SYNTAX

Close Reading & Reading Closely

Definition of Syntax

the way in which linguistic elements (as words) are put together to form constituents (as phrases or clauses) from Merriam Webster

The arrangement of words, sentences, phrases and parts of language to form meaning. The understanding of syntax is part of the study of linguistics. Considered standard syntax: She gave the dog a bone. Considered non-standard syntax: A bone she gave the

dog.From Latin: Syntaxis: to arrange

Basic Sentence Types

1.Simple: one main clause, consisting of a subject and verb

2.Compound: two or more main clauses joined together by a conjunction [f.a.n.b.o.y.s.]

3.Complex: one main clause with one or more dependent or subordinate clauses.

1.The following day we visited some castles.

2.We skirted the walls, but the main gate was locked and the custodian would not let us in.

3.After passing through the length of its buried catacomb-passages, we climbed the winding stairs of a tower and stood on the battlements, looking down over the al-Garb.

From Oxford IB Skills and Practice: English A: Literature

Practice Sentence Writing

SimpleCompoundComplex

Practice Sentence Writing

SimpleCompoundComplex

Practice Sentence Writing

SimpleCompoundComplex

Noticing punctuation, form and structure

Punctuation "The why and wherefore

of the scorpion--how it had got on board and came to select his room rather than the pantry (which was a dark place and more what a scorpion would be partial to), and how on earth it managed to drown itself in the inkwell of his writing desk--had exercised him infinitely.“(Joseph Conrad, The Secret Sharer)

StanzasFormattingLines, ends of lines,

grouping of lines,