1.
Overview of Syntax (Tổng Quan Về Cú Pháp)
Syntax refers to the system of rules that dictate how words and phrases are arranged to
create grammatically correct sentences in a language. These rules help convey meaning
clearly and accurately. Syntax is not only about structuring sentences but also influences
how the message is received and understood by the audience.
Definition of Syntax (Định Nghĩa Của Cú Pháp): Syntax governs the structure of
sentences and phrases in a language. It ensures that the sentence is meaningful and
follows the correct grammatical rules.
Role of Syntax (Vai Trò Của Cú Pháp): Syntax not only structures the sentence but also
plays a crucial role in delivering the intended meaning clearly to the receiver.
2. Components of Syntax (Các Thành Phần Của Cú Pháp)
The components of syntax include various grammatical elements such as nouns, verbs,
adjectives, and sentence structures. Each element plays a specific role in forming a
sentence.
Examples of Types of Words (Ví Dụ Về Các Loại Từ):
Nouns are used to refer to people, objects, or places. They serve as subjects or objects in
a sentence.
Verbs represent actions. They describe what the noun (subject) is doing.
Adjectives describe the characteristics of nouns. They provide more details about the
noun in a sentence.
Examples of Phrases (Cấu Trúc Cụm Từ):
A phrase refers to a group of words that function as a single unit in a sentence. For
instance, a noun phrase or a verb phrase.
Phrases can consist of a noun and additional modifiers such as "a beautiful garden" where
"a" is an article, "beautiful" is an adjective, and "garden" is the noun.
3. Syntax Rules (Quy Tắc Cú Pháp)
Syntax rules outline how words and phrases should be ordered to form coherent
sentences. These rules vary between languages.
Basic Structure Rules (Quy Tắc Sắp Xếp): Different languages have distinct word order
rules. For example, in English, the sentence follows the order Subject-Verb-Object
(SVO), while in Vietnamese, the structure is similar but can be more flexible.
Example: "Cô ấy ăn cơm" (She eats rice) follows a similar structure to the English SVO.
Basic Tense Rules (Các Thì Cơ Bản): Verb tenses reflect the time of action in a sentence.
Syntax plays a key role in correctly conveying the action’s timing.
Example: "Tôi ăn" (I eat – present), "Tôi đã ăn" (I ate – past) illustrate how verb tenses
indicate different times of action.
4. Syntax in Different Languages (Cú Pháp Trong Các Ngôn Ngữ Khác Nhau)
Different languages have distinct syntax rules, and these can vary in terms of word order,
use of particles, and verb tense.
Diversity in Syntax (Sự Đa Dạng Trong Cú Pháp): Each language follows unique syntax
patterns. For instance, in English, word order is relatively strict (SVO – Subject, Verb,
Object), while in Vietnamese, word order can be more flexible but still follows
recognizable patterns.
Cultural Influence on Syntax (Ảnh Hưởng Của Văn Hóa Đến Cú Pháp): Culture and
society can influence how syntax is used in a particular language. Sentence structures can
change depending on the regional dialect or cultural context.
Example: Different regions might use varying sentence patterns or expressions to convey
similar meanings, demonstrating the effect of social norms and culture on language.
5. Syntax vs. Meaning (Cú Pháp So Với Ngữ Nghĩa)
The relationship between syntax and meaning is essential. Changes in syntax can lead to
changes in meaning, and incorrect syntax can lead to confusion.
Differences Between Syntax and Meaning (Sự Khác Biệt Giữa Cú Pháp Và Ngữ Nghĩa):
Syntax determines how words are structured, while meaning focuses on the significance
of those words. Incorrect syntax can result in a sentence that is grammatically incorrect or
conveys an unintended meaning.
Example: "Cô ăn mèo" (She eats a cat) is incorrect in meaning due to poor syntax.
However, "Mèo ăn cá" (The cat eats fish) is correct both syntactically and semantically.
Effect of Syntax on Meaning (Tác Động Của Cú Pháp Đến Ngữ Nghĩa): Changing the
position of words within a sentence can change its meaning entirely.
Example: "Tôi yêu bạn" (I love you) vs. "Bạn yêu tôi" (You love me) are two sentences
that, despite using the same words, have different meanings due to the change in word
order.
6. Examples of Syntax and Meaning (Ví Dụ Về Sự Khác Biệt Giữa Cú Pháp Và Ngữ
Nghĩa)
Example of Incorrect Syntax (Ví Dụ Sự Khác Biệt): A sentence like "Cô ăn mèo" (She
eats a cat) is syntactically wrong because it alters the meaning. Correct syntax is crucial
for the right interpretation of meaning.
Impact of Word Order (Tác Động Của Cú Pháp): Reordering the words changes the
meaning of a sentence entirely. For instance, "Tôi yêu bạn" (I love you) and "Bạn yêu
tôi" (You love me) express different sentiments.
Exercise
Question 1: What is the primary role of syntax in a language?
A. To define the meaning of individual words.
B. To determine how words and phrases are structured in sentences.
C. To identify nouns and verbs in a sentence.
D. To list the vocabulary of a language.
Answer: B
Question 2: Which of the following examples correctly shows the Subject-Verb-Object (SVO)
structure?
A. Rice she eats.
B. She eats rice.
C. Eats rice she.
D. Rice eats she.
Answer: B
Question 3: What can cause a sentence to change meaning completely?
A. Replacing adjectives with nouns.
B. Rearranging the order of words.
C. Removing conjunctions.
D. Changing the verb tense.
Answer: B
Question 4: Which sentence illustrates incorrect syntax?
A. She eats rice.
B. The cat eats fish.
C. She eats a cat.
D. The boy plays football.
Answer: C
