Rhetorical Analysis Review ^ Rhetoric Tool Box: Basic Syntax Flashcards
syntax
the way an author designs sentences to have an effect on the listener or reader
clause
a group of words with a subject and a verb
dependent (subordinate) clause
a group of words that contains a subject and verb but does not express a complete thought; an incomplete sentence
(ex: “WHEN I WAS A SMALL CHILD, I knew no fear.”)
independent (main) clause
a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought
(ex: “When I was a small child, I KNEW NO FEAR.”)
simple sentence
has one independent clause
ex: “Kate and Damarius are partners on the project.”
compound sentence
has two or more independent clauses
ex: “Kate and Damarius are partners on this project, but each of them wants to be partners with someone else.”
complex sentence
has one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses
(ex: “Because Kate was absent on Tuesday, she was unable to choose her partner.”)
compound-complex sentence
has at least two independent clauses and at least one dependent clause
(ex: “Because Kate and Damarius were absent on Tuesday, they were unable to choose their partners, so the teacher put them together.”)
FANBOYS
For, And, Nor, But, Or, Yet, So
declarative sentence
sentence that expresses a statement
ex: “I am a vegan.”
imperative sentence
makes a command of the audience
ex: “Eat your vegetables.”
exclamatory sentence
expresses strong feelings often in the form of anger, excitement, or surprise
(ex: “That leather couch is made from dead cows!”)
interrogative sentence
asks a question from the audience
ex: “Do you have any soy milk for my coffee?”
telegraphic sentence
shorter than five words in length
short sentence
five to eight words in length
medium sentence
approximately eighteen words in length
long and involved sentence
more than 30 words in length
loose sentence
the subject and verb come at the beginning of the sentence
(ex: “I balance work, home, and church life with no small amount of resentment.”
periodic sentence
the subject and verb come at the end of the sentence
ex: “At the dawn of time before light or dark, solid or liquid, he spoke.”
balanced sentence
the phrases or clauses balance each other by virtue of their similarity in length, structure, or meaning
(ex: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside still waters.”)
split order sentence
the subject is in the middle of the predicate, which is split into two parts
(ex: “In Arizona undocumented workers are in constant fear of deportation.”)
natural order sentence
the subject comes before the verb and may be followed by modifiers.
(ex: The woman chewed her fingernails.”)
inverted order sentence
the typical subject-verb-modifier order is switched for effect. (ex: “Her fingernails the woman chewed.”)
interrupted sentence
dashes set off non-essential information
ex: Shawn’s first challenge—and there were many—was to confess his crime to his mother.”
participial phrase
a group of words consisting of a participle and the modifier(s) and/or (pro)noun(s) or noun phrase(s) that function as the direct object(s), indirect object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state expressed in the participle
(ex: “Removing his coat, Jack rushed to the river.”)
The participial phrase functions as an adjective modifying Jack.
Removing (participle) his coat (direct object of action expressed in participle)
infinitive phrase
a group of words consisting of an infinitive and the modifier(s) and/or (pro)noun(s) or noun phrase(s) that function as the actor(s), direct object(s), or complement(s) of the action or state expressed in the infinitive (ex: We intended to leave early.”)
The infinitive phrase functions as the direct object of the verb intended.
to leave (infinitive) early (adverb)
