Syntax

Syntax: Definition

Syntax is focused on the technical aspects of grammar. Here's a definition:

The main elements of syntax are:

• Sentence and paragraph structure

• Word order

• How words, phrases, clauses, and sentences create and affect meaning

• Showing the relationship between words and phrases

The word "syntactic" is the adjective form of syntax. You'll come across this word throughout the explanation, e.g., "The syntactic structure of the sentence shows a clear use of passive voice."

Syntax Rules

Before looking at some patterns and examples of syntax, it is important to be aware of the rules of syntax. In order for sentences to make grammatical sense, they must follow certain rules.

Here are the top 5 syntax rules:

1. All sentences need a subject and a verb. Be aware, the subject is not always stated in imperative sentences as it is implied through context.

2. A sentence should contain one main idea. If one sentence has multiple ideas, it is preferable to split it up into multiple sentences. This helps to avoid confusion or unnecessarily long sentences.

3. Subjects come first, followed by the verb. If the sentence has an object, this comes last. For example:

4. Adjectives and adverbs go in front of the words they describe.

5. Subordinate clauses must also contain a subject and a verb. For example, "She was sick, so I brought her some soup."

Complements and Adverbials

You are probably already aware of subjects, objects, and verbs, but other elements can be added to a sentence, such as complements and adverbials. Check out the definitions below:

Sentence Patterns

As we mentioned, syntax primarily covers the structure of sentences. Different sentences have different patterns depending on the elements they contain. There are seven main sentence patterns, which are as follows:

1. Subject Verb

E.g., "The man jumped."

This is the most basic pattern for a sentence. Any grammatically correct sentence should, at the very least, contain a subject and a verb.

2. Subject Verb Direct Object

E.g., "The cat ate his food."

Verbs that take an object are called transitive verbs. The object comes after the verb.

3. Subject Verb Subject Complement

E.g., "My cousin is young."

Subject complements come after the verb and always use linking verbs (such as to be) which connect the subject and the subject complement.

4. Subject Verb Adverbial Complement

E.g., "I ran quickly."

If there are no objects, the adverbial complement comes after the verb.

5. Subject Verb Indirect Object Direct Object

E.g., "She gave me a present."

Direct objects directly receive the action of the verb, whereas indirect objects receive the direct object. In this example, the indirect object (me) receives the indirect object (a present). Indirect objects tend to come before the direct object, though not always. For example, the above sentence can also be written as "she gave a present to me."

6. Subject Verb Direct Object Object Complement

E.g., "My friend made me angry."

Object complements come after the direct object.

7. Subject Verb Direct Object Adverbial Complement

E.g., "She puts the shoes back."

Adverbial complements come after the direct object.

Syntax Examples

How can sentence structure and word order alter the meaning of a sentence? In order for sentences to make grammatical sense, they must follow a certain structure. If words are changed, a sentence can lose its grammatical meaning. For example:

Syntax also serves the purpose of determining a sentence's main focal point. A focal point is the main information or central idea of a sentence. Changing the syntax can alter the focal point. For example:

Analyzing Syntax

At some point in your English Language studies, you might be asked to analyze the syntax in a text, but how should you do it?

Syntax is often used in literary texts to change the flow of sentences and show a unique perspective. An author's syntactic choices can portray the purpose of the text and the author's intended message. Analyzing these syntactic choices can help you to understand the deeper meaning of a text.

When analyzing syntax in a text, consider the following features, and ask yourself how they contribute to the meaning of the text:

• Phrases - e.g., noun phrase, verb phrase, adjective phrase, etc.

• Clauses - e.g., independent or subordinate.

• Sentence types - e.g,. simple, complex, compound, compound-complex.

• Punctuation - e.g,. period, comma, colon, semi-colon, hyphen, dash, parentheses.

• Modifiers

• Spelling

• Paragraphing

• Repetition

• Parenthetical elements (extra information that is not necessary to the meaning of a sentence).

Here is an example from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (1595).

Fig. 1 - Shakespeare's syntactic choices in Romeo and Juliet reflect the historical period.

So which syntactic choices does Shakespeare use here?

In this example, Shakespeare reverses the word order of his sentences, which creates a more unusual perspective; "What light through yonder window breaks?" Instead of "What light breaks through yonder window?" the word order has changed from subject verb object to subject object verb. This creates a more formal and sincere feeling.

Shakespeare begins with a sentence fragment, "But soft!" This short, snappy fragment immediately grabs the attention of the audience. Although sentence fragments are not grammatically correct, they are often used as a literary device to create a dramatic effect or add emphasis.

Shakespeare also uses longer, more complex sentences, such as "Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou, her maid, art far more fair than she." This sentence, although long, is punctuated with commas throughout. This allows the sentence to flow and gives it a rhythm, creating the feeling of one ongoing thought.

It is also important to be aware that Shakespeare uses archaic language, which reflects the historical period Romeo and Juliet was written in. Some examples (and their modern translations) include:

• Yonder (that/those)

• Thou (you)

• Art (are)

Effect of Syntax on Tone

Syntax can be used as a rhetorical strategy to affect the tone of a text.

An author can control the tone of a text by changing some of the syntactic features. An example of this is following older or newer syntactic patterns:

Fig. 2 - Did you know: choosing a certain tone for a specific context is called code-switching?

Differences Between Syntax and Diction

Another grammar concept that is similar to syntax is diction;

Syntax concerns the order of words, and how the words are put together to show meaning, whereas diction is more specific in that it focuses on the particular word choice for a given context.

Syntax vs. Semantics

Syntax can often be mistaken for semantics, but there are differences between the two. Take a look at a definition of semantics:

On the other hand, syntax is more specifically to do with grammar. It deals with the set of rules needed to make sure sentences have grammatical meaning.