Syntax
The manner in which a speaker or author constructs
a sentence affects what the audience understands.
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Short sentence: empathetic, passionate, or flippant
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Long sentence: deliberate, thoughtful, discursive, meditative, rambling
Sentence Patterns
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Declarative: makes a statement
Imperative: gives a command
Interrogative: asks a question
Exclamatory: provides emphasis
The king is sick.
Cure the king!
Is the king sick?
The king is dead! Long live the king!
1. SS Simple sentence: one independent clause—one subject/one predicate
The singer bowed to her adoring audience.
2. CD Compound sentence: two or more independent clauses—
two separate subjects and two separate predicates
The singer bowed to the audience, but she sang no encores.
3. CX Complex sentence: one independent clause and one or more subordinate clauses
Because the singer was tired, she went straight to bed after the concert.
4. CC Compound-Complex sentence: two or more independent clauses and one or more
subordinate clauses
The singer bowed while the audience applauded, but she sang no excuses.
Natural Order: constructing a sentence so the subject comes before the predicate
Oranges grow in California
Inverted Order: constructing a sentence so the predicate comes before the subject
In California grow the oranges.
Loose or Cumulative: makes sense, but brings to a final close by the actual end
We reached Edmonton that morning after a turbulent flight and some exciting
experiences, tired but exhilarated, full of stories to tell our friends and neighbors.
Periodic: makes sense only when the end of the sentence is reached
That morning, after a turbulent flight and some exciting experiences, we reached
Edmonton.
Balanced: the phrases or clauses balance each other by likeness of structure, meaning, or length
He maketh me lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters.
In English we have four types of sentences:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Simple
Compound
Complex
Compound – Complex
This has nothing to do with sentence length; rather these sentence types are
created by the use of transition words (or the lack of transition words).
1. Simple Sentence
a. Bob went to the store.
b. Bob and Sue went to the store.
c. Bob and Sue went to the store on the corner near the center of town to
buy groceries and to get some drinks for the party.
d. Bob went to the store and went to the post office.
Note: These sentences can be long, but when they are very long they tend to be difficult to read.
2. Compound sentences (two complete sentences joined with a
conjunction “and,” “but,” “or,” “so,” “yet,” and “for.”
Bob went to the store, and Sue went to the office.
Conjunction
The negotiations were successful, so the diplomats returned to their homes.
Conjunction
We can go to party, or we can go to the dance.
Conjunction
Note: Words using conjunctions are a kind of compound sentence.
The negotiations ended successfully; therefore, the fighting stopped.
Conjuncts
3. Complex sentences. These sentences use subordinators
Because
the problem proved difficult, they decided to form a committee.
Subordinator
sentence
sentence
The proposal [ that ] we wrote was accepted.
Subordinator
The issue, which we thought we had solved, came back to haunt us.
Subordinator
4. Compound –Complex Sentences. These sentences use a conjunction and a subordinator.
The proposal that we wrote was accepted, and we started the project.
Subordinator
Conjunction
These words combine clauses to create complex sentences.
SUBORDINATORS:
Time: when, while, since, before, after, until, once
Place: where, wherever
Cause: because, since, as, now that, inasmuch as
Condition: if, unless, on condition that
Contrast/Concession: although, even though, despite, in spite of
Adversative: while, where, whereas
Other: that, which, who, whoever, whom, what, why, how....
Note: These words introduce clauses, not complete sentences. Thus, when you use these words, you
need to make sure to use these words in subordinate clauses that are connected to main clauses with a
comma.
Examples:
When you use subordinators, you must connect the clause containing the subordinator to a clause
without a subordinator.
Although punctuation may seem trivial, not using punctuation correctly makes your sentences difficult to
read.
If the subordinate clause appears at the beginning of the sentence, use a comma to connect the clauses.
Subordinate clauses are not connected with a comma when the subordinate clause is at the end of the
sentence.
So, we have these rules:
1. [Subordinator] + Subject + Verb , Subject + Verb. (comma)
2. Subject + Verb [Subordinator] + Subject Verb. (no comma)
You can delete some subordinators and still have a complex sentence.
The man (whom) you saw robbed a bank. The comma (that) I added was not necessary.
Conjuncts:
Use a semicolon with these words to combine complete sentences.
Use a comma to separate these works in a sentence.
Enumerative: first, second, third . . .; 1, 2, 3, . . .; to begin with; in the first place, in the second place . . .;
next, then; finally, to conclude
Reinforcing: also, furthermore, moreover, in addition, above all
Equative: equally, likewise, similarly, in the same way
Summative: in conclusion, to sum up
Apposition: namely, in other words, for example (e.g.), for instance, that is (i.e.), that is to say
Inferential: otherwise, in other words, in that case
Replacive: alternatively, rather, on the other hand
Antithetic: instead, on the contrary, in contrast, by comparison
Concessive: however, nevertheless, still, yet, in any case, at any rate, after all
Result: consequently, hence, therefore, thus, as a result