WHAT IS SYNTAX
Syntax is the study of sentence structure
It studies how words are related and connected with each other in a sentence
It studies how words are connected to each other to make phrases clauses and Indian
complete sentence
It studies how words are related to each other hierarchically (by rank means subject follows
the verb and object, noun precedes adjectives, preposition follows noun etc).
Different languages have different word order rules.(e.g., English follows
Subject-Verb-Object:)
She eats apples.
Aslam is a good boy.
While in Urdu it is as subject- object-verb
So syntax is the study of that structure which follows the word order in a language
Key Components of Sentence Structure in Syntax:
1. Subject – The main noun or pronoun performing the action (e.g., She runs).
2. Predicate – The verb and its complements that describe the action (e.g., She runs fast).
3. Objects – The nouns or pronouns receiving the action (e.g., She reads a book).
Types
Direct object
Indirect object
He gave me a book
“Me” and “a book” both are objects.
The object answering the question of “whom” is an indirect object and the object answering
the question of “what” is a direct object.
So in the above sentence “me” is the indirect object and “a book’ is the direct object.
4. Clauses –
Like sentence it has a subject and predicate but it is not a sentence but a part of a larger
sentence
There are two types of clauses dependent clause and independent clause
Dependent clause is a kind of clause that can can we it say meaning properly alone
Independent clause is a clause that cannot convey its meaning properly alone, but it requires
the help of the other clause to convey its meaning.
Aslam is poor but he is honest
“Aslam is poor” and ‘he is honest” both are independent clauses that can convey their
meaning individually
When the thief saw the police, he started to run away
“When the thief saw the police” is a dependent clause because it cannot convey its meaning
individually.
“He started to run away” is an independent clause because it can convey its meaning
individually.
5. Phrases – Groups of words that function as a unit (e.g., in the morning).
It makes sense but not complete sense
Types of phrases
I'm writing a letter (noun phrase)
The film was very interesting (adjective phrase)
He runs very quickly (adverbial phrase)
He is singing a song (verbal phrase)
He is sitting in the garden (prepositional phrase)
They like to work together (infinitive phrase)
I like reading books (gerunds phrase)
I saw a boy sitting in the garden (present participle phrase)
What a pity! He is dead (interjectional phrase)
As soon as it started rain, he came inside (conjunctional phrase)
Types of Sentence on the basis of their structure:
1. Simple Sentence –
Contains one independent clause (e.g., She sings).
2. Compound Sentence –
Contains two independent clauses joined by a conjunction (e.g., She sings, and he plays the
guitar).
3. Complex Sentence –
Contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause (e.g., She sings
because she loves music).
4. Compound-Complex Sentence – Contains two or more independent clauses and at
least one dependent clause (e.g., She sings, and he plays the guitar because they enjoy
music).
In short, sentence structure in syntax determines how words and phrases fit together to
create meaning in a grammatically correct way.
Sentences can be categorized into four main types based on their function:
1. Declarative Sentences – These sentences state a fact, opinion, or idea. They end with a
period (.).
Example: The sun rises in the east.
2. Interrogative Sentences – These sentences ask a question and end with a question
mark (?).
Example: Where are you going?
3. Imperative Sentences – These sentences give a command, request, or advice. They
usually end with a period (.)
Example:
Please close the door.
Stop talking.
4. Exclamatory Sentences – These sentences express strong emotions or excitement and
end with an exclamation mark (!).
Example: What a beautiful day it is!
5. Optative sentence
An optative sentence is a type of sentence that expresses a wish, prayer, blessing, or curse.
It usually begins with words like may or wish and ends with a period (.)
Examples:
May you live a long and happy life!
Wish you all the best for your future.
May God bless you!
May he recover soon.
Sentence can be divided into four types on the basis of their structure
SIMPLE SENTENCE
A sentence which has only one subject and one predicate is called a simple sentence.
EXAMPLES:
I saw Ali at the bus stop
The sun rises in the east
She writes an essay.
They will help you
COMPOUND SENTENCE -
A sentence which consists of more than one independent clauses is called a Compound
sentence
These clauses are independent of each other.
EXAMPLES:
I went to Lahore and visited the Badshahi Mosque.
He tried hard but failed in his attempt.
COMPLEX SENTENCE
A sentence which consists of one main independent clause and one or more than one
subordinate clauses is called a Complex Sentence.
EXAMPLES
When I went there, (dependent) I found that (dependant) Ali was writing. (Independent)
I did not know (independant) what had happened (dependent) when I was away.
(dependent)
COMPOUND-COMPLEX SENTENCE
A sentence which consists of two or more than two main independent clauses and at least
one
a subordinate clause is called a Compound-Complex or Double Sentence.
EXAMPLES:
While the political leader went on his speech (dependent), the audience laughed at him
(independent) and threw stones at him. (Independent)
When the thief saw the police, he started to run away and police started to chase him
Transformations:
How sentences can be modified (e.g., forming questions: She is eating → Is she eating?).
Negation
He is eating, he is not eating.
