LINEAR GRAMMAR

THEORY
A MODEL OF LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION
 • Focuses on the structure of the
sentence, treating the sentence as
a string of grammatical categories
LINEAR like beads in a necklace
GRAMMAR
THEORY • Also known as “slot-and-filler
grammar”
Fries (1957) calls this • Treats the structure of the
successive sentence as a linear pattern, such
segmentation analysis
of a sentence as that the choice of each successive
immediate constituent category is dependent upon the
analysis (ICA). category immediately following it
Example 1

Sentence: These boys generally walked home.

Analysis:
These boys generally walked home.
D N ADV V ADV

Rewrite Rule: D + N + ADV + V + ADV → S

Where
D = determiner ADV = adverb
N = noun V = verb S = sentence
Example 2
Sentence: The tall haughty lady delivers a speech.
Analysis:
The tall haughty lady delivers a speech.
D ADJ ADJ N V D N
Rewrite Rule: D + ADJ + ADJ + N + V + D + N → S
Where
D = determiner ADV = adverb
N = noun V = verb S = sentence
 • Make your own linear grammar analyses of the
following sentences

1. Maycomb was an old town.

2. A black dog suffered on a summer’s day.
3. They were soaked with the frosting of sweat and
talcum.

Assignment
Submit your answers to the
assignment page.
Reference

Pesirla , A. O. (1999). Theories of Literature and

Linguistics. Cebu Normal University.