Surface structure refers to the specific arrangement of words and phrases in a sentence, which conveys its grammatical form. It is a key concept in linguistics, particularly in the study of syntax. The surface structure can vary significantly between different languages, even when the underlying meaning, or deep structure, remains the same. In Noam Chomsky's theory of transformational grammar, surface structure is contrasted with deep structure, which represents the abstract meaning of a sentence. Understanding surface structure helps linguists analyze how different languages express similar ideas and how sentence variations can affect interpretation and clarity.