Basic concepts in syntax
BASIC CONCEPTS IN
SYNTAX
The concept of ‘sentence’
A sentence is a sequence of words in a particular structural pattern (for example, S+V+O+A), and regarded as primary because it comprises a minimum sense of unity and completeness.
Sentences are best defined in terms of structure + meaning.
I can easily walk that way back.
She was feeling affectionate.
She did it.
*In the rain.
Basic concepts in syntax
1.
2.
3.
Sentences have parts, which may themselves have parts. (constituents)
The parts of sentences belong to a limited range of types. (syntactic categories)
The parts have specific roles or functions within the larger parts they belong to.
(grammatical functions)
Concept 1:Principle of constituency
Sentence
Clause
Phrase
Word
Morpheme
Constituents
CONSTITUENT STRUCTURE
The bus is coming.
Uncle Jim is walking down the steps.
I will take his bag.
We can put his luggage in the boot.
He looks very fit.
CHAIN & CHOICE
RELATIONSHIPS
chain relationship (syntagmatic): ‘and’ relationship:
X+Y+Z.
choice relationship (paradigmatic): ‘or’ relationship:
The weather / has been / very cold / just recently.
It
/ was / cold / recently.
Concept 2:
SYNTACTIC CATEGORIES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
LEXICAL
CATEGORIES
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Preposition
Determiner
Conjunction
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
PHRASAL
CATEGORIES
Noun Phrase (a small bird)
Verb Phrase (could have been hit)
Adjective Phrase (very small) Adverb Phrase (extremely violently) Prepositional Phrase (on the windscreen)
Clause= NP + VP
Open vs. Closed word classes
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Open word classes: new items may be added / lexical meanings Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Closed word classes: no new items can be added / grammatical meanings
Pronoun
Preposition
Determiner
Conjunction
Clause= NP + VP
Larger constituent
Includes at least 1 NP and 1 VP
1 sentence = 1 clause:
1 sentence = two clauses on the
SYNTAX
The concept of ‘sentence’
A sentence is a sequence of words in a particular structural pattern (for example, S+V+O+A), and regarded as primary because it comprises a minimum sense of unity and completeness.
Sentences are best defined in terms of structure + meaning.
I can easily walk that way back.
She was feeling affectionate.
She did it.
*In the rain.
Basic concepts in syntax
1.
2.
3.
Sentences have parts, which may themselves have parts. (constituents)
The parts of sentences belong to a limited range of types. (syntactic categories)
The parts have specific roles or functions within the larger parts they belong to.
(grammatical functions)
Concept 1:Principle of constituency
Sentence
Clause
Phrase
Word
Morpheme
Constituents
CONSTITUENT STRUCTURE
The bus is coming.
Uncle Jim is walking down the steps.
I will take his bag.
We can put his luggage in the boot.
He looks very fit.
CHAIN & CHOICE
RELATIONSHIPS
chain relationship (syntagmatic): ‘and’ relationship:
X+Y+Z.
choice relationship (paradigmatic): ‘or’ relationship:
The weather / has been / very cold / just recently.
It
/ was / cold / recently.
Concept 2:
SYNTACTIC CATEGORIES
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
LEXICAL
CATEGORIES
Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Pronoun
Preposition
Determiner
Conjunction
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
PHRASAL
CATEGORIES
Noun Phrase (a small bird)
Verb Phrase (could have been hit)
Adjective Phrase (very small) Adverb Phrase (extremely violently) Prepositional Phrase (on the windscreen)
Clause= NP + VP
Open vs. Closed word classes
1.
2.
3.
4.
1.
2.
3.
4.
Open word classes: new items may be added / lexical meanings Noun
Verb
Adjective
Adverb
Closed word classes: no new items can be added / grammatical meanings
Pronoun
Preposition
Determiner
Conjunction
Clause= NP + VP
Larger constituent
Includes at least 1 NP and 1 VP
1 sentence = 1 clause:
1 sentence = two clauses on the