Sentence Structure

Declarative

Statement(.) "I need a seat"

Exclamatory

Strong Emotion(!) "This seat is awesome!"

Compound-complex

a sentence that consists of two or more main clauses and one or more subordinate clauses.

Complex Sentence

a sentence that contains on main clause and one or more subordinate clauses.

Prescriptive Grammar

a set of rules about how the language is supposed to work

Sentence modifier

an adjective, adverb, phrase, or clause that modifies the main elements in a basic sentence. They modify the whole main clause.

Periodic Sentence

builds to a climatic statement in final main clause. Writer withholds main idea until the end.

Independent Clause

can stand alone. Main idea of sentence.

compound sentence

consists of two or more simple sentences joined together by and, but, or, ;.

Descriptive Grammar

describes the way language is actually used in practice by real humans.

4 ways to create emphasis

emphatic word order, emphatic repetition, climatic order, emphatic voice.

Economy

equivalence between the number of words used and the amount of meaning they convey.

Rhetorical Question

figure of speech in the form of a question posed for rhetorical effect rather than for the purpose of getting an answer.

Cumulative Sentence

immediately states the main idea in the first clause, then adds examples and details.

basic sentence

includes a subject, verb, and any object/complement needed to complete the verb.

Grammar

includes all rules governing a language

Inversion

inverted order of words in a sentences. variation of the subject-verb-object order ("united there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures.")

Coordination

joining similar elements into pairs or series. Uses a common subject or predicate, then compounds the remaining elements.

subject

the noun/main focus of the sentence

Variety

Achieved through modification, coordination, and subordination, and changes in word order.

Focuses when revising sentence structure

Clarity, Emphasis, Economy, Variety

Imperative

Command(.) "Save me a seat."

Ways to expand/combine sentences

Modification, Coordination, and Subordination

Interrogative

Question(?) "Do you have a seat?"

Parallel Structure.

When tow or more coordinate elements have the same form.

predicate

a complete verb or a verb that needs something to complete it.

Clause

a group of words containing a verb and its subject (independent/main or subordinate/dependent)

Phrase

a group of words that act as a unite, but doesn't contain a subject and predicate.

Subordinate Clause

must be connected to an independent clause. Tells the reader info about main idea.

Asyndeton

omission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words. ("we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship...")

Antithesis

opposition, or contrast, of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction. ("We shall support any friend, oppose any foe.")

Subordination

reduces one sentence to a subordinate or less important clause/phrase that becomes a part of antoerh sentence.

Emphasis

reflects your purpose and helps convey that purpose to your readers

Anaphora

repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrase, clauses, or lines.

Antimetabole

repetition of words in reverse order. ("when the going gets tough, the tough get going")

Clarity

revises confusing sentence structure

syntax

sentence structure

Hortative Sentence

sentence that exhorts, advises, calls to action. ("Let both sides explore what problems untie us...")

Balanced Sentence

tow coordinating structures with contrasting content are set off against each other. the fulcrum point between the two balanced parts is marked by a conjunction.