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Syntax: V. Anitha Devi Vit University

Syntax refers to the grammatical rules governing the structure of sentences. It concerns both word order and agreement between words. Syntax is primarily concerned with the structure of sentences and looks at how different elements like subjects, verbs, and objects are arranged. Every language has its own syntactic rules and changes to conventional syntax can be used for artistic purposes. The relationship between grammatical components in language use is the focus of syntax.

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317 views

Syntax: V. Anitha Devi Vit University

Syntax refers to the grammatical rules governing the structure of sentences. It concerns both word order and agreement between words. Syntax is primarily concerned with the structure of sentences and looks at how different elements like subjects, verbs, and objects are arranged. Every language has its own syntactic rules and changes to conventional syntax can be used for artistic purposes. The relationship between grammatical components in language use is the focus of syntax.

Uploaded by

m_nlkalyani
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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SYNTAX

V. ANITHA DEVI
VIT UNIVERSITY

28/12/2006 M.TECH I SEMESTER


PROFESSIONAL ANDCOMMUNICATIONSKILLS
Syntax

Definition
 Syntax is the grammatical arrangement
of words in a sentence.
Syntax

Definition

 It concerns both word order and


agreement in the relationship between
words.
Syntax

Definition
 Syntax is primarily concerned with
structure of sentences.
Syntax

Examples
 The following statements follow normal
English word order:
 The cat sat on the mat.
Syntax

Examples
 My old brown leather suitcase.
 The following statements do not follow
normal English word order:
 The cat on the mat sat.
 My brown leather old suitcase
Syntax

Use
 Word order is very important in English,
because the language is no longer
inflected. That is, individual words do not
have endings to show which parts of
speech they represent.
Syntax

Use
 Changes to conventional syntax are
often used to create dramatic, poetic, or
comic effect.
Syntax

 For instance, poets and song lyricists


often change syntactic order to create
rhythmic effects:

"I'll sing to him, each spring to him


And long for the day when I'll cling to him,
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered am I."
[COLE PORTER]
Syntax

 A normal Subject Verb Object


sentence in
English usually The cat eats the goldfish

contains at least John likes football


three elements:
subject, verb, Mary chose the wallpaper

and object.
Syntax

 Every language has rules of syntax, and


to the linguist the essential rules are
descriptive. They are the rules which
underpin the life of the language and
which are extremely slow to change.
Syntax

 These are not to be confused with the


presecriptive 'rules' of traditional
grammar [For instance, 'Never end a
sentence with a preposition'].
Syntax

 An example of a descriptive rule of


English syntax is that in the imperative in
English, the verb takes the initial position
in the sentence, usually directly before
the noun which is the object.

 Put those books on the table.


Syntax

 Take the lid off after half an hour.


 Remove all packaging before heating the
soup.
 Isolate the switch in case of fault.
Syntax

 It is important to make a distinction


between grammar and syntax, and to
realise that syntax is a component of
grammar.
Syntax

 The term 'grammar' refers to the whole


structure of the language including the
naming of its parts, its rules of tense,
and its sound system. It is a
comprehensive term.
Syntax

 Syntax only refers to the relationship


between the grammatical components of
language in use. In other words it is the
nature, quality or type of relationship
between terms in any given statement
which is the province of syntax.
Syntax

 The construction of the passive voice is


a syntactic issue, as it involves word
order. The following statement is in the
passive voice:
Syntax

 A woman was run over in central London


today by a vehicle travelling at high
speed.
 If we transfer this to the active voice, we
have:
 A vehicle travelling at high speed ran
over a woman in central London today.
Syntax

 The semantic content is similar in the


two statements, but the emphasis is
changed according to whether it is
expressed as active or passive.
Syntax

 The difference between the two versions


is dependent on the positioning of the
subject and the object in the sentence. In
the passive version, the object takes the
initial position. This is a syntactic
principle.
Syntax

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:

ENGLISH

http://www.buzzin.net/english/syntax.htm

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