It might seem out of character to be talking about syntax on a blog in which I have advocated getting on with using the language, even if you don't know the rules... yet. I have indeed repeatedly urged you not to spend your time with your noses in textbooks. You need to be pushing forward with your own self-study and trying things out at the earliest opportunity.
But that doesn't mean that I don't see the need for grammar and syntax.
Let me give you some simple definitions of both those terms. Grammar is about things like verb endings. Syntax is about arranging words in a sentence. You could say grammar is about selecting the right-shaped bricks and syntax is about making them into a wall.
So, syntax is about how to arrange words in a sentence, which is made up of one or more clauses.
Let me quickly explain what a clause is. A clause is part of a sentence, often marked off by a comma. "She is good at languages, therefore she enjoys travelling," would be a sentence made up of two clauses. As would, "I eat pizza and I like cycling". The sentence, "They are learning Spanish," is a single-clause sentence.
Okay, so how, in English, do you structure a clause?
Well, actually, there are only five main ways (don't worry about the complex terminology).
1. I walk. (subject + intransitive verb)
2. I am British. (subject + complex transitive verb + subjective predicative complement)
3. I eat fish and chips. (subject + transitive verb + direct object)
4. They kept my chips warm. (subject + transitive verb + direct object + objective predicative complement)
5. I bought her the fish and chips. (subject + transitive verb + indirect object + direct object)
And that's it.
(If you are wondering what a 'complex transitive verb' is, the examples in English would be the verbs 'to be', 'to remain' etc. They are sort of half-way between intransitive verbs, which don't have an object, and transitive verbs, which do.)
Of course, there can be countless variations on these paradigms. You could replace, say "fish and chips" with the phrase "what you give me", producing the sentence, "I eat what you give me." In that sentence "what you give me" is the direct object. And there can be additional elements added, e.g. "I walk along the road."
But the point remains that there are just main five structures of clauses in English. (Neat, isn't it?)
The paradigms above are all the basic form (what are called 'canonical clauses'). They could, for example, be turned into negations ("I did not walk.") or questions ("Did you walk?").
These single clauses can also be joined into sentences with two or more clauses, using coordinators (conjunctions or relative pronouns), e.g. "I walk, SO I am British AND I eat fish and chips, WHICH is the national dish."
Now, if you are a learner of English, those paradigms above will be useful for you, as you learn English.
If you are a native speaker of English and are learning other languages, you need to find out what the equivalent paradigms (clause structures) would be in your foreign language - and to conform to them when you speak or write. They are different for different languages. The overall principle is that English is an SVO language (subject-verb-object), while Hebrew is VSO (verb-subject-object) and Kyrgyz is SOV (subject-object-verb).
So, as you are learning your foreign language(s), hearing, remembering and using real-life sentences, look out for syntax, and in particular for the possible clause structures used. And then you can build sentences the way native speakers of that language do. Once you have mastered a given structure (paradigm), you can change the elements in the sentence, making countless permutations. ("She walks", "We eat macaroni and cheese" etc.).
As you try out new permutations, watch out for all sorts of rules and exceptions. That's why you need to analyse and correct what you say and write - and the best way to do so is using a 'stickler'.
Now, go and build your 'wall'!
For more detail on syntax, you can refer to The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language.
If you are interested in language learning, follow this blog.
My name is Russell Phillips. I offer online video language tuition for English and Russian - and also German, Italian and French.
My rate is GBP 9 (nine pounds sterling) per block of 15 minutes (a typical lesson might be 45 minutes), payable in advance.
Contact me via www.facebook.com/russelljamesphillips or on email at regnavit[at]gmail.com
Let me give you some simple definitions of both those terms. Grammar is about things like verb endings. Syntax is about arranging words in a sentence. You could say grammar is about selecting the right-shaped bricks and syntax is about making them into a wall.
So, syntax is about how to arrange words in a sentence, which is made up of one or more clauses.
Let me quickly explain what a clause is. A clause is part of a sentence, often marked off by a comma. "She is good at languages, therefore she enjoys travelling," would be a sentence made up of two clauses. As would, "I eat pizza and I like cycling". The sentence, "They are learning Spanish," is a single-clause sentence.
Okay, so how, in English, do you structure a clause?
Well, actually, there are only five main ways (don't worry about the complex terminology).
1. I walk. (subject + intransitive verb)
2. I am British. (subject + complex transitive verb + subjective predicative complement)
3. I eat fish and chips. (subject + transitive verb + direct object)
4. They kept my chips warm. (subject + transitive verb + direct object + objective predicative complement)
5. I bought her the fish and chips. (subject + transitive verb + indirect object + direct object)
And that's it.
(If you are wondering what a 'complex transitive verb' is, the examples in English would be the verbs 'to be', 'to remain' etc. They are sort of half-way between intransitive verbs, which don't have an object, and transitive verbs, which do.)
Of course, there can be countless variations on these paradigms. You could replace, say "fish and chips" with the phrase "what you give me", producing the sentence, "I eat what you give me." In that sentence "what you give me" is the direct object. And there can be additional elements added, e.g. "I walk along the road."
But the point remains that there are just main five structures of clauses in English. (Neat, isn't it?)
The paradigms above are all the basic form (what are called 'canonical clauses'). They could, for example, be turned into negations ("I did not walk.") or questions ("Did you walk?").
These single clauses can also be joined into sentences with two or more clauses, using coordinators (conjunctions or relative pronouns), e.g. "I walk, SO I am British AND I eat fish and chips, WHICH is the national dish."
Now, if you are a learner of English, those paradigms above will be useful for you, as you learn English.
If you are a native speaker of English and are learning other languages, you need to find out what the equivalent paradigms (clause structures) would be in your foreign language - and to conform to them when you speak or write. They are different for different languages. The overall principle is that English is an SVO language (subject-verb-object), while Hebrew is VSO (verb-subject-object) and Kyrgyz is SOV (subject-object-verb).
So, as you are learning your foreign language(s), hearing, remembering and using real-life sentences, look out for syntax, and in particular for the possible clause structures used. And then you can build sentences the way native speakers of that language do. Once you have mastered a given structure (paradigm), you can change the elements in the sentence, making countless permutations. ("She walks", "We eat macaroni and cheese" etc.).
As you try out new permutations, watch out for all sorts of rules and exceptions. That's why you need to analyse and correct what you say and write - and the best way to do so is using a 'stickler'.
Now, go and build your 'wall'!
For more detail on syntax, you can refer to The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language.
If you are interested in language learning, follow this blog.
My name is Russell Phillips. I offer online video language tuition for English and Russian - and also German, Italian and French.
My rate is GBP 9 (nine pounds sterling) per block of 15 minutes (a typical lesson might be 45 minutes), payable in advance.
Contact me via www.facebook.com/russelljamesphillips or on email at regnavit[at]gmail.com
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