Event structures are frameworks used to analyze and understand the components of an event. They typically include elements such as the participants, actions, and the context in which the event occurs. By breaking down an event into its basic parts, researchers can better comprehend how different elements interact and influence one another. In linguistics, event structures help in understanding how language conveys meaning related to actions and occurrences. For example, in the study of syntax and semantics, event structures can clarify how verbs and their arguments work together to form coherent sentences. This analysis is crucial for fields like natural language processing and cognitive science.