This Power Point presentation defines syntax and describes seven syntax rules for the English Language. The Presentation also discusses four issues English Language Learners find so difficult when it comes to learning and acquiring ESL.

1. What is Syntax?
Presented by Mrs. Mary Acevedo, M.Ed., TESOL
GRAMMAR: the study of language structure
3 components of grammar:
phonology, syntax and morphology
Syntax: the rules that determine how words
combine into phrases and sentences.

2. Syntax: the rules that determine how words
combine into phrases and sentences.
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Syntax has a predictable, rulegoverned order.
Every language has different
syntax, so explicit discussion is
helpful.

3. Syntax: the rules that determine how words
combine into phrases and sentences.
Syntax rules for the English language include:
1. A sentence must contain a subject and a
verb, and the order of those two parts of
speech must be subject-verb (S-V).
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The subject can be a noun or a subject or
indefinite pronoun. John loves Susan.
The subject may be a “dummy” subject, but a
subject must be in the sentence. It is hot today!

4. Syntax: the rules that determine how words
combine into phrases and sentences.
Syntax rules for the English language include:
2. Subjects and verbs must agree (match) in
number.

For example, if the subject is singular, the verb
must also be in singular form.
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Singular: He drives too fast. He is driving too fast. He
was driving too fast. He is going to drive too fast. He
has driven too fast for too many years now.
Plural: They drive too fast. They are driving too fast.
They were driving too fast. They are going to drive too
fast. They have driven too fast for too many years
now.

5. Syntax: the rules that determine how words
combine into phrases and sentences.
Syntax rules for the English language include:
3. Verb tenses must be consistent throughout
the paragraph and/or document.

Do not switch between tenses.
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Incorrect: Anthony and Kadeem listened to Hip-hop
music and practice their dance moves.
Correct: Anthony and Kadeem listened to Hip-hop
music and practiced their dance moves.

6. Syntax: the rules that determine how words
combine into phrases and sentences.
Syntax rules for the English language include:
4. A sentence must begin with a capital letter
and end with one of these punctuation marks:

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Period (.) for a declarative statement or an
imperative (command) sentence.
Question mark (?) for an interrogative sentence
(question).
Exclamation point (!) for a statement with
extreme emotion, either positive (excitement) or
negative (anger).

7. Syntax: the rules that determine how words
combine into phrases and sentences.
Syntax rules for the English language include:
5. Articles are used with nouns.
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
A and an describe singular nouns; the may be used for
singular or plural nouns.
When introducing a singular noun for the first time,
always use a or an. In follow-up sentences, use the.
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This is normally because the first usage introduces the
general topic and the follow-up sentences become
more specific.
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
A school should be a happy, safe place for children. The
school my brother goes to is a perfect example.
A lizard is a reptile. The gliding lizard has rib extensions that
allow it to fly.

8. Syntax: the rules that determine how words
combine into phrases and sentences.
Syntax rules for the English language include:
6. Prepositions are words used only with
nouns or pronouns to form a phrase.
Prepositions are important for meaning; they
show the relationship between the nouns in
the sentence.
Notice the difference in meaning caused only by the
choice of preposition:
 My pencil is under my book.
 My pencil is in my book.

9. Syntax: the rules that determine how words
combine into phrases and sentences.
Syntax rules for the English language include:
7. Adjectives and adverbs can be used in the base
form, in the comparative form, or in the superlative
form.
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The base form of the adjective is used to describe one noun.
The base form of the adverb is used to describe one verb,
adjective, or other adverb.
The comparative is used to compare two. The number of
syllables in the base form is important.
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One syllable – add –er suffix
Two syllables – use “more … than”
The superlative is used to compare three or more. Again, the
number of syllables is important.
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One syllable – add –est suffix
Two syllables – use “the most … of all”

10. Syntax: the rules that determine how words
combine into phrases and sentences.
(Rule 7 continued) Adjectives and adverbs can be used in the
base form, in the comparative form, or in the superlative form.
ADJEC
TIVES
ADV
ERBS
1 SYLLABLE
2 SYLLABLES
1 SYLLABLE
2 SYLLABLES
BASE
FORM
She is a nice
girl.
The daisy is a
beautiful flower.
I will type it
soon.
The Post Office
sends mail
quickly.
COMPARATIVE
Julie is nicer
than that girl
is.
The rose is
more beautiful
than the daisy
is.
I will type the
letter sooner
than I will call
you.
UPS sends mail
more quickly
than the Post
Office.
Charlene is
the nicest girl
of all.
The lily is the
most beautiful
flower of all.
The soonest I
can type it is
1:00.
Fedex sends
mail the most
quickly of all the
companies.
FORM
SUPERLATIVE
FORM

11. Syntax – Implications for Instruction
ESL learners from certain native
languages will have a hard time writing
English sentences in subject-verb-object
order (SVO), so teach it!
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English = SVO: Jack sees the book.
Korean = SOV: Chung book see.
Selayarese (Indonesian) = VOS: See
the book Baso.

12. Syntax – Implications for Instruction
English language learners have a hard time differentiating
between in, on, and at, so teach them the difference!
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In: used with general categories, or literally “in a container”
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the bathroom
the corner
1955
May
On: touching the surface of something, or making some other type of
contact; more specific than in
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
In
In
In
In
On
On
On
On
the bathroom counter
the corner of Broadway and Main
Main Street
May 2, 1955
At: an exact point; even more specific than on
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At the coffee shop on the corner of Broadway and Main
At 6384 Main Street
At 7:30PM on May 2, 1955

13. Syntax – Implications for Instruction
Students need to learn how to fix awkward
and cumbersome word order. The goal is to
be precise and concise without sacrificing
meaning.
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Possessive forms: It is better to write my uncle’s
house than to write the house of my uncle.
Dummy subjects: It is better to write I wasn’t the
only Republican. than to write It wasn’t only me
as a Republican.
French and Spanish are SVO, but adjectives
follow nouns
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Jose has a pen red. instead of Jose has a red pen.

14. Syntax – Implications for Instruction
ESL students need to learn the
various rules governing commas.
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Use a comma after introductory words and
phrases.
Use a comma (or commas) to set off an
appositive.
Use a comma to separate two sentences
joined by a coordinating conjunction.
Don’t overuse commas; avoid comma
splices.