Sentence Structure

Clause

a group of words that contains a subject and a predicate.

Cumulative sentence

a loose sentence that starts with an independent clause or main clause, adding subordinate or modifying elements after the subject and the predicate.

juxtaposition

a poetic and rhetorical device in which normally unassociated ideas, images, words, phrases are placed next to one another , creating an effect of surprise, shock, or wit.

Simple sentence

a sentence consisting of only one clause, with a single subject and predicate.

Compound sentence

a sentence that contains at least two independent clauses.

Compound-complex sentence

a sentence with two or more independent clauses and at least one dependent clause.

Syntax

a set of rules in a language. It dictates how words from different parts of speech are put together in order to convey a complete thought.

Polysyndeton

a stylistic device in which several coordinating conjunctions are used in succession in order to achieve an artistic effect.

Asyndeton

a stylistic device used in literature and poetry to intentionally eliminate conjunctions between the phrases and in the sentence, yet maintain the grammatical accuracy.

Diction

defined as style of speaking or writing determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer.

Balanced sentence

the phrases or clauses balance each other by virtue of their likeness or structure, meaning, and/or length.

Parallel structure Parallelism

the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; or similar in their construction, sound, meaning or meter.

Complex sentence

a complex sentence is a sentence that contains an independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Loose sentence

makes complete sense if brought to a close before the actual ending.

Periodic sentence

makes sense only when the end of the sentence is reached