Syntax skills help us understand how sentences work—the meanings behind word order, structure, and punctuation. By providing supports for developing Syntax skills, we can help readers understand increasingly complex texts.

Syntactic development progresses through several stages, beginning with one word ("happy"); then simple sentences ("The dog is happy."); to forming and comprehending complex sentences, such as sentences with embedded clauses ("The boy, who licked a lollipop, was happy.") and wh-questions ("Why are you happy?").

Expressive Syntax is the Syntax a student can produce and use.

Receptive Syntax is the Syntax a student can understand.

Read the full annotated bibliography of our Syntax research.