Which term describes the order in which grammar items are thought to be acquired?

• A. Order of acquisition
• B. Structural syllabus
• C. Parsing
• D. Phatic speech

Answer: (A)

The concept being tested is the sequence in which grammar items are learned by learners—the order of acquisition. This term describes how learners typically acquire grammatical features over time, often showing a predictable pattern where simpler forms appear before more complex ones.

A structural syllabus, by contrast, outlines what to teach and in what order for instruction, not the actual pattern of how learners acquire it. Parsing is the real-time process of analyzing sentence structure for understanding, not the sequence of learning. Phatic speech relates to the social function of language—small talk used to maintain relationships—rather than to grammar acquisition.