What are the three components of Form?

• A. Phonology, morphology, syntax
• B. Semantics, pragmatics, discourse
• C. Content, use, context
• D. Lexicon, syntax, semantics

Answer: (A)

In language structure, Form refers to how language is built—the rules that govern sounds, word formation, and sentence structure. The three components that fit this are phonology, morphology, and syntax.

Phonology is about the sound system: which sounds exist, how they contrast, and how they can be combined in a language. Morphology concerns the internal makeup of words—how roots take prefixes or suffixes to signal tense, number, mood, or other grammatical categories. Syntax deals with how words and phrases are arranged to form well-formed sentences according to grammatical rules.

This focus on the structural rules and patterns is what makes these elements the Form. Semantics, pragmatics, and discourse center on meaning and use rather than structure. Content, use, and context mix aspects of meaning and function, not the formal rules of word and sentence construction. Lexicon, syntax, semantics includes vocabulary and meaning along with grammar, but it omits the sound system and word-formation rules that define Form.