Syntax

The structural rules we use to combine words into sentences.
The words within a sentence need to be put together in the correct order and relations to other words in the sentence to convey the intended meaning. For example, when making a sentence into a question we change the order of the words around. Therefore a sentence that is asking a question is different to a sentence that is not asking a question.

Example:
• 'The cat pushed the dog.'
• 'Who did the cat push?'

Here we can see how the order of the words is changed to make a sentence into a question. To change the words around we unconsciously use our grammatical knowledge - our syntax (i.e. rules to combine words into sentences).

Some children with language impairment have problems using syntax, and therefore the way they order words in a sentence may be incorrect. For example, a child with a language impairment might say 'Who did Marge see someone?' (the correct form would be 'Who did Marge see?'), whereas a typically developing child of the same age or younger would not make such mistakes.

• About GAPS
• Language

• What is language impairment?
• Syntax
• Morphology
• Phonology

• Ordering GAPS
• GAPS Team
• Tests for Professionals
• Media
• Events
• Contacts