The following table lists some common syntactic structures.
- The first column describes the Conceptual Structure, showing its so-called head in bold.
- The head is somehow the main character in the structure, while the rest gives further information, or modifies the head.
- Notice that conceptual structures are language-independent, hence there is no order assumed between the head and the rest; each specific language imposes a specific order.
- The head is arbitrarily listed first.
- The English and Greek columns give examples in English and Modern Greek.
- The same phrase is translated in both languages along each row, and heads are always bolded.
- The reader may compare the placement of the head in relation to the rest in each case and language.
- The Agreement column shows whether there is an agreement between English and Greek regarding whether the head leads or trails the structure.
| Conceptual Structure | English | Greek | Agreement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. verb ⟷ direct object | read the book | διαβάζω το βιβλίο | ✔️ |
| 2. verb ⟷ prepositional phrase | hide under the table | κρύβομαι κάτω από το τραπέζι | ✔️ |
| 3. verb ⟷ embedded clause | think that he will win | νομίζω οτι θα νικήσει | ✔️ |
| 4. verb ⟷ personal pronoun | gave me | μου έδωσε | ❌ |
| 5. verb ⟷ personal pronoun (imperative) | give me | δώσε μου | ✔️ |
| 6. verb ⟷ modifying adverb | walk quickly | περπατάω γρήγορα | ✔️ |
| 7. adverb ⟷ modifying adverb | very quickly | πολύ γρήγορα | ✔️ |
| 8. complementizer ⟷ embedded clause | that he will win | οτι θα νικήσει | ✔️ |
| 9. auxiliary verb ⟷ main verb | have bought | έχω αγοράσει | ✔️ |
| 10. preposition ⟷ related noun phrase | in the house | μέσα στο σπίτι | ✔️ |
| 11. noun ⟷ related prepositional phrase | book under the table | βιβλίο κάτω από το τραπέζι | ✔️ |
| 12. possessive pronoun ⟷ related noun phrase | my child | παιδί μου | ❌ |
| 13. number ⟷ related noun phrase | three big bears | τρεις μεγάλες αρκούδες | ✔️ |