Sentence Types

Apposition Words or phrases are placed next to each other so that one describes or defines the other. Examples: Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer, had a very shiny nose. (Describes Rudolph) He learned a valuable lesson: never argue with your mother. (Describes the lesson)

Juxtaposition Two concepts, characters, ideas, etc. are placed near or next to each other for comparision and contrast. Examples: All’s fair in love and war. James, a butler, spent his days in a beautiful mansion, but returned home every night to a closet-sized apartment in a rundown part of town.

Balanced Sentence Both halves of the sentence are of the same length and importance. Examples: Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. It’s not that today’s artists cannot paint, it is that today’s critics cannot see. Mary went to the store and she got her car washed.

Epanalepsis Repetition of a word or phrase with intervening words setting off the repetition, often occurring at the beginning and end of the sentence. Examples: Mankind must put an end to war, or war will put an end to mankind. Possessed by what we now no more possessed.

Loose or Cumulative Sentence An independent clause followed by subordinate phrases and clauses. Examples: He dipped his hands in the bi-chloride solution and shook them--a quick shake, fingers down, like the fingers of a pianist above the keys. Florida is a great vacation spot for families, with Disney World, Universal Studios, and Sea World.

Hypotactic A sentence containing subordinate clauses or phrases that build on and add to the main clause to demonstrate a logical relationship between the two. Examples: Sarah was awarded first prize after she wowed the audience with her singing. Everything is going to be fine because mother said so.

Paratactic Phrases and clauses are placed one after another independently, without coordinating or subordinating them through the use of conjunctions. Examples: Thousands of possibilities; get yours. The rain drummed; Joanna kept dancing.

Periodic A sentence in which the main clause appears at the end of the sentence. Examples: With low taxes, beautiful views and a mild climate, this city is a great place to live. If the price is reasonable and the quality excellent, I might consider buying a designer dress.

Telegraphic A sentence of five words or less. Examples: Don’t drop the ball. Who goes there?

Tricolon Sentence contains three parallel clauses, phrases, or words, which happen to come in quick succession without any interruption. Examples: I came, I saw, I conquered. When the night grows dark, when injustice weighs heavy on our hearts, when our best-laid plans seem beyond our reach…