Grammatical prototypes of the English language
Grammatical prototypes are linguistic constructions that are most frequently used by (and thus most readily available and cognitively salient to) the speakers of a given language.
Background theory
editGrammatical prototypes are a type of conceptual prototype. Prototype theory was formally begun by Eleanor Rosch in the early 1970s.
Examples
editA common situation in which speakers need to increase the conceptual visibility (the maximal scope in Langacker's terms) of the whole underlying conceptual structure of a future event is "plans for the weekend."
"What are your plans for the weekend?"
"I am going to read a book".
"I am going to do the groceries".
"I am going to visit my grandmother".