nyelvtana

Nyelvtana is the grammar of a language—the system of rules and conventions that describe how words combine to form phrases and sentences and how meaning is conveyed. The term can refer to a theoretical description (descriptive grammar) or to prescriptive rules used in teaching and editing.

Core components include phonology, morphology, and syntax. Some descriptions also cover semantics and punctuation. A grammar describes categories such as tense, aspect, mood, case, number, gender, and agreement, and explains how these features affect word form and word order.

Nyelvtana sits within nyelvtudomány (linguistics) but is distinct in purpose. Descriptive grammars aim to reflect actual language use, while prescriptive or normative grammars prescribe conventional forms for writing and speaking.

Educational grammars in Hungarian contexts often group nyelvtan with spelling (helyesírás) and punctuation, and are used in schools, media, and publishing.

There are many grammars for languages around the world; some are traditional, rule-based reference works, others are modern, corpus-informed descriptions. The exact scope and terminology of nyelvtana can vary by language and tradition.