How is syntax defined?

Syntax is defined as the basic structure of sentences, focusing on how words are arranged to create meaningful phrases and clauses. It encompasses the rules that govern sentence formation, detailing how different parts of speech — such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs — interact within sentences. Understanding syntax is crucial for grasping how language conveys meaning, as it determines the relationships between words and the overall coherence of sentences.

While the study of sounds in human speech pertains to phonetics or phonology, the collection of units of meaning is more aligned with semantics, and the system of word formation refers to morphology. Each of these concepts plays a role in language structure, but syntax specifically addresses the grammatical arrangement of words into structured sentences.