C# Language Specification

Primary expressions

Primary expressions include the simplest forms of expressions.

primary-expression:
primary-no-array-creation-expression
array-creation-expression

primary-no-array-creation-expression:
literal
simple-name
parenthesized-expression
member-access
invocation-expression
element-access
this-access
base-access
post-increment-expression
post-decrement-expression
object-creation-expression
delegate-creation-expression
anonymous-object-creation-expression
typeof-expression
checked-expression
unchecked-expression
default-value-expression
anonymous-method-expression

Primary expressions are divided between array-creation-expressions and primary-no-array-creation-expressions. Treating array-creation-expression in this way, rather than listing it along with the other simple expression forms, enables the grammar to disallow potentially confusing code such as

object o = new int[3][1];

which would otherwise be interpreted as

object o = (new int[3])[1];

1.