Sentences are one of the basic elements that we use in our every textual need. It may sound very elementary at first, but if you are merely looking at its definition of having subject and predicate that depicts a complete thought, you are barely seeing the surface of simple sentences. In this article, we are going to discuss deeper about sentences. Particularly, we are going to talk about an arrangement of sentences called “cumulative sentences.” Read through to learn more.
A cumulative sentence, which is also known as a “loose sentence”, is a sentence that starts with an independent clause or main clause. This independent or main clause provides the main idea that is expressed in a simple and direct manner. After the independent or main clause, the subordinate elements or modifiers are added. The subordinate or modifying elements are mostly incorporated after the subject and predicate. You may also see the Complex Sentences
This type of sentence is used by writers when they want to introduce the main idea first before expounding on the details. The rest of the details are in the form of dependent or subordinate phrases/clauses. You may also see the Topic Sentences
One way of effectively using this type of sentence is when you would be explaining theories. In explaining theories, it is often suggested that you introduce the main idea first at the beginning of the sentence. After introducing the main idea, it is then suggested that you add more information in order to prove your main idea. You may also see the Balanced Sentences
Another way to make use of cumulative sentences is to create a scene for panning (like in movies). You could use it when the scene introduces a critical moment or when a character reminisces a memory. You may also see the Periodic Sentences.
Cumulative sentences are beneficial in various scenarios. It can be used in the practical field such as literature and studies, but it is also effective in expressing your thoughts in casual events like talking to your friend, parents, workmates, etc. As much as we use it in speaking, there are some cases that we are obliged to write them down. At this point, we are going to give a comprehensive, step-by-step guideline to educate you in composing a cumulative sentence properly.
Assuming that you are ordered to write the phone number of a stranger unless if you are a psychic, you cannot just directly write digits without asking the person. Similarly, it would be a challenging task for you to compose one without knowing the basics in writing a cumulative sentence. By this, we are referring to the definition, structure, etc., basically, anything about this type of sentence.
Crafting a message is not necessarily writing, you can simply imagine the idea of a sentence you want to write. Moreover, it is important to remember that you don’t need to write a whole book or essay, let’s focus more on writing a sentence. So, in constructing a message, keep it as concise as possible and make sure that you understand your own idea, too.
Furthermore, in doing this step, it is recommendable to not stick with formal concepts. Hence, it is better to think of something that is parallel with your interest. Music, arts, sports, nature—the sky is your limit, you decide.
By definition, the structure of the cumulative sentence begins with an independent clause and is followed by the subordinate elements or modifiers. To help you understand further, an independent clause is a clause that could stand alone by itself as a simple sentence because it contains a subject and a predicate and depicts a complete thought. Often, a cumulative sentence can also be distinguished as complex ones.
To illustrate, let’s talk about the arts. Here are two clauses that should build a cumulative sentence:
From these two clauses, let’s identify which is the independent clause. If you got it right, the first one should be your choice. So, simply state it first, followed by the second one as presented below:
Louise loves vibrant colors like yellow, pink and sky blue.
In this sentence, “like yellow, pink and sky blue” acted as the modifier since it described or expounded on the vibrant colors Louise loves. For you to understand more, simply ponder on these numerous sample sentences.
1. I went to the mall yesterday, bought shirts and bags, and ate at the newly-opened restaurant.
2. The Philippines is a great vacation spot for families and friends, with beaches and other natural tourist spots to enjoy. You may also see the sentence fragment.
3. I could tell my father is mad from his silence and indifference towards us.
4. You can pass the exam with good study habits and good night sleep.
5. She decided to major in nursing, even though she really wanted to study architecture or engineering.
6. He finally completed his assignment after a long day of meetings and a long night of hard work. You may also see the compound sentences.
7. Alisha cut classes without telling anyone from her circle of friends and family.
8. We soon became fond of each other, due to our love for books and the mysterious aura he exudes.
9. Mia made some great do-it-yourself project videos on her YouTube channel, including a video on life hacks.
10. I like all kinds of song genres, like rock, pop, classical, RnB and hip-hop. You may also see the declarative sentences.
11. The spoiled baby started crying when she didn’t get her toys and milk at the usual time.
12. Her husband was elated when he held their baby for the first time after his wife gave birth.
Here are some examples of cumulative sentences in literature. Take note of the texts in bold.
“The radiators put out lots of heat, too much, in fact, and old-fashioned sounds and smells came with it, exhalations of the matter that composes our own mortality, and reminiscent of the intimate gases we all diffuse.” You may also see exclamatory sentences.
“The San Bernardino Valley lies only an hour east of Los Angeles by the San Bernardino Freeway but is in certain ways an alien place: Not the coastal California of the subtropical twilights and the soft westerlies off the Pacific but a harsher California, haunted by the Mojave just beyond the mountains, devastated by the hot dry Santa Ana wind that comes down through the passes at 100 miles an hour and whines through the eucalyptus windbreaks and works on the nerves.” You may also see the complete and incomplete sentences.
“The unwieldy provision carts, draught horses, and heavily armed knights kept the advance down to nine miles a day, the huge horde moving in three parallel columns, cutting broad highways of litter and devastation through an already abandoned countryside, many of the adventurers now traveling on foot, having sold their horses for bread or having slaughtered them for meat.” You may also see the preposition sentences.
“He wept silently, after the custom of shamed and angry men, so that when the pursuit party came tumbling, pounding, scrabbling down the trail, past the fold in which he and Hillel stood concealed, he could hear the creak and rattle of their leather armor with its scales of horn; and when the Arsiyah returned, just before daybreak, at the very hour when all of the creation seemed to fall silent as if fighting off tears, Zelikman could hear the rumbling of the men’s bellies and the grit in their eyelids and the hollowness of failure sounding in their chests.” You may also see the run on sentences.
“I have been assured by a very knowing American friend of my acquaintance in London, that a young healthy child well nourished is at a year old a most delicious, nourishing, and wholesome food, whether stewed, roasted, baked or boiled; and I make no doubt it will equally serve in a fricassee or a ragout.” You may also see the interrogative sentences.
“I write this at a wide desk in a pine shed as I always do these recent years, in this life I pray will last, while the summer sun closes the sky to Orion and to all the other winter stars over my roof.”
“Here was this man Tom Guthrie in Holt standing at the back window in the kitchen of his house smoking cigarettes and looking out over the back lot where the sun was just coming up.” You may also see negative sentences.
The texts that are in bold are the main idea and the rest are the details. If you have noticed the supporting details are quite long and that it already seemed like a run-on sentence. All you have to do is to make sure that you use parallelism to keep related ideas in a similar form.
Even though cumulative sentences can be lengthy, it cannot be denied that is easier to understand. This is because it is expressed in a straightforward and simple manner that you would already understand the thought of the sentence before you arrive in the middle part. You may also see the Conditional Sentence – Definition and Examples.
Even though the details are written after the main idea are just add-ons, they are relatively important. The additional details expound the main idea further given that the main idea is usually expressed in a straightforward manner. You may also see the Different Types of Transitional Phrases and Sentences.
While there are some people who would find this type of sentence strange, this type of sentence is helpful in helping authors reach their goals. There are writers who are very detailed in the scenes they write, thus relying on cumulative sentences to make it work. However, writers who specialize in horror genres cannot use this type of sentence because an explanation or information is added after the main point of the sentence has been written, removing the element of surprise or shock which is the main goal of horror/suspense stories. You may also see the Parallel Sentences — Structure and Examples.
If you want to narrate events, you can make use of a cumulative sentence because it gives an informal, conversational, and relaxed feeling to the people you are talking to. You may also see How to Write Short Sentences.
You also have to admit that not all people like to read. There are some people who would find intricate details annoying and unnecessary that they would immediately look for the main idea of the sentence. With cumulative sentences, you can actually appeal to those kinds of readers. It helps your readers maintain their interest while also giving them immediately the main idea of the sentence. You may also see the compound sentences.
Cumulative and periodic sentences are both presented as complex sentences in common cases. Otherwise stated, these two sentence types have an independent clause and dependent clauses. These sentences could actually be confusing, especially if you are not well-informed of the key dissimilarities of the independent and dependent clauses. However, if you already mastered distinguishing these basic variations, you’ll realize how easy it is to identify which one is a periodic sentence and which is cumulative.
Now, to explain further, though both sentence type uses the same types of phrases, the way these clauses are applied differs. Unlike the cumulative sentence, the periodic ones start with the subordinate or dependent clauses and state the independent clause at the end of the sentence. Because of this structure, periodic sentences are highly effective in emphasizing points or creating suspense or thrilling sense in depicting an idea.
To let you understand more, let’s use the clauses below to make both a cumulative and a periodic sentence.
Accordingly, the latter is the independent clause while the former is the dependent or subordinate element. Writing them into sentences, a cumulative one should look like this:
Michael voyaged across seas because he truly wants to see his wife.
At the same, a periodic sentence could also be depicted from these clauses. This is how it looks like:
Because he truly wants to see his wife, Michael voyaged across seas.
Providing you with more references, here are some guide samples to help you discover the deeper world of sentences.
