5.1.2: Rhetoric and Syntax
- Page ID
- 170574
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)What Building Different Sentences Argues
To illustrate how sentence building and appeals relate, consider independent and dependent clauses. To be brief, we can make a part of a sentence dependent on the other part, logically speaking. How? It’s a process that requires some explaining.
There are only four types of sentences in English. Only four! You can learn four of anything. Here’s what’s up:
Note: Remember that in English the verb “to be” transforms when you use it with a subject, so look for any of the following words when searching for a possible verb (action or being statement):
- is
- am
- are
- was
- were
Other “being” verbs (some can be both being and action verbs—think of the verb to look, for example. You can look by turning your head and opening your eyes, or you can look happy, which is a judgment other people make about your state of “being”:
- To seem
- To look
- To appear
The Simple Sentence
The first type of sentence is called a simple sentence. These require just one subject and action, so the focus is only on one idea. Can you identify the subjects and verbs (action or being words) in the following sentences?
Examples
See Spot Run.
The Antikythera mechanism is arguably the world’s oldest computing machine ever discovered!
What is the meaning of life?
The compromise sought to mollify months of odious bickering among the board members.
The Compound Sentence
The second type of sentence is called a compound sentence. This is achieved by joining together two independent clauses. Since each one is a complete thought, the two or more independent clauses that make up a compound sentence have equal weight or are given equal importance: one complete thought is as important as the other(s) if you form compound sentences.
Examples
With light comes darkness; with beauty comes horror.
We investigated the haunting of Dottie’s Pond; however, we found no discernable activity to document.
How many times do I have to explain this to you, and when can I get my refund?
The Complex Sentence
The third type of sentence is called a complex sentence. This type of sentence is made up of one independent clause and as many dependent clauses as desired. The rhetorical choice of using a complex sentence as opposed to a compound one shows that one thought is incomplete without the other, or there is detail surrounding a main idea. In other words, the independent clause is the most important idea communicated in a complex sentence. The dependent clause or clauses are therefore considered unnecessary to communicate the main idea, which indicates their lack of relative importance.
Examples
As I was wetsuit-shamed by a robust octogenarian, I saw his companion shivering so much it appeared they might shift into a different reality.
The Rohonc Codex is one of many books of mystery that scientists and researchers seek to understand.
Since so many people in the class scored below sixty percent on the midterm examination, can we please have an opportunity to score some extra credit?
Santa is real because he is my father in disguise.
The Compound-Complex Sentence
The fourth type of sentence (and final) is the compound-complex sentence. These sentences combine more than one independent clause and one or more dependent clauses, creating a sentence that can unite a considerable amount of thinking! If writing is just the desire to put into a language we share concepts and ideas that we wish to share with each other, think of the compound-complex sentence as being the one that is used only when necessary (and when the reader is well-rested) as they can get confusing to write and understand as they are written. Generally, the longer the sentence goes on, the more chances it can become erroneous!
Examples
The rain dampens the forest as the squirrels bury their bounty in preparation for the first frost, yet this year would be different than most for this forest.
Although the conquests of imperialist countries caused untold casualties, people rarely speak about what else died with those indigenous cultures, and I know many a doctor who would love to know what the natives knew about roots and herbs.
How many cords of wood would a woodchuck saw through given the notion that one could saw through them easily; what benefit would doing so bring them?