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.