100% OFF- Syntax

This course introduces the study of syntax, focusing on how words combine to form phrases and sentences in English. It covers key concepts such as phrase structure, constituency, transformations, and the relationship between syntax and meaning. Learners will gain the analytical tools needed to identify and interpret sentence patterns accurately.

Lesson 1: Introduction to Syntax

This lesson defines syntax and explains its importance in linguistics. It distinguishes syntax from Morphology, Phonology, and Semantics, and provides examples of sentence structures in English to illustrate how grammar organizes meaning.

Lesson 2: Basic Concepts in Syntax

Students explore the basic building blocks of syntax, including word classes (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions) and constituents. The lesson introduces how these elements function together to form grammatical sentences.

Lesson 3: Phrase Structure Rules

This lesson presents phrase structure grammar and the fundamental rules that describe sentence formation, such as:
S → NP + VP, NP → (Det) + (Adj) + N, and VP → V + (NP) + (PP).
Learners will also practice drawing simple tree diagrams to visualize sentence hierarchy.

Lesson 4: Constituency Tests

Students learn to identify sentence components through constituency tests, including the substitution, movement, and coordination tests. Examples demonstrate how these tests reveal the internal organization of sentences.

Lesson 5: Transformations and Sentence Variation

This lesson introduces syntactic transformations, showing how sentences can change form through yes/no questions, wh-questions, negation, and the passive voice. It explains how these variations affect meaning and sentence emphasis.

Lesson 6: Syntax and Meaning

The final lesson explores the link between syntax and semantics, focusing on how sentence structure influences meaning and causes ambiguity (e.g., old men and women). Students learn how syntactic choices shape interpretation in communication.