Syntax
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Syntax is the set of rules for combining words into phrases and sentences, including word order and sentence structure.
Topic: Speech and language
In plain terms
Syntax lets speakers build questions, negatives, compound and complex sentences, and passive forms. A student with syntax difficulties might say "Why you go there?" or avoid sentences with "because" or "which." Syntax affects reading comprehension and writing too, especially in academic texts with long sentences. Sentence-combining practice, where students join short sentences with words like because and although, is one common way to build it.
How it shows up in an IEP
Goals target specific structures: "will use complex sentences with because, when or if when explaining, in 80% of opportunities." Probes and language samples provide data.
Example
A student combines two short sentences, "The dog barked. The mail came." into "The dog barked when the mail came" in 8 of 10 tasks.
Related terms
- MorphologyMorphology is the study of morphemes, the smallest units of meaning in words, such as roots, prefixes and suffixes.
- MLU (mean length of utterance)MLU is the average length of a child's utterances in a language sample, usually counted in morphemes, used to measure language development.
- Expressive languageExpressive language is the ability to put thoughts into words and sentences to communicate, through speech, sign, writing or AAC.
- SemanticsSemantics is the meaning side of language: vocabulary, word relationships, categories and multiple meanings.
- Written expressionWritten expression is the ability to communicate ideas in writing, including planning, organizing, writing sentences and revising.
On IEP Atlas
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