Syntax and Sentence Structure

Syntax

• Determines the relevant parts of a sentence and describes them grammatically
• Concerned with the structure of a sentence

Grammatical Units

• Constituents combine to form larger units, from bottom to top
• Hierarchy: sentence → clauses → phrases → words → morphemes

Sentence

• Largest unit, starts with a capital letter and ends with a period
• Organized structure with specific rules
• Consists of phrases
• May vary in length and complexity
• May be a single word
• Called sentence grammar or syntax
• Two main constituents: subject (nph) and predicate (vph)
• Basic formula: subject + predicate + object

Types of Sentences

• Simple: answers yes-no and wh questions, one clause
• Compound: string of coordinated clauses, each clause has equal importance
• Complex: contains embedded clauses, one clause is more important than the other
• Complex compound: mixed types of sentences with coordination and subordination

Coordinate and Subordinate Clauses

• Coordinate: clauses introduced by coordinators, same importance, can't be fronted
• Subordinate: clauses introduced by subordinators, depend on another clause, can be fronted

Analysis Grid of a Sentence

• Sentence: number
• Clause: number
• Coordinator: (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)
• Sub coordinator: (when, before, because, if, since, although, that, provide, so far)
• Acc structure: (simple, compound, complex, complex-compound)
• Acc function: (declarative, interrogative, exclamative, imperative)

Subject

• Used to mention something, what the sentence is about
• Not always a noun phrase, not always at the beginning
• Test for subject: yes-no question, introducing a form of the verb "do" in the sentence

Empletive Subject

• Empty subject, sentence doesn't mention anything, only a predicate

Predicate

• Says something about the subject, what is being said
• Part could be at the beginning

Objects and Complements

• Direct object: what you give, may exist on its own
• Indirect object: can't exist on its own, only with direct object
• Subjective complement: describes or is identified with the subject of the sentence