SyntaxSyntax

Sentence PatternsSentence Patterns

• PhrasesPhrases

• Main clausesMain clauses

• Subordinate clausesSubordinate clauses

Sentence patternsSentence patterns

Declarative sentenceDeclarative sentence Imperative sentenceImperative sentence Exclamatory sentenceExclamatory sentence Interrogative sentenceInterrogative sentence

Sentence StructuresSentence Structures

Simple sentenceSimple sentence Compound sentenceCompound sentence Complex sentenceComplex sentence Compound-complex sentenceCompound-complex sentence

Sentence patternsSentence patterns

PeriodicPeriodic LooseLoose Parallel structureParallel structure Shift in word orderShift in word order Interruptions (parentheticals, direct Interruptions (parentheticals, direct

address, apostrophes, exclamations, address, apostrophes, exclamations, quotations)quotations)

Rip Van Winkle passageRip Van Winkle passage

““In a long ramble of the kind on a fine autumnal day, In a long ramble of the kind on a fine autumnal day, Rip had unconsciously scrambled to one of the highest Rip had unconsciously scrambled to one of the highest parts of the Kaatskill Mountains. He was after his parts of the Kaatskill Mountains. He was after his favorite sport squirrel shooting, and the still solitudes favorite sport squirrel shooting, and the still solitudes had echoed and re-echoed with the reports of his gun. had echoed and re-echoed with the reports of his gun. Panting and fatigued, he threw himself, late in the Panting and fatigued, he threw himself, late in the afternoon, on a green knoll, covered with mountain afternoon, on a green knoll, covered with mountain herbage, that crowded the brow of a precipice. From herbage, that crowded the brow of a precipice. From an opening between the trees, he could overlook all the an opening between the trees, he could overlook all the lower country for many a mile of rich woodland. He lower country for many a mile of rich woodland. He saw at a distance the lordly Hudson, far, far below him, saw at a distance the lordly Hudson, far, far below him, moving on its silent but lagging bark, her and there moving on its silent but lagging bark, her and there sleeping on its glassy bosom, and at last losing itself in sleeping on its glassy bosom, and at last losing itself in the blue highlands.”the blue highlands.”

Sentence lengthSentence length

TelegraphicTelegraphic ShortShort MediumMedium LongLong involvedinvolved

Sentence patternsSentence patterns

RepetitionRepetition RhetoricalRhetorical ChiasmusChiasmus antithesisantithesis PolysyndetonPolysyndeton AsyndetonAsyndeton AnaphoraAnaphora EpistropheEpistrophe ZeugmaZeugma

Charlotte's WebCharlotte's Web

““Next morning when the first light came Next morning when the first light came into the sky and the sparrows stirred in into the sky and the sparrows stirred in the trees, when the cows rattled their the trees, when the cows rattled their chains and the rooster crowed and the chains and the rooster crowed and the early automobiles went whispering along early automobiles went whispering along the road, Wilbur awoke and looked for the road, Wilbur awoke and looked for Charlotte.”Charlotte.”

Tom SawyerTom Sawyer

““To his left, back of the rows of citizens, was a To his left, back of the rows of citizens, was a spacious temporary platform upon which were spacious temporary platform upon which were seated the scholars who were to take part in seated the scholars who were to take part in the exercises of the evening; rows of small the exercises of the evening; rows of small boys, washed and dressed to an intolerable boys, washed and dressed to an intolerable state of discomfort; rows of gawky big boys,; state of discomfort; rows of gawky big boys,; snow banks of girls and young ladies clad in snow banks of girls and young ladies clad in linen and muslin and conspicuously conscious linen and muslin and conspicuously conscious of their bare arms, their grandmothers’ ancient of their bare arms, their grandmothers’ ancient trinkets, their bits of pink and blue ribbon and trinkets, their bits of pink and blue ribbon and the flowers in their hair. All the rest of the the flowers in their hair. All the rest of the house was filled with non-participating scholarshouse was filled with non-participating scholars

1,000 Splendid Suns1,000 Splendid Suns

Nana said, “Learn this and learn it well, Nana said, “Learn this and learn it well, my daughter: Like a compass needle that my daughter: Like a compass needle that points north, a man’s accusing finger points north, a man’s accusing finger always finds a woman. Always. You always finds a woman. Always. You remember that, Mariam.” (7)remember that, Mariam.” (7)

The RoadThe Road

““In his dream she was sick and he cared In his dream she was sick and he cared for her. The dream bore the look of for her. The dream bore the look of sacrifice but he thought differently. He sacrifice but he thought differently. He did not take care of her and she died did not take care of her and she died alone somewhere in the dark and there is alone somewhere in the dark and there is no other dream nor other waking world no other dream nor other waking world and there is no other tale to tell.”and there is no other tale to tell.”

Johnny Got His GunJohnny Got His Gun

No legs.No legs. No more running crawling walking if you No more running crawling walking if you

have no legs. No more working.have no legs. No more working. No legs you see.No legs you see. Never again to wiggle your toes.Never again to wiggle your toes. What a hell of a thing what a wonderful What a hell of a thing what a wonderful

beautiful thing to wiggle your toes.beautiful thing to wiggle your toes. No no.No no.

The RoadThe Road

Take me with you, the boy said. He Take me with you, the boy said. He looked as if he was going to cry.looked as if he was going to cry.

No. I want you to wait here.No. I want you to wait here. Please, Papa.Please, Papa. Stop it. I want you to do what I say. Stop it. I want you to do what I say.

Take the gun.Take the gun. I don’t want the gun.I don’t want the gun. I didnt ask you if you wanted it. Take it.I didnt ask you if you wanted it. Take it.

House on MangoHouse on Mango“Four Skinny Trees”“Four Skinny Trees”

When I am too sad and too skinny to When I am too sad and too skinny to keep keeping, when I am a tiny thing keep keeping, when I am a tiny thing against so many bricks, then it is I look at against so many bricks, then it is I look at trees. When there is nothing left to lo9ok trees. When there is nothing left to lo9ok at on this street. Four who grew despite at on this street. Four who grew despite concrete. Four who reach an ddo not concrete. Four who reach an ddo not forget to reach. Four whose only reason forget to reach. Four whose only reason is to be and be. is to be and be.

The Things They CarriedThe Things They Carried

But Ted Lavender, who was scared, But Ted Lavender, who was scared, carried 34 rounds when he was shot and carried 34 rounds when he was shot and killed outside Than Khe, and he went killed outside Than Khe, and he went down under an exceptional burden, more down under an exceptional burden, more than 20 pounds of ammunition, plus the than 20 pounds of ammunition, plus the flak jacket and helmet and rations and flak jacket and helmet and rations and water and toilet paper and tranquilizers water and toilet paper and tranquilizers and all the rest, plus the unweighed fear. and all the rest, plus the unweighed fear. He was dead weight. He was dead weight.