syntactic normalization

• usually needs to be combined with semantic exploration
• keeps sentence clauses simple and declarative with clauses in normal form
• simplified sentences restrict clauses and their parts in the following grammatical ways:

part				normal form
subjects		use		singular number1
		prefer		an indefinite article (a, an) to reference a single member of a class
				an indefinite pronoun (each) to reference a single member of a collection
				the definite article (the) only to reference a domain singleton2
objects3		use		singular number where possible
		prefer		an indefinite article (a, an) to reference a single member of a class
				an indefinite pronoun (some) to reference multiple instances (of a collection or a class)
				the definite article (the) only to reference a domain singleton
prepositions		used		only to complete predicates,
				but not to indicate possession (genetive)4
conjunctions		used		only to compound clauses,
				but not to coordinate subjects and predicates5
verbs		use		complete predicate6
				active voice,7
				present tense,8
				plural number,9
				affirmative polarity,10
				indicative mood,11

notes:

1. each subject contains a single noun or noun phrase, and each subject refers to a single instance
2. domain singletons are usually identified by proper names, e.g., an organization such as the EPA
3. clausal objects include both direct and indirect objects
4. genetive prepositions (of) should be replaced by the substantive verbs they hide, e.g., has, owns, contains, etc.
5. coordinated subjects and predicates (verbs) should be decomposed into separate clauses or sentences
6. verb phrases should include appropriate prepositions and objects, esp. for transitive verbs
7. passive voice hides or obscures the proper subject
8. past tense and future tense may be used instead when appropriate
9. to establish subject verb agreement with respect to number
10. the word not should be eliminated in favor of its complementary assertion
11. verbs can express an action or state as an actual fact, or the potential for such, with one of several moods
    1. the potential mood should be retained where the problem or solution requires an option
    2. the imperative mood should be retained when asserting commitments for future fulfillment
    3. the infinitive mood should be replaced with its corresponding noun or adjective, or decomposed into a separate clause
    4. the subjunctive mood rarely appears any more, but it should dealt with similar to the infinitive mood