Summary
Syntax is the part of grammar that studies how words combine to form sentences and what function each one has. To analyse a sentence syntactically is to identify its parts: above all the subject (whom something is said about) and the predicate (what is said about it).
The core of the subject is usually a noun or a pronoun, and the core of the predicate is always the verb. Within the predicate there are complements that complete the verb's meaning: the direct object (compró pan), the indirect object (a su hermano), the adverbials (por la mañana) and the attribute (with the verbs ser, estar and parecer).
Key points
- Syntax studies how words combine in the sentence.
- To analyse is to identify the function of each part.
- Subject: whom something is said about (core: noun or pronoun).
- Predicate: what is said about the subject (core: the verb).
- Direct object (compró pan) and indirect object (a su hermano).
- Adverbial complements: of time, place, manner…
- The attribute appears with ser, estar and parecer.