Word order changes meaning
See how word order helps convey who does what in English.
The picture in words
- Word order
- The arrangement of words contributes to meaning.
- Roles
- The subject and object identify different participants.
Reading the illustration
Keep the action word fixed and compare the roles. This is an example of English sentence structure.
Try a question
What changes when the child and the dog swap places in the sentence?
Show the explanation
The follower changes. The two sentences use the same vocabulary to describe different events.
Read the sources
- Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/7-2-languageSelected rendered passage on syntax, reviewed in the topic-selection research.