Syntax Flashcards
Syntax
- Phrases
- Clauses
- Sentences
- Active + passive voice
- Syntatic patterning
Phrases
Collection of words that have a grammatical relationship with one another but can’t exist as a sentence due to lack both a subject + predicate.
Clauses
Consisting of a subject + a verb.
- Main and subordinate
Main/independent clauses
Can stand alone in a sentence (eg. ‘the cat meowed’).
Subordinate/dependent clauses
Aren’t able to stand alone in a sentence/depends on the main clause for meaning (eg. ‘because she was angry’).
Sentences
A group of words containing at least one main clause.
Sentence structures
- Sentence fragments
- Simple
- Compound
- Complex
- Compound-complex
Sentence fragments
Act as a sentence despite not being a complete main clause (eg. ‘potato cakes for $3).
Simple sentence structure
Contains a single main clause (eg. ‘I bought 3 potato cakes’).
Compound
Contains at least 2 main clauses joined together by a coordinate conjunction, all clauses have equal meaning (eg. ‘I bought 3 potato cakes and Leo bought a burger with the lot’).
Complex
Contains a single main clause + one or more subordinate clauses (eg. ‘I bought 3 potato cakes because I was hungry’).
Compound-complex
Must have at least 3 clauses with at least 2 main clauses + subordinate clause (eg. ‘I bought 3 potato cakes and Leo bought a burger with the lot because he was hungry’).
Sentence types
- Declarative
- Imperative
- Interrogative
- Exclamative
Declarative
Provide information, statements, or observations (eg. ‘It’s raining outside’).
Imperative
Give a direct order/instruction, omit subject of sentence (eg. ‘go away, henry’).