Which of the following defines agrammatism?

Agrammatism is characterized by the omission of function words and grammatical morphemes, which leads to speech that often lacks the appropriate grammatical structure. Individuals with agrammatism may produce speech that consists primarily of content words—such as nouns and verbs—while leaving out small, necessary words like prepositions, articles, and auxiliary verbs that help to form complete sentences. This results in telegraphic speech, which may still convey meaning but is grammatically incorrect, making it a distinct feature of this condition.

In contrast, the other choices signify very different language difficulties. Using elaborate sentences with high complexity indicates a command of grammar that stands in opposition to agrammatism. Excessive verbal production without coherence may suggest conditions related to fluency disruptions or disorganized speech rather than issues with grammar specifically. Finally, poor pronunciation of complex words relates to phonological challenges rather than syntactic deficits. Hence, the definition of agrammatism rests firmly on the omission of grammatical elements, consistent with the provided correct answer.