transformational grammar

American  

noun

1. a system of grammatical analysis, especially a form of generative grammar, that posits the existence of deep structure and surface structure, using a set of transformational rules to derive surface structure forms from deep structure; a grammar that uses transformations to express the relations between equivalent structures.

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transformational grammar British  

noun

1. a grammatical description of a language making essential use of transformational rules. Such grammars are usually but not necessarily generative grammars Compare systemic grammar case grammar

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Etymology

Origin of transformational grammar

First recorded in 1960–65