Syntax is the branch of linguistics that is concerned with the study of units larger than the word: like phrases, clauses and sentences. These different units larger than single words are called syntactic constituent.
A syntactic constituent can be determined by the following five tests:
1. Substitution
2. Conjoining
3. Distribution
4. Replacement by Anaphors
5. Parenthetical Insertion
1. The test of substituion
The monkey ate the banana.
The monkey took away my books.
The monkey ate the banana.
That little boy ate the banana.
The noun phrases and the verb phrase can be replaced.
2. The test of conjoining
My friend and I watched a movie yesterday.
I watched a movie yesterday and ate a burger.
3. The test of distribution
That little boy is cute.
The actor gave a flower to that little boy.
4. The test of replacement by anaphora
Anaphora is an expression that 'stand in', i.e. replace, certain kinds of syntatctic constituents.
The girl in the blue dress thinks that the boy in white T-shirt is attractive.
The girl in the blue dress thinks that he is attractive.
5. The test of parenthetical insertion
I was surprised by his visit.
I was, coincidently, surprised by his visit.
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