
syntagmatic relations
Syntagmatic relations describe how words connect and combine in a sentence to create meaning. Think of it as the way words are arranged in a sequence, like pieces of a puzzle that fit together to form phrases and sentences. For example, in "The cat sleeps," the words follow each other in a specific order that makes sense. These relations focus on the linear relationship between words—how they occur together in speech or writing—to build coherent communication.