Most generative theories (although not all of them) assume that syntax is based upon the constituent structure of sentences.

Among the many generative theories of linguistics, the Chomskyan theories are:

Paul Kiparsky's theory, introduced in 1975 and radically revised in 1977, contrasts decisively with previous generative theories on certain key points.

CV phonology: A generative theory of the syllable.

A generative theory of tonal music.

Chomsky built on earlier work of Zellig Harris to formulate the generative theory of language.

With the advent of generative theory in the 1960s, researchers tried applying a generative approach in developing diasystemic explanations; this also fell short.

Baker's definition, probably because of its heavy dependence on generative theory, has not been accepted as a general definition of polysynthesis.

The following examples illustrate the use of the term operator within generative grammatical theory.

In the 1960s, Noam Chomsky formulated the generative theory of language.