A sentence is a grammatically complete unit of thought, while an utterance is a spoken or written expression in a specific context.
Sentence:
- Definition: A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought. It typically includes a subject and a verb, and it follows the rules of grammar.
- Example: "The cat sat on the mat."
- Characteristics:
- Grammatically correct
- Independent unit of thought
- Can be written or spoken
Utterance:
- Definition: An utterance is any spoken or written expression, regardless of its grammatical completeness. It can be a sentence, a phrase, or even a single word.
- Example:
- "Hey!"
- "Where are you going?"
- "The cat..." (incomplete sentence)
- Characteristics:
- Can be grammatically correct or incorrect
- Can be complete or incomplete
- Dependent on context for meaning
Key Differences:
- Grammar: Sentences must be grammatically correct, while utterances can be grammatically incorrect.
- Completeness: Sentences are always complete thoughts, while utterances can be incomplete.
- Context: Sentences are independent of context, while utterances rely on context for meaning.
Practical Insights:
- Linguists often study utterances to understand how people use language in real-world situations.
- Understanding the difference between sentences and utterances can help you to better understand the nuances of language and communication.
