Syntax means putting words in the right order. The title of this post doesn’t quite make it, does it?

Syntax is a subset of grammar. Grammar deals with the entire structure of a language, including conjugation of verbs, agreement of subject and verb (and in some languages, agreement of nouns and adjectives), and so on. Syntax focuses on word order to construct coherent sentences.

Many languages have endings that specify the tense of verbs, the cases of nouns, and match them with first, second, and third person; singular and plural; and gender.

In those languages, word order matters less. English has rather rigid rules about word order, but writers still have choices when it comes to syntax. We need to think carefully not only to use proper syntax but to use it to greatest effect.

Word order in English sentences

English statements follow the general order of subject, verb, object. Or more precisely, subject, predicate, object. The predicate can have more words than just the verb.

It seems so normal, but not all languages follow the same pattern. In French, for example, if the direct object is a pronoun, it comes before the verb.

Yoda’s distinctive speech uses a basic order of object, subject, predicate. In other words, the predicate Yoda puts last. The object he puts first.

I had to specify “statements” instead of “sentences” at the start of this section, because questions and commands use a different order.

• Statement: You bought apples.
• Question: Did you buy apples?
• Command: Buy apples.

And, as far as questions are concerned, many languages would say “Buy you apples?” (verb, subject, object), but English requires the auxiliary.

Some basic rules of syntax

• All clauses require a subject and a verb, although in imperative mode (commands), the subject, the person the sentence is addressed to, is often omitted.
• An independent clause stands on its own as a complete sentence. A dependent clause does not. It needs to be attached to an independent clause.
• A single sentence should have one main idea more than one idea in a sentence makes it a run-on sentence. Oh, I should have started a new sentence with more, shouldn’t I?
• Adjectives and adverbs nearly always go in front of the word they modify. Exceptions include “galore” (as in “rules galore” instead of “galore rules” to mean a lot) and “general” when it modifies an official position (such as Attorney General).
• When more than one adjective modifies one noun, they must be in the so-called royal order:
  • Any article, possessive, or demonstrative pronoun comes before any adjective. With one exception:
  • Quantity (any number or words such as many or few—English syntax doesn’t require an article in front of quantity words.)
  • Opinion (words such as good, bad, valuable, cowardly, etc.)
  • Size (small, medium, large, and their synonyms)
  • Age (words like new or old)
  • Shape
  • Color
  • Origin/material (French, wooden)
  • Qualifier (sports car, baseball glove)

No one studies and memorizes these rules. Understanding of proper syntax just comes intuitively in learning the language. Word order is one of the stumbling blocks for anyone who tries to learn a second language.

Further thoughts about objects

I said that basic sentence order is subject, verb, direct object if any. Transitive verbs require a direct object. For example, I saw the ball. Intransitive verbs do not. For example, I looked at the ball. “At the ball,” since is starts with a preposition, is an indirect object. Proper syntax forbids adding a direct object to “look.” It is an intransitive verb.

An indirect object doesn’t require a preposition, however. Consider: George threw Roger the ball. George did not throw Roger. You could say George threw the ball to Roger, using a preposition. Without the preposition, proper syntax requires the indirect object (Roger) to come before the direct object (ball).

Changing word order can change meaning

Unassembled furniture / VSPYCC via Flickr

We can switch subject and object to give a sentence a different meaning . George threw the ball to Roger. Roger threw the ball to George. A fairly ordinary game of catch in this case.

The bear ate the hunter. The hunter ate the bear. Given the same hunter and the same bear, only one can succeed in eating the other.

But most sentences have more words than just subject, verb, object. Where to put those other words matters.
For example, remember the rule that an adjective or adverb generally goes before the word it modifies.

Consider these lines from a popular song:

Are the stars out tonight?
I don’t know if it’s cloudy or bright,
‘Cause I only have eyes for you.

In the last line, “only” modifies “have” and its object “eyes.” Notice how the meaning changes if we put “only” somewhere else:

• For only I have eyes for you – no one else notices you at all.
• For I have only eyes for you – I can’t hear you or detect you with my other senses

Or for another example,

• I genuinely want him to succeed. My desire for him is genuine.
• I want him to succeed genuinely. I don’t want him to cheat.

Sentence types

English has four types of sentences.

• A simple sentence comprises a single independent clause.
• A compound sentence combines two or more independent clauses using a coordinating conjunction (and, but, for, nor, or, so, yet).
• A complex sentence combines an independent clause and one or more dependent clauses with a subordinating conjunction or relative pronoun.
• A compound complex sentence has at least one dependent clause and more than one independent clause.

Simple sentences aren’t always short. Prepositional phrases, for example, make a sentence longer without changing the sentence type. Good writing has sentence variety.

Everyone learns the basics of proper syntax intuitively. Writers need to pay more careful attention to master the nuances and weigh the effects of the choices English offers.