NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

What does syntax refer to in language?

1. The construction of sounds

2. The arrangement of words into phrases/sentences

3. The combination of morphemes

4. The meaning of sentences

The correct answer is: The arrangement of words into phrases/sentences

Syntax refers to the arrangement of words into phrases and sentences, which is crucial for conveying meaning in communication. It dictates the order in which words are placed and how they relate to one another structurally within a sentence. Understanding syntax is essential for both language learners and teachers, as it helps them comprehend how different languages can organize information differently, and it also aids in constructing grammatically correct sentences. The other options, while related to aspects of language, focus on different linguistic elements. The construction of sounds pertains to phonetics and phonology, which deal with how speech sounds are produced and perceived. The combination of morphemes refers to morphology, the study of the internal structure of words, while the meaning of sentences is related to semantics, the branch of linguistics concerned with meaning. Each of these elements is important for understanding language as a whole, but syntax specifically addresses the structural organization of words to form coherent phrases and sentences.