english language. syntax is concerned with the structure of phrases, clauses and sentences
TRANSCRIPT
SYNTAXENGLISH LANGUAGE
SYNTAX is concerned with the structure of
phrases, clauses and sentences.
The young boy ate the banana.
The banana ate the young boy.
The dog chased the ball
Chased ball the dog the.
Forget what you thought you knew
about what a phrase is…
A phrase can be defined as a group of words that have
a grammatical relationship with
each other.
Vehicle exhaust fumes are the
largest contributor to urban air
pollution
Vehicle exhaust fumes are the
largest contributor to urban air
pollution
Vehicle exhaust fumes are the
largest contributor to
urban air pollution
Vehicle exhaust fumes are the
largest contributor to urban air pollution
In addition to noun phrases there are also:
Verb phrases Adjective phrases Adverb phrases Prepositional phrases
Vehicle exhaust fumes can cause asthma attacks We need cleaner, healthier, more breathable air. One or two journeys out of the car weekly will help We must move towards a cleaner environment
The sly old fox jumped warily over
the lazy, brown dog lying in the
sun.
The sly old fox jumped warily over
the lazy, brown dog lying in the
sun.
The subject of the sentence is the person or
thing the sentence is about.
The predicate is essentially what is written or said about the subject.
The budgie fell of its perch.
The budgie fell of its perch.
The budgie with circles under its eyes fell of its
perch.
The budgie with circles under its eyes fell of its
perch.
To determine the subject of a sentence, isolate the verb and then make a question
by placing “who?” or “what?” before it.
The answer is the subject.
The students littered the classroom floor with paper
and food scraps
Step 1: Identify the verb.
The students littered the classroom floor with paper
and food scraps
Step 1: Identify the verb.
Step 2: “Who” or “what” littered?
The students littered the classroom floor with paper
and food scraps
Step 1: Identify the verb.
Step 2: “Who” or “what” littered?
The students littered the classroom floor with paper
and food scraps
And what is the predicate?
Ask the question - What about “the students”?
The students littered the classroom floor with paper
and food scraps
And what is the predicate?
Ask the question - What about “the students”?
They “littered the classroom with paper and food scraps”.
Phrase?
Subject?
Predicate?
Identify the verb (v), the subject (s) and then the rest of the predicate(x)
in the following sentences:
Angus threw the letter away
The speeding car swerved around the corner
She made a beautiful pavlova
The people at the convention were amazed
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