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HI-LING

LINGUISTICS IN THE HIGH SCHOOL

UNIT 2: VIOLATION OF MAXIMS

Module 14: Syntax

Syntax explores how words are combined to create meaningful and grammatically correct sentences. 

Understanding syntax is crucial for effective communication and unlocking the complexities of a language.

Introduction to Syntax

The following introduction is organised in 4 different points that shortly describe the 4 main topics explained in the following lessons.  

Lesson 1: Components of Clauses


This lesson is about learning/repeating clauses and sentence structures, as these are important in syntax (= the study of sentence structure). You've probably heard and learnt most of this before, but it's always good to review this important grammatical topic.

Lesson 2: Tense and Aspect

This lesson describes the verbal categories related to time. You’ll get an overview of the two fundamental categories of tense and aspect. This helps you to distinguish between the location of an action in time and the duration, completion and relevance of it.

Lesson 3:

Dependency Grammar

Lesson 3 defines dependency grammar as an alternative perspective we can use to analyse the structure of a sentence, focusing on it’s starting point: the verb.

Lesson 4:

Phrase structure rules

In Lesson 4 of the Syntax module, you will look into Phrase Structure Rules and learn how to break down sentences into tree diagrams. This helps us understand what it takes to build new sentences in order to communicate our ideas clearly.

Final Quiz

1. What is the difference between an indirect and a d

2. Is it true that a subject complement immediately follows the verb and the object complement immediately follows the direct object?

3. What is progressive aspect used for?

  1. To express facts

  2. To show that an action is not finished

  3. To show the relevance of a fact in the present moment

4. Which tense in the English language is built with modals?​

  1. Past

  2. Present

  3. Future

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5. Which of the following statements is correct?

  1. Arguments are not necessary constituents.

  2. A verb cannot require more than two arguments.

  3. Adverbials give extra and more detailed information.

6. How many types of valency can we have ?

  1. Two

  2. Five

  3. Only one

7. What kind of phrase is ‘in recent years’:

  1. Noun phrase

  2. Adjective phrase

  3. Prepositional phrase

8. A correct sentence in English needs to consist of:

  1. A verb

  2. A verb, a determiner and noun phrase

  3. A verb phrase and a noun phrase

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