Syntax Terms Flashcards
Antimetable
Repetition of words in reverse order
Anaphora
The repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences
Antitheses
A statement in which two opposing ideas are balanced
Asyndeton
A construction in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions
Cumulative sentence
A sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases
Balanced sentence
A sentence in which words, phrases, or clauses are set off against each other to emphasize a contrast
Chiasmus
A statement consisting of two parallel pars in which the second part is structurally reversed
Ellipsis
The omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deduced from the context
Hortative sentence
A sentence that exhorts, advises, calls to action
Hypothetical question
A question that raises a hypothesis, conjecture, or supposition
Imperative sentence
Sentence used to command, enjoin, implore, or entreat
Inversion
Inverted order of words in a sentence
Juxtaposition
Placing two items side by side to present a comparison or contrast
Parallelism
The use of corresponding grammatical or syntactical forms
Periodic structure
A sentence whose main clause is withheld until the end
Polysyndenton
The use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural
Rhetorical question
Figure of speech in the form of a question posed for rhetorical effect rather than the purpose of getting an answer
Solecism
Nonstandard grammatical usage: a violation of grammatical rules
Syllepsis
A construction in which one word is used in two different senses
