BACK TO paradigmatic

syntagmatic vs. paradigmatic

syntagmatic

[ sin-tag-mat-ik ]
adjective
  1. pertaining to a relationship among linguistic elements that occur sequentially in the chain of speech or writing, as the relationship between the sun and is shining or the and sun in the sentence The sun is shining.

paradigmatic

[ par-uh-dig-mat-ik ]
adjective
  1. of or relating to a paradigm.
  2. pertaining to a relationship among linguistic elements that can substitute for each other in a given context, as the relationship of sun in The sun is shining to other nouns, as moon, star, or light, that could substitute for it in that sentence, or of is shining to was shining, shone, will shine, etc., as well as to is rising, is setting, etc.