Snytax Guides

syntax

the area of grammar that deals with how sentences are built and how structures affects meaning

nouns

people places or things

adjectives

describe nouns

verbs

actions

adverbs

describe verbs or adjectives

ex: really big house

prepositions

describe where or when

ex: in, around, beyond, before, after

conjunctions

linking words that connect words, phrases, or clauses

ex: FANBOYS

phrase

a group of words that function as a single unit

function as a part of speech

clause

a group of words containing both a subject AND a verb

independent clause/main clause

a clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence

every sentence must contain at least this

sentence fragment

a sentence without an independent clause

dependent clause

a clause that modifies the independent or main clause

they depend on the main clause

complex sentence

a sentence that contains one independent clause and at least one modifying clause.

compound sentence

a sentence that contains two or more independent clauses

appositive

any word, phrase, or clause that functions as a NOUN and identifies or explains another noun in the sentence

ex: John, the editor, spoke.

subject

the noun that carries out the action in a clause.

in writing of any depth, it is often more than one word.

infinitive phrase subject

To look her in the eye was hard.

fact clause subject

That so many have come is a tribute to our guest.

gerund phrase subject

Climbing Mt. Everest is a major feat.

question clause as a subject

How anyone could fall for that is beyond me.

object

a noun or noun phrase on the receiving end of a verb

Normal Word Order

In English: usually subject, verb, object

poets often change this to make the meter and rhyme work