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Definition of surface structure noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

surface structure

noun

/ˈsɜːfɪs strʌktʃə(r)/

/ˈsɜːrfɪs strʌktʃər/

(grammar)

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the structure of a well-formed sentence in a language, rather than its underlying form compare deep structure

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Nearby words

adverb

From the Word list

B1

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