English Grammar

Right Answer: prescriptive

J.C. Nesfield's grammar books (such as English Grammar: Past and Present) are classic examples of prescriptive grammar.

Here is why:

• Prescriptive Grammar: This approach lays down strict rules about how a language should or must be used. It focuses on what is grammatically "correct" versus "incorrect," often based on traditional or classical rules. Nesfield's books were written exactly for this purpose—to teach students the rigid, formal rules of Standard English.

Why the other options are incorrect:

(1) Universal Grammar: This is a modern linguistic theory (proposed by Noam Chomsky) suggesting that the ability to learn grammar is hard-wired into the human brain and that all human languages share a common structural basis.

(2) Cognitive Grammar: This is a psychological approach to language that argues grammar and meaning are deeply tied to human cognition and how we perceive the world.

(3) Descriptive Grammar: This is the modern linguistic approach that observes and describes how native speakers actually use the language in real life, without judging it as "right" or "wrong." Nesfield did the exact opposite of this.