两种文体在语言特征上的第二类主要差异体现在语法上，具体包括以下几个方面：
1. 在构成比较句型时，很多考生选择使用了人称代词的宾格形式，其实使用人称代词的主格形式要显得更正式些。
Informal: He spent more time playing computer games than me.
Formal: He spent more time playing computer games than I.
2. 在表达“让步”概念时，很多考生选择使用的but, anyway, all the same, though, although等为非正式文体常用词语表达。正式文体则常使用yet, however, nevertheless, in spite of (despite), notwithstanding等词语，
Informal: He tried to overcome his addiction to the Internet, but he failed.
Formal: He endeavoured to overcome his addiction to the Internet; however, it turned out to be a failure.
3. 在构成“方式状语”时，很多考生偏爱使用副词，而这正是非正式文体常用的表达方式，正式文体则常用介词和与该副词同根的词构成的介词短语：
Informal: It’s very important to….
Formal: It is of great importance to….
4. 在表达“原因”、“后果”等概念时，很多考生由于水平所限，总是使用非正式文体常用的so, because或其他形式的表示原因的从句，正式文体则常用 on account of, accordingly, thus, hence, consequently, owing to (the fact that…)等词或词组，且比较经常地运用分词短语、独立主格结构等。
Informal: Since computers had proliferated, many people become addicted to the Internet.
Formal: Computers having proliferated, many people become addicted to the Internet.
5. 在构成表示“目的”的状语时，很多考生使用具有非正式文体色彩的so as to;其实，用in order that引导的目的状语从句常出现于正式文体中：
Informal: We should do more outdoor activities so as to enrich our life.
Formal: We should do more outdoor activities in order that our life gets enriched.
6. 很多考生不会使用由引导词it引导的句子(如it is said that…)，实际上，这一结构多见于正式文体，不用这一结构而表达同一意义的句子多见于非正式文体：
Informal: The number of students in the classroom has been going down.
Formal: It has been noted with concern that the number of students attending class has been declining alarmingly.
7. 很多考生省略关系代词、连词、介词，这些情况多见于非正式文体。
Informal: He flunked many courses. He had been expelled from the college.
Formal: He flunked so many courses that he had been expelled from the college.
Informal: He dealt with the problem the way his classmates does.
Formal: He dealt with the problem in the way his classmates does.
Informal: We should prevent it going from bad to worse.
Formal: We should prevent it from going from bad to worse.
8. 在表达“请求某人做某事时”，很多考生选择使用具有非正式文体色彩的主动语态句式，而没有使用具有正式文体色彩的被动语态句式。
Informal: Please communicate more with your friends and family.
Formal: More communication with your friends and family is needed.
9. 很多考生未能正确使用某些不定代词、动名词的复合结构，不太注意句子的主谓一致，未能体现文章的正式文体风格。
Informal: Everybody should look after themselves.
Formal: Everybody should look after himself.
Informal: Everyone should do their best.
Formal: Everyone should do his best.
Informal: I’m not surprised at him failing the course.
Formal: I am not surprised at his failing the course.
