Armenian Language & Literature Unified Exam study materials
Armenian Language & Literature Unified Exam study resources

Armenian Language & Literature Unified Exam: Syntax

Armenian Language & Literature Unified Exam · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.

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Syntax

Sentence structure

Syntax asks how words combine into phrases and sentences. Revise the simple sentence and its main parts (ենթակա, ստորոգյալ, լրացումներ), agreement between subject and predicate, and the default subject–object–verb order. Armenian word order is flexible, but changes carry information structure: the pre-verbal position typically hosts focus. Know the types of subordinate clauses: relative, complement, temporal, causal, conditional, concessive, purposive and comparative. Learn the conjunctions and relative words that introduce them (որ, որը, երբ, որովհետև, եթե, թեև, որպեսզի, ինչպես).

Traps

The commonest trap is confusing a compound sentence (independent clauses) with a complex sentence (one clause dependent on another). Punctuation follows clause structure: a subordinate clause placed before the main clause is normally followed by a comma. Do not insert a comma between the subject and predicate, and do not omit it before որովհետև, եթե, թեև when they introduce a dependent clause.

Worked example

Երբ անձրևը դադարեց, մենք դուրս եկանք։ The temporal clause Երբ անձրևը դադարեց is subordinate; it stands first and is separated by a comma. The main clause follows. If the order were reversed, the comma would normally disappear: Մենք դուրս եկանք, երբ անձրևը դադարեց. The comma is still possible for emphasis, but the structural test is the dependency, not the position alone.

Rule of thumb

Underline finite verbs, count clauses, then decide whether they are coordinated or subordinated before punctuating.