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The purpose of grammar is to make English behave like English, not something people make up as they go along.
The grammar of the English language derives from Old English, which was spoken in England between about 450 and 1150 AD. This language evolved into Middle English which had its own slightly simpler grammatical structure.
Latin has very similar grammatical structure to Old English (both have complex noun endings for example), but it helps to identify and name the grammatical parts of many other languages, including modern English.
Modern English language has a very strict grammatical form which is sadly no longer taught in many schools, giving the false impression that anything goes. Few English speakers today are aware that in English, the subjunctive case takes the plural (knowledge of Latin will help identify what "subjunctive" and "plural" mean): for example "I wish I were rich" is correct English, "I wish I was rich" is definitely wrong - not knowing this has nothing at all to do with Latin, but it does have a great deal to do with poor teaching of English in schools.
Jeramy Denesik
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Is latin grammar an acceptable model for English grammar?
I hope you mean "English grammar".Latin stands as an excellent model for the study of grammar in all languages, since it sets out specific relationships between words and the way they are used. Even though Germanic languages such as English behave differently to Latin, they still have the same basic elements of clause, phrase and sentence construction.Many people today who speak a kind of English ignore the rules of grammar or make it up as they go along and are unable to express themselves coherently and clearly as a result.I have been studying over 50 languages for most of my life and without a solid understanding of Latin I would have struggled to grasp the way other languages such as Old and Middle English work.
What has the author E A Sonnenschein written?
E. A. Sonnenschein has written: 'What is rhythm?' -- subject(s): Rhythm, Prosody 'Ora maritima, a Latin story for beginners, with grammar and exercises' -- subject(s): Latin language, Latin Reader, Latin Textbook, Readers 'A new English grammar' -- subject(s): Composition and exercises, English language, Grammar 'The soul of grammar' -- subject(s): Comparative Grammar, Comparative and general Grammar, Indo-European languages 'A new English grammar' -- subject(s): Composition and exercises, Grammar, English language 'What is rhythm?' -- subject(s): Rhythm
What has the author William Clare written?
William Clare has written: 'A compleat system of grammar, English and Latin' -- subject(s): Early works to 1800, Grammar, Latin language
What subject did shakespeare study in grammar school?
- Ovid- Classical Authors- Greek
Did Shakespeare study grammar Latin Greek history arithmetic Maths and re?
He studied grammar, Latin and a little Greek, and not much else in school.
What was the curriculum for school in the Elizabethan era?
Latin, Latin and more Latin. In elementary school they learned some English and some penmanship, but once they hit Grammar school it was Latin all the way. Fourteen-year-olds regularly translated Latin classics like Ovid into English and then back into Latin.
What has the author Charles E Bennett written?
Charles E. Bennett has written: 'A Latin grammar' -- subject(s): Latin language, Grammar, Latin (Langue), Grammaire 'Latin lessons' -- subject(s): Latin language, Grammar, Problems, exercises, Composition and exercises 'The Latin language' -- subject(s): Latin language, Grammar 'The teaching of Latin and Greek in the secondary school, by Charles E. Bennett and George P. Bristol' -- subject(s): Study and teaching, Latin language, Greek language 'Appendix to Bennett's Latin grammar for teachers and advanced students' -- subject(s): Latin language, Grammar 'A Latin composition for secondary schools' -- subject(s): Composition and exercises, Latin language 'A Latin grammar' -- subject(s): Latin language, Grammar
What has the author Henry Darnley Naylor written?
Henry Darnley Naylor has written: 'More Latin and English idiom' -- subject(s): Composition and exercises, Latin language, English language, Comparative Grammar
What has the author James Ross written?
James Ross has written: 'A short, plain, comprehensive, practical Latin grammar' -- subject(s): Faculty, Franklin and Marshall College, Grammar, Latin language, Works 'A practical, new vocabulary Latin and English' -- subject(s): Glossaries, vocabularies, Latin language 'A plain, short, comprehensive, practical Latin grammar' -- subject(s): Grammar, Latin language
What has the author Thomas Willis written?
Thomas Willis has written: 'Phraseologia Anglo-Latina, or, Phrases of the English and Latin tongue' -- subject(s): English language, Grammar, Idioms, Idioms, corrections, errors, Latin Proverbs, Latin language 'Proteus vinctus, 1655' -- subject(s): Early works to 1800, English language, Idioms, Latin language
How well was Shakespeare with grammar?
Shakespeare's grammar was excellent. Latin grammar was the mainstay of the school curriculum in those days. He understood and used complex sentence structures. His grammar was superior to most people nowadays, as witness the use in this question of the verbal phrase "to be well with" something which is not idiomatic English.
Did shakespeare grammar latin greek history maths and re?
He studied grammar, Latin and a little Greek, and not much else in school.
