Philosophical Categories Behind Grammar
Grammar is not just language rules.
It reflects how the human mind structures reality.
1. Ontology (What exists)
| Grammar |
Philosophy |
| Nouns |
Substance / Entity |
| Proper nouns |
Individual |
| Common nouns |
Universal |
| Pronouns |
Identity & reference |
| Mass nouns |
Continuum / substance |
Example:
- Water → substance
- Dog → universal
- Ravi → individual
2. Predication (Properties & relations)
| Grammar |
Philosophy |
| Adjectives |
Properties |
| Verbs |
Relations / processes |
| Copula "is" |
Being |
| Predicates |
Attribution |
Example:
- Red apple → property
- A loves B → relation
3. Quantity (Number & measure)
| Grammar |
Philosophy |
| Singular / plural |
Unity vs plurality |
| Determiners |
Existence |
| Numbers |
Cardinality |
| Measurement terms |
Magnitude |
Example:
- One book → unity
- Much water → magnitude
4. Identity & Difference
| Grammar |
Philosophy |
| same |
Identity |
| other |
Difference |
| self |
Reflexivity |
| another |
New instance |
5. Time (Temporality)
| Grammar |
Philosophy |
| Tense |
Time |
| Aspect |
Event structure |
| Adverbs (now, then) |
Temporal index |
| Continuous |
Process ontology |
6. Modality (Possibility & necessity)
| Grammar |
Philosophy |
| may |
Possibility |
| must |
Necessity |
| could |
Counterfactual |
| should |
Normativity |
7. Causation & explanation
| Grammar |
Philosophy |
| because |
Cause |
| so |
Effect |
| therefore |
Inference |
| result clauses |
Explanation |
8. Existence & reference
| Grammar |
Philosophy |
| a/an |
Indefinite existence |
| the |
Definite existence |
| this/that |
Deixis (pointing) |
| which |
Selection |
9. Logic & inference
| Grammar |
Philosophy |
| and |
Conjunction |
| or |
Disjunction |
| not |
Negation |
| if...then |
Implication |
10. Mind & meaning
| Grammar |
Philosophy |
| think |
Cognition |
| believe |
Belief |
| know |
Knowledge |
| intend |
Intention |
Final synthesis
Grammar is philosophy in motion.
Language encodes:
- What exists
- How it changes
- How it relates
- What must or may be
- What is known or believed
Ultra-short summary
Nouns = Being
Verbs = Change
Adjectives = Quality
Tense = Time
Modals = Possibility
Conjunctions = Logic
