Free Printable Worksheets for learning Syntax at the College level

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Syntax Info Sheet

Introduction

Syntax is a subfield of linguistics that deals with the study of sentence structure and rules governing how words are combined to form phrases, clauses, and sentences.

Key Concepts

  • Syntax is concerned with the form and structure of sentences.
  • Sentences have a specific word order and structure which can determine their meaning.
  • Syntax deals with the relationship between the elements in a sentence, such as subject and verb.
  • A sentence can consist of one or more clauses, which are organized into phrases.
  • Syntax rules may vary across different languages and dialects.

Parts of Speech

  • Nouns: People, places, things, and ideas.
  • Verbs: Actions or states of being.
  • Adjectives: Words that describe or modify nouns and pronouns.
  • Adverbs: Words that describe or modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.
  • Pronouns: Words that replace nouns.
  • Prepositions: Words that show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence.
  • Conjunctions: Words that join words, phrases, or clauses.

Sentence Structure

  • A simple sentence has one independent clause, which consists of a subject and verb.
  • A compound sentence has two or more independent clauses.
  • A complex sentence has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses.
  • A compound-complex sentence has two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

Syntax Rules

  • Word order: The order of words in a sentence can affect its meaning.
  • Subject-verb agreement: The subject and verb must agree in number and person.
  • Sentence structure: The organization of clauses and phrases can affect the meaning and clarity of a sentence.
  • Agreement in gender, case, and number: Pronouns and adjectives must agree with the nouns they modify in gender, case, and number.

Conclusion

Syntax is a fundamental aspect of language and understanding its rules and concepts is essential for effective communication. By studying syntax, one can develop a greater appreciation for the complexity and beauty of language.

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Word Definition
Syntax The set of rules that governs the structure of sentences and phrases in a language, specifically how words and phrases are arranged to form sentences.
Statement A sentence representing a complete thought.
Grammar The whole system and structure of a language that is used to make meaningful utterances.
Clause A unit of grammatical organization that typically consists of a subject and a predicate, e.g., I fell or she smiled.
Phrase A small group of words standing together as a conceptual unit, typically forming a component of a clause.
Parts of Speech The categories to which words are assigned according to their functions in sentences, such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections.
Preposition A word governing and usually preceding a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause, as in the man on the platform.
Conjunction A word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause (e.g. and, but, if ).
Adjective A word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it (e.g. big, red, cheap).
Adverb A word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc. (e.g. gently, quite, then or there ).
Verb A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence, and forming the main part of the predicate of a sentence, such as hear, become, happen.
Subject A person or thing that is being discussed, described, or dealt with.
Predicate The part of a sentence or clause containing a verb and stating something about the subject.
Infinitive The basic form of a verb, without an inflection binding it to a particular subject or tense.
Gerund A form that is derived from a verb but that functions as a noun, in English ending in -ing.
Participle A word formed from a verb and used as an adjective or a noun, e.g. working, interested.
Direct Object A noun phrase denoting a person or thing that is the recipient of the action of a transitive verb.
Indirect Object A noun phrase referring to someone or something that is affected by the action of a transitive verb, but is not the primary object.
Transitive Verb A verb that requires one or more objects, which receive the action of the verb.
Intransitive Verb A verb that does not take an object, such as arrive, go, and die.

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Syntax Study Guide

Introduction

Syntax is a branch of linguistics that focuses on the study of the structure of language. It examines how words and phrases are put together to form sentences, and how the rules of grammar govern these structures.

Parts of Speech

Understanding the parts of speech is crucial to understanding how sentences are formed. Knowing the function of each part of speech can help you construct clear, concise sentences. The eight parts of speech are: - Nouns - Pronouns - Adjectives - Verbs - Adverbs - Prepositions - Conjunctions - Interjections

Phrase Structure Rules

Phrase structure rules are the set of rules that govern the structure of phrases in a sentence. These rules specify the order of elements in a phrase, and what types of elements may be included in various positions. For example, a simple phrase structure rule for a noun phrase might be: NP -> (DET) (ADJ) N (PP) This rule indicates that a noun phrase can consist of an optional determiner, an optional adjective, a noun, and an optional prepositional phrase.

Constituency Tests

Constituency tests are used to determine the constituent structure of a sentence. They help to identify the boundaries of phrases and determine which words belong together. Some common constituency tests include: - Substitution: replacing a word or phrase with a pronoun or other word to see whether it forms a constituent. - Movement: moving a word or phrase to a different position in the sentence to see whether it forms a constituent. - Coordination: joining two or more elements with a conjunction to see whether they form a constituent.

Sentence Structure

Understanding the structure of sentences is essential to mastering syntax. Sentences can be broken down into basic components, including subjects and predicates. Additionally, sentence structure can be determined by analyzing the types of clauses and phrases within a sentence.

Transformational Rules

Transformational rules are rules that transform one type of sentence structure into another. These rules can be used to generate new sentences and to illustrate how different sentence structures are related. Some common transformational rules include passive voice, relative clauses, and question formation.

Conclusion

Syntax is a complex field that requires a deep understanding of the structure of language. By understanding the parts of speech, phrase structure rules, constituency tests, sentence structure, and transformational rules, you can gain a solid foundation in syntax that will aid in your understanding of language.

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Syntax Practice Sheet

Instructions: For each of the following sentences, identify the grammatical/syntactical error(s) present. For each error, write a brief explanation of how you would correct the sentence.

  1. Me and my friend went to the mall.
  2. I don't got no money to buy lunch.
  3. Despite the rain, Jane went for a walk.
  4. Running late, the dog was left behind.
  5. The teacher gave the student's homework back yesterday.
  6. The cat chased the mouse up the stairs, the dog followed behind.
  7. After he ate breakfast the boy went to school.
  8. The movie was really long, I had to leave early.
  9. I am pretty sure that the book is on the shelf.
  10. Sarah doesn't like pizza, nor does she like pasta.

Answer Key: Answers to these questions are subjective and can vary. Please ask your instructor for further explanation and understanding.

Syntax Practice Sheet

1. Analyze the following sentence and identify the syntactic categories of each word:

The cat chased the mouse

The - Determiner cat - Noun chased - Verb the - Determiner mouse - Noun

2. Identify the phrases in the following sentence:

The cat chased the mouse around the corner

The cat - Noun Phrase chased - Verb Phrase the mouse - Noun Phrase around the corner - Prepositional Phrase

3. Identify the subject and predicate of the following sentence:

The cat chased the mouse

Subject: The cat Predicate: chased the mouse

4. Identify the main clause and the subordinate clause in the following sentence:

The cat chased the mouse, which was hiding under the bed

Main Clause: The cat chased the mouse Subordinate Clause: which was hiding under the bed

5. Identify the type of clause in the following sentence:

The cat chased the mouse, which was hiding under the bed

Main Clause: The cat chased the mouse Subordinate Clause: which was hiding under the bed Type of Clause: Relative Clause (Subordinate Clause)

Syntax Practice Sheet

Exercise 1

  1. Identify the type of sentence structure used in the following sentence:

The dog barked loudly.

Answer: Simple sentence

Exercise 2

  1. Identify the type of sentence structure used in the following sentence:

The dog barked, and the cat meowed.

Answer: Compound sentence

Exercise 3

  1. Identify the type of sentence structure used in the following sentence:

The dog barked loudly, and the cat meowed softly, but the bird remained silent.

Answer: Complex sentence

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Syntax Quiz

Test your knowledge and insight about Syntax.

Problem Answer
What is Syntax in linguistics? Syntax is the study of sentence structure and the rules governing that structure.
What are the four sentence types in English grammar? The four sentence types are declarative, imperative, interrogative, and exclamatory.
What are the three basic elements of a sentence? The three basic elements of a sentence are subject, verb, and object.
What is a simple sentence? A simple sentence is a sentence with one independent clause and no dependent clauses.
What is the difference between a phrase and a clause? A phrase is a group of words that lacks a subject, an object, or both, while a clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate.
What is a conjunction and what is its function in a sentence? A conjunction is a word used to connect clauses or sentences or to coordinate words in the same clause. Its function is to indicate the relationship between the connected elements.
What is a preposition and what is its function in a sentence? A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. Its function is to indicate the position or direction of the noun or pronoun.
What is an indirect object and how does it differ from a direct object? An indirect object is a noun or pronoun that indicates to or for whom or what an action is done. It typically comes before the direct object. A direct object, on the other hand, receives the action of the verb directly.
What is the passive voice and how does it differ from the active voice? The passive voice is a grammatical construction in which the subject of the sentence is the receiver of the action rather than the doer. In contrast, the active voice is a grammatical construction in which the subject of the sentence performs or causes the action expressed by the verb.
What is a subordinate clause and what is its function in a sentence? A subordinate clause is a clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence and functions as a noun, adjective, or adverb within a sentence. It is usually introduced by a subordinating conjunction.
Question Answer
What is syntax? Syntax is the set of rules that govern the structure of sentences in a language. It is the way words are arranged to form phrases, clauses, and sentences.
What is an example of a syntactical rule? An example of a syntactical rule is that nouns and verbs must agree in number.
What are the three main components of syntax? The three main components of syntax are morphology, phonology, and semantics.
What is the difference between syntax and semantics? Syntax is concerned with the structure of a sentence, while semantics is concerned with the meaning of a sentence.
What is a phrase? A phrase is a group of related words that does not contain both a subject and a verb.
What is a clause? A clause is a group of related words that contains both a subject and a verb.
What is an independent clause? An independent clause is a clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence.
What is a dependent clause? A dependent clause is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and must be connected to an independent clause.
What is a sentence? A sentence is a group of related words that contains a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.
What is a compound sentence? A compound sentence is a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses that are joined together with a coordinating conjunction or a semicolon.

College Level Syntax Quiz

Question Answer
What is the purpose of syntax? Syntax is the set of rules that govern how words are combined to form phrases, clauses, and sentences in a language.
What is the difference between syntax and semantics? Syntax is the structure of a language, while semantics is the meaning of the language.
What is a phrase? A phrase is a group of words that forms a unit within a sentence.
What is an example of a phrase? Running quickly is an example of a phrase.
What is a clause? A clause is a group of related words that contains a subject and a verb.
What is an example of a clause? The cat chased the mouse is an example of a clause.
What is a sentence? A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought.
What is an example of a sentence? The cat chased the mouse around the house. is an example of a sentence.
What is a dependent clause? A dependent clause is a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
What is an example of a dependent clause? When the cat chased the mouse is an example of a dependent clause.
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