Syntax Flashcards
What is Syntax?
Syntax is the study of sentence structures; it concerns the arrangement of words in sentences.
What are phrases?
Clusters of words that form a grammatical unit but are smaller than clauses
What are clauses?
A structural unit that is larger than a phrase and may combine to form a simple sentence or a part of a complex sentence. Independent clauses stand on their own as a simple sentence, dependent clauses don’t stand on their own.
What is a sentence?
A set of related words that stands on its own and consists of at least a subject and a predicate.
What is a simple sentence?
Contains a single independent clause. eg: I like butter
What is a compound sentence?
Contains two or more coordinated (independent clauses), often using a coordinating conjunction. eg: I like butter and he likes margarine.
What is a complex sentence?
Contains an independent clause and one or more dependent or subordinate clauses. eg: I like butter spread on my toast.
What is a compound-complex sentence?
Contains two or more coordinated clauses and a subordinate clause. eg: I like butter because it tastes good spread on my toast.
What is an Ellipsis?
The omission of elements in a sentence because they either appear elsewhere or can be understood from the context.
E.g - Skyla took the first slice of cake and Stella (took) the second.
What is coordination?
Coordination uses coordinating conjuctions to combine clauses into sentences. Combining two sentences or ideas that are of equal value.
What is subordination?
The combination of clauses or elements that are syntactically non-equivalent. Combining two sentences or ideas that makes one more important than the other.
Sentence types:
Declarative: A sentence that makes a statement.
E.g - It is raining outside
Imperative: A sentence that commands, orders or issues a directive.
E.g - Go away, Henry (forceful imperative can include !)
Interrogative: A sentence that poses a question.
E.g - Would you like a cup of tea?
That wasn’t a very smart thing to do, was it?
Exclamative: Makes an exclamation or expresses emotion.
E.g - What a catch! , How amazing is that cake!
What is the subject?
Who or what is doing, being or having the verb in the sentence.
What is a predicate?
The verb and object in the sentence.
What is the object?
What is being acted upon (the verb) by the subject of the sentence.
