Which domain governs the rules for how words are combined?

• A. Semantics
• B. Pragmatics
• C. Morphology
• D. Syntax

Answer: (D)

This question tests how sentences are built from words according to grammatical rules. The domain that governs how words are combined into phrases and sentences is syntax. It sets the allowed word order and the way words group together to form grammatical structure, such as subject-verb-object patterns and noun or verb phrases. For example, English typically follows a subject-verb-object order, and rearranging words away from that structure can create ungrammatical sequences, even if the words themselves have clear meanings.

Semantics is about meaning and how words combine to convey sense. Morphology studies the internal structure of words—roots, prefixes, suffixes, and inflection. Pragmatics deals with language use in context—how people achieve things like implication, politeness, and conversational goals.