SENTENCE Example: The king’s edict that adulterers would be punished by death

caused a raucous din in the local taverns, for even the common folk knew
I like the construction of sentences and the juxtaposition of words—not just that he had many indiscretions of his own for which to atone.
how they sound or what they mean, but even what they look like. 3. Complex: Contains an independent clause and a (dependent)
—Don DeLillo subordinate clause.
Example: Since the nun’s ascetic life provided her few material comforts,
I. WHAT CONSTITUTES A SENTENCE? the wool shawl the novitiate knitted for her was a cherished treasure.
A sentence must contain a subject, a verb (often referred to as a predicate),
4. Compound-complex: Contains two independent clauses and a
and express a complete thought or idea. “I am” is a sentence because it has a
dependent (subordinate) clause.
subject (I) and a verb (am) and expresses a complete thought (the subject
Example: Even though Rafael’s muse had sparked his fertile imagination, he
understands him or herself to exist). We are almost always going to need
nonetheless lost his drive to paint, so he eased his plight by driving a taxi.
more in a sentence than two words, however, the subject of a sentence is
typically a noun, but it can also be a pronoun, or even a phrase that serves as
Sentence Types
a noun. If you need to identify the subject of the sentence, the fastest way is
1. Periodic: The most important idea comes at the end of the sentence.
to first find the verb and then ask the questions, who? or what?
Example: Doctors were convinced they had destroyed the pernicious
infection, but
What is the subject of this sentence?
just when they thought he’d recover fully, Mario became savagely febrile
and died.
After the swim meet, a bunch of players went to Cal’s house for pizza.
2. Loose: The most important idea is revealed early and the sentence
unfolds loosely after that.
Think it through.
Example: After her chemotherapy failed, Margaret lay moribund in the
hospice, glad
for the kindness of nurses, thankful for each new morning that she was able
II. SENTENCE TYPES AND ATTRIBUTES
to enjoy.
3. Parallel: A parallel sentence (sometimes called a balanced sentence)
Grammatical Sentence Purposes
contains parts of equal grammatical structure or rhetorical value in a
1. Declarative sentence: Makes a statement.
variety of combinations.
2. Imperative sentence: Makes a command.
Two examples of parallel structures:
3. Interrogative sentence: Asks a question.
4. Exclamatory sentence: Makes an emphatic or emotion-filled statement.
3.1 The dog ate voraciously, joyously, and noisily. (The verb “ate” is
modified by three multisyllabic adverbs, which seems somewhat lofty in
Grammatical Sentence Types
style for such a mundane act as a dog eating.)
1. Simple: One subject, one verb, modifiers, complements. Simple 3.2 Joyce was worn down by the constant invasion of her co-workers, by
sentences are generally short, direct, and in combination with more their insistent stares, by their noisy whispers, by their unveiled disdain.
complex sentences can be used for emphasis. She knew she had to find another job. (The parallel phrases are set off by
Example: Puppies need a lot of care. commas; this also is an example of anaphora.)
2. Compound: Two independent clauses joined by a coordinating
conjunction.
Remember this mnemonic device: FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so.
3 Repetition: Use to emphasize the subject.

Types of repetition in sentences:

4.1 Anaphora: The repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of
a series of phrases, clauses, or sentences.
Example: The new paradigm was threatening, the new paradigm was bold,
and
the new paradigm made students angry as they struggled with the new dress III. COMMON SENTENCE FAULTS AND HOW TO
code CORRECT THEM’
that would force them all to wear plaid jackets. Professional writers sometimes intentionally use sentence fragments for
4.2 Epistrophe: Ending a series of lines, phrases, clauses, or sentences with emphasis or variety. However, in general, sentence fragments are not
the same word or words. acceptable.
Example: Clara’s eyes sparkled inscrutably in her wizened old face as her
twenty-something boss told her that he no longer needed her, that he no 1. FRAGMENT
longer A “sentence” fragment is generally a dependent or subordinate clause left to
had use for her, that he no longer would employ her.
stand on its own, which we know it can’t. Phrases are also not independent.
4.3 Asyndeton: Conjunctions are omitted between words, phrases, or
clauses. To fix fragments, they need to be attached to independent clauses.
Example: The only way the commoners could mitigate the Queen’s rage was
to lie humbly prostrate before her, to be temporarily subservient, to feign
obedience for the moment. Fragment Sentence
4.4 Chiasmus: Two corresponding pairs ordered in an ABBA pattern.
Example: The Queen reveled in the villagers’ adulation, but the villagers’ Genevieve realized she needed to finish
adulation was false as they feared her peremptory decree that everyone Since time was
painting her bedroom since time was
should turn their surfeit of grain over to the court. running out.
running out.
4.5 Polysyndeton: The use of the conjunctions between each word,
phrase, or clause.
Example: The mountain climber felt immense trepidation as he faced his Longing for the next Longing for the next vacation, Mario
arduous climb up K2 but he knew the rewards would be great and the thrill vacation. kept studying travel magazines.
exhilarating and the press conference flattering and he gained momentum
from that renewed vigor.

2. FUSED OR RUN-ON “SENTENCE”

When two independent clauses are joined together, we call it a fused or run-
on sentence
 3. COMMA SPLICE: A comma splice is two independent clauses joined by a comma.

Four Ways to Fix These Major Sentence Faults

Fused or Run-on Comma Splice

Arianna loved to get up early the air was so

light and things were peaceful at 5:30 A.M. Some people think it is difficult to grow roses, it
Wrong ▶ (Capital A.M. and P.M. basic is standard just takes good soil, plenty of sunshine, and
English convention. However, lowercase is AP some care.
style (Associated Press).

▼ Four ways to correct the error

Some people think it is difficult to grow roses. It

Arianna loved to get up early. The air was so
1) Add a period at the end of the sentence. just takes good soil, plenty of sunshine, and
light and things were peaceful at 5:30 a.m.
some basic care.

2) Create a compound sentence by adding a Some people think it is difficult to grow roses,
Arianna loved to get up early, for the air was so
comma and a coordinating conjunction. (See list but it just takes good soil, plenty of sunshine,
light and things were peaceful at 5:30 a.m.
below.) and some basic care.

3) Add a subordinating conjunction to Arianna loved to get up early because the air While some people think it is difficult to grow
turn an independent clause into a was so light and things were peaceful at 5:30 roses, it just takes good soil, plenty of sunshine,
dependent clause. a.m. and some basic care.

4) Add a semicolon, but only if the two halves Some people think it is difficult to grow roses; it
Arianna loved to get up early; the air was so
have a strong logical connection: parallel in just takes good soil, plenty of sunshine, and
light and things were peaceful at 5:30 a.m.
meaning or cause and effect. some basic care.
 IV. ACTIVE AND PASSIVE VOICE
Being aware of the difference between active and passive voice is
important. If you’ve ever run a grammar check in Microsoft Word on a
document you’ve written, you may have been told that you have too many
passive sentences. Typically, it is better to write in active voice rather than
passive. Passive voice can seem weak, indecisive, or tentative. Active
voice is much more authoritative sounding. An active verb is one in which
the subject is the doer. With a passive verb, the subject is not the doer, but
is the object, receiver, or effect of the action. When you add forms of “be”
to a verb, you change the verb to passive, such as “is,” “are,” “was,” “were,”
etc.

EXAMPLES

Passive Active

The cookies were baked by Susan. Susan baked the cookies.

The movie was chosen by Arthur. Arthur chose the movie.

Invitations to her party were sent by

Beth sent invitations to her party.
Beth.

VALUE OF PASSIVE VOICE

If the subject is less important than the object, passive construction may
be an advantage.

Active Passive

The farmer gathered these eggs These eggs were gathered

yesterday. yesterday.

The boss hired a new computer tech A new computer tech was hired
today. today.