syntax

Definitions

1. A set of rules that govern how words are combined to form phrases and sentences.
2. The formal rules of formulating the statements of a computer language.
   countable
3. The study of the structure of phrases, sentences, and language.

Equivalents

Examples

“The incorporation of a rule⟳ of V MOVEMENT into our description of English Syntax turns out to have⟳ fundamental theoretical implications for our overall Theory of Grammar: it means that we are no longer able to posit that the syntactic structure⟳ of a sentence can be described in terms of a single Phrase-marker representing its S-structure. For, the postulation of a rule⟳ of V-MOVEMENT means that we must recognise⟳ at least two different levels of structure⟳ in our Theory of Grammar — namely, a level of D-structure (formerly known as ‘Deep Structureʼ) which serves as input to the rule⟳, and a separate⟳ level of S-structure which is formed by application of the rule⟳.”

“[Otto] Jespersen, a language professor known for his expertise in syntax and language development, stated that headlinese is not really grammatical writing.”

CEFR level