WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY

Calinog Campus
Calinog, Iloilo
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Graduate School

MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION MAJOR IN LANGUAGE TEACHING ENGLISH

Word Classes:
Function and Content
Morphophonemic Changes
Simple Morphemic Analysis

Reporter:

Ellen Mae C. Gallaza

Course Facilitator:

Marie Candy L. Celeste, Ph. D.

 WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Calinog Campus
Calinog, Iloilo
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Graduate School

MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION MAJOR IN LANGUAGE TEACHING ENGLISH

Grammar and Syntax Prescriptions

Grammar and syntax prescriptions refer to rules and guidelines governing the structure and
arrangement of words and phrases in a language. Here are some common prescriptions related to
a grammar and syntax, along with examples:

1. Subject- Verb Agreement

Rule: The verb must agree with its subject in number (singular/ plural) and person
(first/second/third).

Example:

• “She is going to the store.” (singular subject)

• “They are going to the store.” (plural subject)

2. Proper Pronoun Usage

Rule: Pronouns must agree in gender, number, and case with their antecedents.

Example:

• “He loves his new car.” (masculine singular)

• “She loves her new car.” (feminine singular)

3. Sentence Structure

Rule: Sentences should have a clear structure with a subject, verb, and, if applicable, an object.

Example:
 WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Calinog Campus
Calinog, Iloilo
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Graduate School

MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION MAJOR IN LANGUAGE TEACHING ENGLISH

 “The cat caught the mouse.”

4. Use of Articles (a, an, the)

Rule: “A” and “an” are indefinite articles used before singular nouns, while “the” is a definite
articles used before specific nouns.

Example:

• “I bought a book.” (indefinite article)

• “I bought the book.” (definite article)

5. Word Order

Rule: Maintain the proper order of words in a sentence for clarity and coherence.

Example:

 “She likes pizza.” (subject + verb + object)

6. Capitalization Rule

Rule: Capitalize the first word of a sentence, proper nouns, and titles.

Example:

 “Mary went to New York City.”

7. Punctuation

Rule: Use punctuation marks correctly, including periods, commas, apostrophes, colons,
semicolons, and quotation marks.

Example:

 “I enjoy reading books, watching movies, and listening to music.”

8. Avoiding Double Negatives

Rule: Double negatives cancel each other out and create confusion..

Example:
 WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Calinog Campus
Calinog, Iloilo
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Graduate School

MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION MAJOR IN LANGUAGE TEACHING ENGLISH

• “I didn‟t see nobody.” (incorrect)
• “I didn‟t see anybody.” (correct)

9. Avoiding Sentence Fragments

Rule: Sentences should be complete thoughts and not fragments lacking a subject, verb, or both.

Example:

• “Running down the street.” (fragment)

• She was running down the street.” (complete sentence)

10. Parallel Structure

Rule: Use parallelism to maintain consistency in sentence structure, especially in lists or

comparisons.

Example:

 “She likes to swim, to hike, and to bike.”

11. Use of Tense

Rule: Maintain consistency in tense throughout a sentence or paragraph.

Example:

• “Yesterday, he ate breakfast, and then he went to work.” (Both actions happened in the
past)
• “She is studying while he is watching TV.” (Both actions are happening in the present)
• “I will cook dinner while you clean the dishes.” (Both show different actions happening at
different times)

The Role of Prescriptive Rules in Teaching Pronunciation and Accent

Prescriptive rules play a significant role in teaching pronunciation and accent by providing learners
with clear guidelines and standards to follow. They help establish consistency and accuracy,
ensuring that learners can communicative effectively and be understood by others.

Here are the roles of prescriptive rules in teaching pronunciation and accent:
 WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Calinog Campus
Calinog, Iloilo
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Graduate School

MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION MAJOR IN LANGUAGE TEACHING ENGLISH

1. Standardization: Prescriptive rules establish standard pronunciation model, ensuring
consistency and mutual intelligibility among speakers of the same language. This standardization
facilitates effective communication and reduces ambiguity.

2. Clarity and Accuracy: Prescriptive rules provide learners with clear guidelines on how to
produce sound accurately, leading to a clearer and more understandable speech. By teaching
correct pronunciation, prescriptive rules help learners communicate effectively in various contexts.
 WEST VISAYAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Calinog Campus
Calinog, Iloilo
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Graduate School

MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATION MAJOR IN LANGUAGE TEACHING ENGLISH

3. Accent Reduction: For non- native speakers, prescriptive rules in help in reducing or
modifying accents to align more closely with standard pronunciation norms. This can improve
comprehensibility and confidence when speaking with native speakers.

4. Cultural Competence: Prescriptive rules often incorporate cultural nuances, such as

the pronunciation of place names or common expressions. Teaching these rules enhances
learners‟ cultural competence and helps them navigate diverse linguistic environments.

5. Professional and Social Contexts: In formal or professional settings, adherence to

prescriptive rules demonstrates linguistic competence and professionalism. Understanding and
applying these rules appropriately can enhance learners‟ success in academic, business, and
social interactions.

References:

• Brinton, J. & Brinton, M. (2000). The Linguistic Structure of Modern English.

University of British Columbia. John Benjamins Publishing Company.
• Brinton, L. (2000). The Structure of Modern English. University of British Columbia.
John Benjamins Publishing Company.
• Definition and Examples of Prescriptive Grammar. Retrieved January 28, 2024 from
www.thoughtco.com
• Prescriptive Grammar. Retrieved January 28, 2024 from www.teachingenglish.org.uk
• Rynkowska, N. (2017). “Sociolinguistic Standard versus Prescriptive Ideal: What is
correct English?”. University of Iceland.