SYNTAX

M. Sofyan Adi Pranata, M.Li

DEFINITION
 Syntax is defined as the study on
arrangement of words into phrases, clause
and sentences or syntactical constructions.
 A phrase is a group of words that stand
together as a single unit, typically as part of
a clause or a sentence. Ex. My book, so bad
 A clause is a group of words that includes a
subject and a verb. Ex. She cooks
 A sentence is a group of words giving a
complete thought. A sentence must contain a
subject and a verb (although one may be
implied). Ex. Aggie Reads Novel
 WORD
(1)
(1) auxiliary
auxiliary words
words (can,
(can, may,
may, must,
must, shall,
shall,
and
and
(1) nouns,
will),
will), (2) determiner articles (a, the,
(2) determiner articles (a, the, this,
this,

WORD
that, many, some, etc), (3) prepositions

Function
that, many, some, etc), (3) prepositions
(on,
(on, at,
at, in,
in, above,
above, etc),
etc), (4)
(4) qualifiers
qualifiers (very,
(2) verbs,
somewhat, quite, etc), interrogators
somewhat, quite, etc), interrogators (when,
how,
(very,
(when,
how, who,
who, etc),
etc), (5)
(5) negators
negators (not,
(not, never),
never),
(3) adjectives, (6)
(6) subordinators
subordinators (is,

Content Words
(is,
as,
as, although,
although, etc),
etc), and
and (7)
(7) coordinators
coordinators
(4) adverbs (and,
(and, or,
or, but,
but, etc)
etc)

Words
PHRASE STRUCTURE
 We have rules in syntax about what word
classes can pattern together in phrases
 NP (Noun Phrase) -> (Det) N (Noun)
 This means that Noun Phrases can be made up
of Determiners and Nouns. Determiners are
optional
The girl
Ayesha
 Both of these are NPs - they each contain a
N,
 and the first also has a determiner
 NP RULE
 First, DET means determiner
– Function words like the, a, this, several
 NP (DET) N
– That means a noun phrase can have a
determiner, and it must have a noun
–S NP VP (Noun Phrase + Verb Phrase =
Sentence)
– VP V NP ( Verb + Noun Phrase = Verb
Phrase)
– NP (DET) (ADJ) N (Determine / Adj + Noun =
Noun Phrase)
 PHRASES
 NP : Noun Phrase
The car, a clever student
 VP : Verb Phrase
study hard, play the guitar
 PP : Prepositional Phrase
in the class, above the earth
 AP : Adjective Phrase
very tall, quite certain
 Adv P: Adverb Phrase
quite happily
NOUN PHRASE STRUCTURE
RULES
Thank you