1. Morphology:
* Word formation: Understanding how words are formed (e.g., "un-", "re-", "-ing", "-ed").
* Inflection: Knowing how to change word forms to indicate grammatical functions (e.g., singular vs. plural, verb tenses).
Example:
* Recognizing that "walk" becomes "walking" when used as a present participle.
* Knowing the difference between "I walk" and "I walked".
2. Syntax:
* Sentence structure: Understanding the order of words and phrases in a sentence (e.g., subject-verb-object).
* Phrases and clauses: Recognizing different types of phrases and clauses and their functions within a sentence.
* Agreement: Understanding how different parts of a sentence should agree in number, gender, and person (e.g., "The cat *is* sleeping" vs. "The cats *are* sleeping").
Example:
* Understanding that "The boy ate the apple" is grammatically correct, but "Ate the boy the apple" is not.
* Identifying the main clause in a complex sentence.
3. Semantics:
* Word meaning: Understanding the meaning of individual words.
* Sentence meaning: Understanding the meaning of a sentence as a whole.
Example:
* Knowing that "cat" refers to a feline animal.
* Understanding the difference between "The cat is sleeping" and "The cat is awake".
4. Pragmatics:
* Contextual meaning: Understanding how the meaning of a sentence can be affected by context.
* Social appropriateness: Knowing how to use language appropriately in different social situations.
Example:
* Understanding that "Can you pass the salt?" is a request, not a question about ability.
* Using formal language in a job interview but informal language with friends.
Examples of Demonstrating Grammatical Competence:
* Writing a grammatically correct essay.
* Speaking fluently and accurately in a conversation.
* Understanding complex grammatical structures in literature.
* Correctly identifying grammatical errors in written text.
Note:
* Grammatical competence is not just about following rules. It is also about understanding how language works and using it effectively to communicate.
* Different languages have different grammatical rules. A person who is grammatically competent in one language may not be grammatically competent in another.