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An Introduction To English Syntax

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3 views

An Introduction To English Syntax

Uploaded by

diouf.ndeyembayang123
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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An introduction to English Syntax

Syntax is the study of phrase and sentence structures, and of how their structures interact with
phonology, morphology, semantics and pragmatics.

1. Syntax vs. grammar

Syntax is the rule that govern sentence structure. It focuses on the rules governing how words
combine to form meaningful units, such as phrases and sentences, and how these structures convey
information. Grammar includes syntax plus more. It covers phonology, morphology, semantics, and
pragmatics.

In summary, syntax is a subfield of grammar that only deals with the arrangement of words in
phrases and sentences, whereas grammar consists of syntax and other linguistic components.

Syntax governs the various semantic interpretations of different possible word orders.

Example 01

Adam saw Mary.

Mary saw Adam.

A sentence is a sequence of words but every sequence of word is not a sentence.

Example 02
⁎
Saw Mary Adam. (ill-formed sentence)

Example 03

Mary drinks the water.


⁎
The water drinks Mary.
⁎
Mary drink the water.

A sentence can be grammatical but not meaningful.

Example 04

Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.

A sentence can be ambiguous.

Example 05

The man saw the woman with the telescope.

The door is unlockable.

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