Syntax: Language and Structure

1. What is the difference between a phrase and a clause?

The difference between a phrase and a clause are a clause is a group of words that consists
of a subject and a verb, but a phrase is a group of word that does not consist of a subject
and a verb. A clause also can stand alone as a complete sentence because it gives a
complete meaning to the reader but a phrase cannot stand as a complete sentence because
it functions just as a unit in a sentence.
2. Name the two syntactic categories.
Lexical categories, Non lexical categories.
3. Each of the following phrases consists of a specifier and a head and sometimes a
complement.
Draw the appropriate tree diagram for each phrase:

phrase Tree diagram

NP

the teacher Det N

the teacher
AP

very quiet Deg A (adjective)

very quiet
VP

can sing Aux V

can sing
NP

those students Det N

those students
AP

more intelligent Deg A

more intelligent
PP

into the classroom  P Det N

  into the classroom