Final answer:
The difference in meaning when changing the sentence from "boy rides bike" to "bike rides boy" is an example of the role that syntax plays in structuring sentences to convey meaning. The correct answer is a. Syntax.
Step-by-step explanation:
When the order of words in a sentence such as "boy rides bike" is changed to "bike rides boy," the meaning of the sentence changes significantly.
This difference in meaning due to word order is an example of the rules of syntax. Syntax refers to the way in which words are organized within sentences to convey a particular meaning.
Semantics is concerned with the meaning behind words and phrases, while phonology deals with the sounds of language.
However, in this instance, it is the syntax that determines who is performing the action (the boy) and who is receiving the action (the bike), which changes the sentences’ meanings completely. The correct answer is a. Syntax.