There are two types of subordinate or dependent clauses discussed in this brief tutorial: those headed by an adverbial subordinate conjunction and those headed by a relative pronoun (adjectival subordinate conjunction).  Adverbial subordinate clauses modify, or give information about the verb in the main clause.  Adjectival subordinate clauses modify a noun in the main clause. Subordinate … [Read more...]

Every language must adhere to universal principles as well as language-specific parameters, in all areas of its grammar.  In the study of syntax, we learn that: phrases are built as hierarchical structures that consist of a head and all its constituents, i.e., modifiers, complements, etc. language-specific phrase structure rules stipulate a. the constituents that are permitted in a … [Read more...]

Although language seems to be spoken linearly, since the only way we can do language is by having one word follow another, sentences and phrases are actually formed by attaching constituents to each other in a hierarchical construct. Consider the following sentence. (1) Harriet mistakenly went home with her cousin’s jacket. We know intuitively who did what. Furthermore, we know that … [Read more...]

Syntax is the study of grammatical relationships between words and how they are combined to form phrases and sentences. The word ‘syntax’ has its roots in the Greek word syntaxis, which means ‘arrangement’. Syntacticians study patterns of sentence formation in order to better understand universal principles (those that apply to all languages) and those that apply to specific languages … [Read more...]

Speakers of any language have the ability to intuitively judge whether or not  a sentence is grammatical, or well-formed.  For example, speakers of English know that (1) is acceptable and (2) is not, even without necessarily understanding why. (1a) Wise teachers listen to their students. (1b)* Listen to their students wise teachers. This ability to make these judgments is based on the … [Read more...]