Sentence Types

Cumulative Sentence

An independent clause followed by a series of subordinate constructions that gather details about the person, place, event, or idea
"Here was this man Tom Guthrie in Holt standing at the back window in the kitchen of his house smoking cigarettes and looking out over the back lot where the sun was just coming up."

Loose Sentence

A sentence structure in which a main clause is followed by subordinate phrases and clauses. As the number of subordinate constructions increases, the loose sentence approaches the cumulative style
"I found a large hall, obviously a former garage, dimly lit, and packed with cots."

Periodic Sentence

Long and frequently involved sentence, marked by suspended syntax, in which the sense is not completed until the final word--usually with an emphatic climax
"And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing."

Running Style

Sentence style that appears to follow the mind as it worries a problem through, mimicking the "rambling, associative syntax of conversation"--the opposite of periodic sentence style

Complex Sentence

A sentence that contains at least one independent clause and one dependent clause

Compound Sentence

A sentence that contains at least two independent clauses

Comma Splice

Two independent clauses separated by a comma instead of a period or semicolon. Usually considered an error

Grammatical types: simple, compound, complex, compound-complex

Simple-- Contains one independent clause

Compound-- Contains two or more independent clauses

Complex-- Contains one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses

Compound-Complex Contains two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses.

  • Rhetorical types: periodic, cumulative (loose), parallel (balanced), antithetical

Periodic-- Opens with modifiers, withholds subject and verb until the end.

Cumulative-- Begins with subject and verb and adds modifying elements at end.

Balanced Sentence--Expresses parallel or like ideas-- often compound.

Antithetical Sentence-- Compares opposites-- often compound.

  • Functional types: statement, question, command, exclamation, and conditional
  • Declarative / Statement: Tells us something about a person, place thing or idea
  • The Statue of Liberty stands in New York Harbor.
  • Interrogative / Question: Asks questions
  • Did you know that the Statue of Liberty is made of copper and stands over 150 feet tall?
  • Imperative / Command: Makes a command; often contains an “understood subject” you.
  • Go see the statue of liberty. After a few weeks of physical conditioning, climb its 168 stairs.
  • Exclamatory: Communicates strong emotion or surprise
  • Climbing 168 stairs is not a dumb idea! Just muster that never-say-die attitude that made America great!
  • Conditional: express wishes (if . . . then statements)
  • If you were to climb to the top of the statue, then you could share in the breathtaking feeling experienced by many hopeful immigrants.
  • If I were a bird, I would fly to the top.