Difference Between Literature and Grammar

Literature vs Grammar

Literature and Grammar are two words that are different from each other when it comes to their meanings and connotations. The word ‘literature’ is used in the sense of ‘letters’ and it includes poetry, prose and drama among a host of other forms. On the other hand the word ‘grammar’ refers to the ‘rules and regulations’ to be followed in the composition and the writing of poetry, prose and drama. This is the main difference between the two words, namely, literature and grammar.

There are various forms in literature and each of these forms is called as literary form. The various literary forms are play or drama, novel, short story, verse, free verse, song, lyric and the like. It is interesting to note that each of these literary forms is different from one another when it comes to their method of composition.

On the other hand grammar speaks about the various kinds of rules to be followed in the method of construction of sentences, formation of words, ways of pronunciation, meanings and the like. It speaks about various factors of writing such as tense, cases, declension of nouns, conjugation of verbs, other parts of speech, direct and indirect speech, active and passive voice and the like. It deals with the usages of various words, phrases, idiomatic expressions, idioms and proverbs.

It is interesting to note that lexicography or the science of the compilation of dictionary is based on the grammar part of a language for that matter. The word ‘grammar’ is said to be the very life or soul of literature.

On the other hand literature deals with books and authors. Grammar deals with words and sounds that are formed into words. These are the various differences between the two words, namely, literature and grammar.