Final answer:
Transformational grammar is the system where sentence structures are derived by transforming kernel sentences. Syntax is central to this, organizing words into coherent sentences and utilizing trial and error to finalize the sentence structure.
Step-by-step explanation:
The grammatical system in which sentence structures are derived by transforming kernel sentences is known as transformational grammar. In transformational grammar, the syntax plays a pivotal role as it is the manner by which words are organized into sentences. This concept was developed as an important part of Noam Chomsky's theory of generative grammar in the 1950s. It suggests that complex sentences can be generated from simpler structures known as kernel sentences via certain transformational rules.
Understanding syntax is essential, since it's about how the parts of a sentence are put together; this is equally important as understanding how to solve a problem through trial and error, where multiple solutions are attempted until the correct one is found. Moreover, when constructing sentences, one must be cautious of mixed sentence constructions to ensure clarity and coherence.
A compound-complex sentence is an example of a sentence structure that can emerge from kernel sentences by applying a combination of transformational rules. Such sentences contain two or more main clauses and one or more subordinate clauses, offering a way to express multiple ideas within a single structured, grammatically correct sentence.