Grammar & Syntax
“Syntax refers to the study of how words combine systematically to form meaningful strings such as sentences”
Syntax describes the ways words are combined to form phrases, clauses, sentences and complex sentences. Understanding the order of words is important when assigning meanings to a word in a specific instance.
Syntax describes the ways words are combined to form phrases, clauses, sentences and complex sentences. Understanding the order of words is important when assigning meanings to a word in a specific instance.
Parts of speech or lexical categories describe classes of words that behave similarly in the grammar of a language.
There are four major open-class lexical categories: nouns, adjectives, verbs & adverbs.
Words have both a form and a function and we distinguish between these two in order to create meaning and understand the usage of a word.
The form refers to the lexical class of a word - that is if it is a noun, adjective, adverb, etc.
The function describes the role of a word in a phrase or sentence - that is what it is doing in the sentence.
Grammar and syntax can be very complicated concepts for ELL students to master. Students must be able to figure out what a words means individually, but also what function it plays in the sentence and how it relates to the overall context of the sentence.
The form refers to the lexical class of a word - that is if it is a noun, adjective, adverb, etc.
The function describes the role of a word in a phrase or sentence - that is what it is doing in the sentence.
Grammar and syntax can be very complicated concepts for ELL students to master. Students must be able to figure out what a words means individually, but also what function it plays in the sentence and how it relates to the overall context of the sentence.
Sentence Structures– This link offers educators additional information about sentence structure (syntax) and grammar usage. This resource will help ELL teachers because it includes many examples of common writing errors teacher often see in student writing. The link also includes areas of advice that teachers can use to help students who are making some of these common mistakes outlined. Thus teachers will not only be able to identify common writing mistakes, but they will also have an action plan for helping ELL students avoid these mistakes.
Syntax Activities– This link includes 5 ready to use activities that teachers can start using in their classroom to help their students with syntax. What is so great about these activities is that they can be modified to fit easily into any syntax lesson and range from small group to large group activities. Many of these activities can also be implemented in a student’s L1 to help them learn the essential skill before then applying it also to English. Here an educator can decide if they would like to implement an activity or portion of an activity in a student’s L1 before introducing the concept in English. While the options are only English & Spanish on this link – the ideas presented should serve as a strong jumping off point for teachers to begin developing syntax activities and considering using students L1 skills to assist in their English development.
Syntax Activities– This link includes 5 ready to use activities that teachers can start using in their classroom to help their students with syntax. What is so great about these activities is that they can be modified to fit easily into any syntax lesson and range from small group to large group activities. Many of these activities can also be implemented in a student’s L1 to help them learn the essential skill before then applying it also to English. Here an educator can decide if they would like to implement an activity or portion of an activity in a student’s L1 before introducing the concept in English. While the options are only English & Spanish on this link – the ideas presented should serve as a strong jumping off point for teachers to begin developing syntax activities and considering using students L1 skills to assist in their English development.
Curzan & Adams, How English Works: A Linguistic Introduction, 2012, page(s) 129-137.