Transcript Syntax aka – sentence structure

Syntax
aka – sentence structure
Why? The manner in which a speaker or author
constructs a sentence affects what the audience
understands about what he/ she want to
convey…creating tone, mood, character, etc.
Sentence Types
1.
2.
Recognize the sentence type
Decide what the effect of the sentence
type is.
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Telegraphic – shorter than 5 words in length
Short – around 5 words in length
Medium – around 18 words in length
Long and involved – 30 or more words in length.
Effect Examples
The inverted order of an interrogative
sentence cues the reader or listener to a
question and creates a tension between
speaker and listener:
Note the change in emphasis:
In Mrs. Black’s class, do students learn?
Vs.
Do students learn in Mrs. Black’s class?
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Effect Examples
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Short sentences are often emphatic, passionate or flippant
Get Out!
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longer sentences suggest the writer’s more deliberate, thoughtful
response
Your presence is scraping at my patience right now, so I
would like it very much if you left.
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very long discursive sentences give a narrative a rambling,
meditative tone.
I’ve had a very long, difficult day, and I can tell you want to
talk, but really I just need some time in a quiet room; you know,
a room without people in it, people like you, so please leave.
Clause Types
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Independent Clause – a complete
sentence.
She sang.
She sang well.
She sang yesterday not today.
Clause Types
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Dependent/ Subordinate/
Embedded Clause - A phrase with
an incomplete sentence
DC: Highlighted in blue…
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Yesterday, she sang but not today.
All evening, she studied with all her
might.
Sentence Types
One of the most important elements
of syntax is the way the words,
phrases and clauses are arranged.
Knowing the types of sentences and
clauses helps you be able to discuss
the effects of syntax.
Sentence Types
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Declarative – makes a statement
The king is sick.
Imperative – gives a command
Cure the king!
Interrogative – asks a question
Is the king sick?
Sentence Types
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Exclamatory – provides emphasis or
expresses strong emotion
The king is dead! Long live the
king!
Simple Sentence – one independent
clause.
The singer bowed to her adoring
audience.
Sentence Types
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Compound sentence – two
independent clauses joined by a
coordinating conjunction or
semicolon.
The singer bowed to the audience,
but she sang no encores.
The singer bowed to the audience;
however, she sang no encores.
Sentence Types
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Complex Sentence – an
independent clause and one or
more dependent clauses.
Because the singer was tired, she
went straight to bed after the
concert.
Sentence Types
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Compound-Complex sentence – two
or more independent clauses and
one or more dependent clauses.
The singer bowed while the audience
applauded, but she sang no encores.
Sentence Types
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Natural Order of a sentence
involves constructing a sentence so
the subject (the doer of the action –
a noun) comes before the predicate
(the action of the sentence – a
verb).
Amy threw the ball.
Subject
Predicate
Sentence Types
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Inverted order of a sentence
(sentence inversion) – constructing
a sentence so the predicate comes
before the subject.
In California grow the oranges.
Effects?