英语语言学与应用语言学

The Periodic Sentence

It is a good habit to write something in your leisure time. Every day lots of friends ask me how to write a composition. Today let me explain Periodic Sentence for you. You'd better hold your pen tightly . A Periodic sentence is one in which the main thought is not completed until the very end of the sentence. Often this type of sentence is more effective than one in which the main thought is given first,followed by one or more modifying clauses or phrases. This is so because withholding the key word or words of the sentence until the end creates a sense of anticipation in the reader. Therefore, a periodic sentence is likely to be more emphatic than a sentence with a loose construction.

Notice the difference between the loose and periodic constructions in the following example:

Loose construction

She was offered a professional contract after winning the Olympic gold medal for figure skating, according to newspaper reports.

Periodic Sentence

According to newspaper reports,after winning the Olympic gold medal for figure skating, she was offered a professional contract.

Loose Construction

There have been many great discoveries made by scientists in the twentieth century.

Periodic Sentence

Scientists in the twentieth century have made many great discoveries.

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