we only convey our point when it’s totally understandable and clear. Grammar plays a vital role here.

Basically, this determines how the words in your language work together to form sentences. Syntax is a key part of the same path. When these terms are correctly implemented, your communication automatically becomes smooth and understandable. It shows that we have a good command of the language, which can make us appear more credible and trustworthy. 

Conclusion:

Hopefully, after reading this guide, any confusion you had about these terms will be cleared up. In essence, grammar is a set of rules, and syntax is a part of it. Both are essential components of the English language, playing a crucial role in it.