Loose and Periodic Sentences

1. Loose and Periodic Sentences Identifying and writing loose and periodic sentences

2. Loose or cumulative sentence • A sentence in which a main or independent clause comes first, followed by further grammatical units, both phrases and dependent clauses. A loose sentence makes sense and will stand alone as a sentence even if brought to a close before the period.

3. Why choose loose? • Flexible • Conveys a lot of information/imagery • Economical • Poem-like (imagery and detail)

4. Examples of loose sentences • “One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture – a pale eye, with a film over it.”“The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe. • As I spoke, a light came over him, as though the setting sun had touched him with the same suffused glory with which it touched the mountains.” “A Mother in Manville” by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings • Annie hollered, arguing that some people were meant to work and others to come up with brilliant ideas.” “Born Worker” by Gary Soto

5. Periodic sentence • A sentence that has its main clause at the end of the sentence with additional grammatical units added before the independent clause. It will not make sense and cannot stand alone as a complete sentence until the main clause is included at the end.

6. Why choose periodic? • Creates suspense • Delays the completion of the sentence meaning • The main clause is given more emphasis or amplification

7. Examples of periodic sentences • “And while Arnie accompanied him, most of the time he did nothing.” “Born Worker” by Gary Soto • “In the brightness of the wintry sun next morning as it streamed over the breakfast table, he laughed at his fears.” “The Monkey’s Paw” by W.W. Jacobs • Once upon a time—of all the good days in the year, Christmas Eve—old Scrooge sat busy in his counting-house.” A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

8. Other sentence types: Convoluted • Convoluted: main clause is split in two, subordinate parts intruding. • Simply offers variety in style and emphasis for the words before and after commas;formal and taxing – interrupting elements grow longer and more complicated. • People, at the bottom of their hearts, know this.

9. Other sentence types: Centered • Centered: The main clause is in the middle of the sentence preceded and followed by additional phrases and subordinate clauses. • Good in long sentences – can order events or ideas;not as emphatic as periodic or as informal as loose. • Having wanted to walk on the sea like St. Peter, he had taken an involuntary bath, losing his mitre and the better part of his reputation.