California Teacher Credentialing Examination (CSET) Practice Test 2025 - Free CSET Practice Questions and Study Guide

Syntax primarily concerns the combination of words to form sentences and phrases according to the rules of a given language. It dictates how different parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.) interact and how they are structured to convey specific meanings. Understanding syntax is fundamental to constructing coherent and grammatically correct statements, as it governs word order and sentence structure.

In contrast, the other aspects mentioned focus on different elements of language. The use of gestures in communication pertains more to non-verbal cues and body language, while understanding word meanings is related to semantics, the study of meaning in language. Lastly, the use of context clues involves inferring meaning from surrounding text or spoken language, which also falls outside the realm of syntax. Thus, the correct answer accurately reflects the specific focus of syntax within the broader field of linguistics.