Syntax is the grammar, structure, or order of the
elements in a language statement. (Semantics is the meaning of these elements.)
Syntax applies to computer languages as well as to natural languages. Usually,
we think of syntax as "word order." However, syntax is also achieved
in some languages such as Latin by inflectional case endings. In computer
languages, syntax can be extremely rigid as in the case of most assembler
languages or less rigid in languages that make use of "keyword"
parameters that can be stated in any order.
Parse tree
A concrete syntax tree or parse tree is an (ordered,
rooted) tree that represents the syntactic structure of a string according to
some formal grammar. In a parse tree, the interior nodes are labeled by
non-terminals of the grammar, while the leaf nodes are labeled by terminals of
the grammar. Parse trees may be generated for sentences in natural languages
(see natural language processing), as well as during processing of computer
languages, such as programming languages. Parse trees are distinct from
abstract syntax trees (also known simply as syntax trees), in that their structure
and elements more concretely reflect the syntax of the input language.
Noun phrase
A noun phrase includes a noun—a person, place, or
thing—and the modifiers which distinguish it.
You can find the noun dog in a sentence, for example,
but you don't know which canine the writer means until you consider the entire
noun phrase.
Verb phrase
Every sentence must have a verb. To depict doable
activities, writers use action verbs. To describe conditions, writers choose
linking verbs.
Sometimes an action or condition occurs just once—pow!—and
it's over.
Determiners
A word or a group of words that introduces a noun.
Determiners include articles, demonstratives, quantifiers, and possessive
determiners.
Determiners are functional elements of structure
and not
Adjective
An adjective modifies a noun or a pronoun by
describing, identifying, or quantifying words. An adjective usually precedes
the noun or the pronoun which it modifies.
Adverbs
An adverb can be added to a verb to modify its
meaning. Usually, an adverb tells you when, where, how, in what manner or to
what extent an action is performed. Very many adverbs end in '...ly' -
particularly those that are used to express how an action is performed.
Although many adverbs end 'ly', lots do not, e.g., fast, never, well, very,
most, least, more, less, now, far and there.
Pronouns
Most of the time, a pronoun is used to replace a noun.
The following are all pronouns: he, she, they, none, and which. There are lots
more. As you can see, pronouns are usually short words. They are used to make
sentences less cumbersome and less repetitive.
Prepositional phrases
Prepositional phrases modify nouns and verbs while
indicating various relationships between subjects and verbs. They are used to
color and inform sentences in powerful ways.
Like adjectives and adverbs, prepositional phrases add
meaning to the nouns and verbs in our sentences.
Auxiliary Verb
Every sentence must have a verb. To depict doable
activities, writers use action verbs. To describe conditions, writers choose
linking verbs.
Sometimes an action or condition occurs just
once—bang!—and it's over.
Nate stubbed his toe.
He is miserable with pain.
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