diff --git a/corpus/edigits_like.langexp b/corpus/edigits_like.langexp
index fcd7174..8a2a89c 100644
--- a/corpus/edigits_like.langexp
+++ b/corpus/edigits_like.langexp
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ test_k 'n 'k : Int Int -> Bool = {
     (simple_type_identifier))
   (import
     (simple_name_identifier))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (simple_name_identifier)
     (block
@@ -237,6 +238,7 @@ test_k 'n 'k : Int Int -> Bool = {
                 (operator)
                 (name_expression
                   (simple_name_identifier)))))))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (simple_name_identifier)
     (argument_name_identifier)
@@ -273,6 +275,7 @@ test_k 'n 'k : Int Int -> Bool = {
                 (simple_type_identifier))
               (simple_name_identifier)
               (argument_name_identifier)))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (name_definition
           (simple_name_identifier))
@@ -310,6 +313,7 @@ test_k 'n 'k : Int Int -> Bool = {
             (simple_name_identifier)
             (simple_name_identifier)
             (argument_name_identifier))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (return
         (operator_expression
           (operator_expression
@@ -329,6 +333,7 @@ test_k 'n 'k : Int Int -> Bool = {
             (operator)
             (name_expression
               (simple_name_identifier)))))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (simple_name_identifier)
     (argument_name_identifier)
@@ -410,6 +415,7 @@ test_k 'n 'k : Int Int -> Bool = {
       (return
         (name_expression
           (simple_name_identifier)))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (simple_name_identifier)
     (argument_name_identifier)
@@ -429,6 +435,7 @@ test_k 'n 'k : Int Int -> Bool = {
           (number_literal))
         (return
           (bool_literal)))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (name_definition
           (simple_name_identifier))
@@ -461,6 +468,7 @@ test_k 'n 'k : Int Int -> Bool = {
             (operator)
             (name_expression
               (simple_name_identifier)))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (return
         (operator_expression
           (name_expression
diff --git a/corpus/test.langexp b/corpus/test.langexp
index bd64caa..2475e17 100644
--- a/corpus/test.langexp
+++ b/corpus/test.langexp
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ func_2 = {
   maybe_something!;
 
   // open optional: if null then return default value (operator)
-  %x := maybe_something ?| value
+  %x := maybe_something ?| value;
 
   %y := Fruit @apple ();
 
@@ -224,11 +224,14 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 (source_file
+  (empty_lines)
   (import
     (simple_name_identifier))
+  (empty_lines)
   (import
     (placeholder)
     (simple_name_identifier))
+  (empty_lines)
   (import
     (simple_name_identifier)
     (simple_name_identifier)
@@ -237,9 +240,11 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
   (import
     (simple_name_identifier)
     (simple_name_identifier))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (simple_name_identifier)
     (block
+      (empty_lines)
       (loop
         (block
           (match
@@ -255,6 +260,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
               (operator)
               (char_literal))
             (loop_control))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (loop
         (operator_expression
           (name_expression
@@ -265,6 +271,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
           (name_expression
             (simple_name_identifier)
             (simple_name_identifier))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (loop
         (name_definition
           (simple_name_identifier))
@@ -276,6 +283,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
           (name_expression
             (simple_name_identifier)
             (string_literal))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (condition
         (operator_expression
           (operator_expression
@@ -322,6 +330,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
             (simple_name_identifier)))
         (return
           (unit_literal)))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (definition_info
       (info)
@@ -354,6 +363,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
       (case
         (placeholder)
         (null_literal))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (definition_info
       (info))
@@ -372,6 +382,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
       (operator)
       (name_expression
         (argument_name_identifier))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (definition_info
       (info)
@@ -416,6 +427,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
           (name_expression
             (simple_name_identifier)
             (argument_name_identifier))))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (simple_name_identifier)
     (block
@@ -425,6 +437,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (case
           (name_expression
             (simple_name_identifier))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (operator_expression
           (name_definition
@@ -436,6 +449,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
           (name_expression
             (simple_name_identifier)
             (simple_name_identifier))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (name_definition
           (simple_name_identifier))
@@ -449,12 +463,14 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
               (operator)
               (name_expression
                 (argument_name_identifier))))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (name_definition
           (simple_name_identifier))
         (case
           (lambda
             (number_literal))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (name_expression
           (simple_name_identifier))
@@ -488,6 +504,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (case
           (placeholder)
           (string_literal)))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (name_definition
           (simple_name_identifier))
@@ -499,6 +516,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
       (name_expression
         (simple_name_identifier)
         (simple_name_identifier))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (name_definition
           (simple_name_identifier))
@@ -511,6 +529,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
           (placeholder)
           (name_expression
             (simple_name_identifier))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (name_definition
           (simple_name_identifier))
@@ -522,6 +541,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
             (string_literal)
             (annotation_identifier)
             (float_number_literal))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (suffix_expression
           (name_definition
@@ -531,6 +551,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
             (simple_name_identifier))
           (name_expression
             (simple_name_identifier))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (suffix_expression
           (name_definition
@@ -538,6 +559,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (case
           (name_expression
             (simple_name_identifier))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (suffix_expression
           (name_definition
@@ -545,10 +567,13 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (case
           (name_expression
             (simple_name_identifier))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (suffix_expression
         (simple_name_identifier))
+      (empty_lines)
       (suffix_expression
         (simple_name_identifier))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (name_definition
           (simple_name_identifier))
@@ -558,15 +583,18 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
               (simple_name_identifier))
             (operator)
             (name_expression
-              (simple_name_identifier)
-              (name_definition
-                (simple_name_identifier)))))
+              (simple_name_identifier)))))
+      (empty_lines)
+      (match
+        (name_definition
+          (simple_name_identifier))
         (case
           (constructor
             (type
               (simple_type_identifier))
             (annotation_identifier)
             (unit_literal))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (name_expression
           (simple_name_identifier))
@@ -591,6 +619,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
             (annotation_identifier)
             (unit_literal))
           (string_literal)))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (name_definition
           (simple_name_identifier))
@@ -599,6 +628,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
             (operator)
             (number_literal)
             (number_literal))))
+      (empty_lines)
       (match
         (name_definition
           (simple_name_identifier))
@@ -615,6 +645,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (tuple_access
           (simple_name_identifier)
           (number_literal)))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (definition_info
       (info))
@@ -628,6 +659,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
       (name_expression
         (simple_name_identifier)
         (argument_name_identifier))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (simple_name_identifier)
     (block
@@ -636,6 +668,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (simple_name_identifier)
         (simple_name_identifier)
         (simple_name_identifier))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (simple_name_identifier)
     (block
@@ -644,6 +677,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (simple_name_identifier)
         (simple_name_identifier)
         (simple_name_identifier))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (simple_name_identifier)
     (block
@@ -652,6 +686,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (simple_name_identifier)
         (simple_name_identifier)
         (simple_name_identifier))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (type_definition
     (simple_type_identifier)
     (variant_type
@@ -662,6 +697,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (annotation_identifier)
         (type
           (simple_type_identifier)))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (type_definition
     (simple_type_identifier)
     (variant_type
@@ -677,6 +713,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (annotation_identifier)
         (type
           (simple_type_identifier)))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (definition_info
       (info))
@@ -743,6 +780,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
                   (simple_name_identifier))
                 (operator)
                 (bool_literal))))))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (definition_info
       (info))
@@ -809,6 +847,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
                   (simple_name_identifier))
                 (operator)
                 (bool_literal))))))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (type_definition
     (definition_info
       (info)
@@ -838,6 +877,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
             (argument_type_identifier))
           (type
             (argument_type_identifier))))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (type_definition
     (simple_type_identifier)
     (function_definition
@@ -859,6 +899,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
       (argument_name_identifier)
       (name_expression
         (simple_name_identifier))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (simple_name_identifier)
     (block
@@ -884,6 +925,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
               (type
                 (simple_type_identifier)))
             (simple_name_identifier))))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (simple_name_identifier)
     (block
@@ -923,6 +965,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (operator)
         (name_expression
           (simple_name_identifier)))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (simple_name_identifier)
     (block
@@ -934,6 +977,8 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
             (array_access
               (simple_name_identifier)
               (number_literal)))))))
+  (empty_lines)
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (definition_info
       (info))
@@ -947,6 +992,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
       (name_expression
         (simple_name_identifier)
         (argument_name_identifier))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (definition_info
       (info))
@@ -977,6 +1023,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (case
           (reference_expression
             (simple_name_identifier))))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (definition_info
       (info))
@@ -1003,6 +1050,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (case
           (reference_expression
             (simple_name_identifier))))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (definition_info
       (info))
@@ -1023,6 +1071,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
       (operator)
       (name_expression
         (simple_name_identifier))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (definition_info
       (info))
@@ -1036,6 +1085,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
       (case
         (name_expression
           (simple_name_identifier)))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (definition_info
       (info))
@@ -1055,6 +1105,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
       (argument_name_identifier)
       (annotation_identifier)
       (argument_name_identifier)))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (definition_info
       (info))
@@ -1072,6 +1123,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (simple_type_identifier))
       (argument_name_identifier)
       (argument_name_identifier)))
+  (empty_lines)
   (typeclass_definition
     (definition_info
       (info))
@@ -1083,6 +1135,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (simple_type_identifier))
       (type
         (simple_type_identifier))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (definition_info
       (info))
@@ -1102,6 +1155,7 @@ parse_number : Unit! = {
         (name_expression
           (simple_name_identifier)
           (string_literal)))))
+  (empty_lines)
   (function_definition
     (definition_info
       (info))
diff --git a/grammar.g4 b/grammar.g4
index b6401cb..8ee8719 100644
--- a/grammar.g4
+++ b/grammar.g4
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ statement: import
          | type_definition
          | function_definition
          | typeclass_definition
+         | EMPTY_LINES
          ;
 
 import: ('::' | 'import') (SIMPLE_NAME_IDENTIFIER | '_') ('=' SIMPLE_NAME_IDENTIFIER)?
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ operator_expression:  /* prec left ?? */
                    | /* prec 1 */ expression OPERATOR_TAIL3 expression
                    ;
 
-block: '{' (super_expression ';')* '}' ;
+block: '{' ((super_expression ';') | EMPTY_LINES)* '}' ;
 
 array: '[[' (scoped_expression)+ ']]' ;
 
@@ -144,6 +145,8 @@ literal: FLOAT_NUMBER_LITERAL
 DEFINITION_INFO : : ': ' ([^\n]*)+ ;
 ANNOTATION_INFO : ANNOTATION_IDENTIFIER [^\n]* ;
 
+EMPTY_LINES '\n' ('\n')+
+
 LINE_COMMENT : '#!' [^\n]* -> skip ;
 LINE_COMMENT : '//' [^\n]* -> skip ;
 BLOCK_COMMENT : '\*' ([^*] |('\*' [^/]))* '*/' -> skip ;
diff --git a/grammar.js b/grammar.js
index 33bab5c..7527d8a 100644
--- a/grammar.js
+++ b/grammar.js
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ module.exports = grammar({
       $.type_definition,
       $.function_definition,
       $.typeclass_definition,
+      $.empty_lines,
     ),
 
     import: $ => seq(
@@ -128,7 +129,7 @@ module.exports = grammar({
 
     // --- continers
 
-    block: $ => seq('{', repeat(seq($._super_expression, ';')), '}'),
+    block: $ => seq('{', repeat(choice(seq($._super_expression, ';'), $.empty_lines)), '}'),
 
     array: $ => seq('[[', repeat1($._scoped_expression), ']]'),
 
@@ -239,10 +240,12 @@ module.exports = grammar({
     // --- comments
 
     definition_info: $ => repeat1(seq(': ', $.info)),
-    annotation_info: $ => seq($.annotation_identifier, $.info),
+    annotation_info: $ => seq($.annotation_identifier, ' ', $.info),
 
     info: $ => /[^\n]*/,
 
+    empty_lines: $ => /\n\n+/,
+
     _exec_comment: $ => token(seq('#!', /[^\n]*/)),
     _line_comment: $ => token(seq('//', /[^\n]*/)),
     _block_comment: $ => token(seq('/*', /([^*]|(\*[^/]))*/, '*/')),