In the poem On Imagination, Phillis Wheatley reflects on her past and shares anecdotes about her experiences as an artist. She also discusses her later career as a writer and educator.
Wheatley uses the inverted sentence format in this poem to tell her story. The sentence structure is unusual at first, but it becomes clear as she explains the images she wants to portray.
She begins by talking about how she was a poor child and lived in an old mansion with many servants. She says she was never allowed to play with any of them because she was “too fancy” and “too smart.”
Later in life, Wheatley became a successful artist and wrote books on imagination and creativity.
Find the rhyming couplet that contains an inverted sentence
“There’s a time for everything, there’s a place for every things Hezbollah is not afraid to invade.”
This rhyming couplet contains an inverted sentence which can be difficult to spot. The sentence reads: “There’s a time for dreaming, fantasising, and wishful thinking, but not until you’ve done your practical day-to-day work.”
However, by practicably doing your work in terms of education and employment, you will be able to achieve your dreams!
The sentence suggests that dreams are important to get out of your head and into reality, but it also reminds us that dreams should not be expected immediately after dreaming.
What is an inverted sentence?
In an inverted sentence, one or more words are replaced by a different word. This can create a trickier read than just plain old text!
When an inverted sentence is present, it usually changes the subject or another important word in the sentence.
In the above example, rephrasing the text as an inverted sentence would look like this:
The new invention may change someone’s life for the better, which is what I would expect.
may change someone’s life for the better, which is what I would expect. The new invention may change someone’s life for worse, which is what I did not expect.
How can you identify an inverted sentence?
An inverted sentence can make your text more interesting or clever. The word or phrase that is placed in the begining of the sentence is called the trigger.
The second half of the sentence should match the first half well. If they can handle it, then by all means go for it!
Some trigger words may be more obvious than others. For instance, when looking up lyrics to a song, you would not expect to find any pictures or graphics before the words.
What are the characteristics of an inverted sentence?
An inverted sentence can make the reader or listener question what the author is saying. It can make you question whether the author is making a point or telling a story.
In a typical sentence, there is an action followed by an outcome. In an inverted sentence, there is an action or transition followed by an outcome.
Inverted sentences are good for drawing attention to a detail, establishing emphasis, or creating contrast. They can also help move away from the main topic and into another area of the text.
There are several types of inverted sentences: transitional, reversals, and implicit.
What is the purpose of using an inverted sentence?
In an inverted sentence, the meaning is not clear or implied and is instead made clear. When used correctly, an inverted sentence can make a reader think something else is happening or telling them something else is happening.
When a reversed sentence is used, the second part of the sentence may not be a direct quotation but instead a paraphrase or explanation. The second part of the sentence can also be a quotation, making it seem as if there is another person talking when there really isn’t.
Reversed sentences are common in literature and history, making readers search for the other side to see what they were saying. When used properly, reversed sentences do not seem out of place and add clarity to a text.
Are there any examples of famous authors who use inverted sentences?
There are a few famous authors who use the inverted sentence. One common example is in the opening paragraph of a novel.
Most novelists start off their text with a present tense, and then switch to a past tense, and finally to a future tense. The first few sentences of your text can test your skills as an author, as you must create interest in your text before adding pictures or other elements.
In the beginning of your text, can you make your point easily? If yes, you have reached the mark! Then, look for examples of change or transition in your text.
What is the difference between a complex and compound-complex sentence?
A compound-complex sentence uses two or more ideas or phrases to create a new concept or to add to an existing concept.
A complex sentence uses two or more words to create a feeling or to add emphasis to an idea.
The most common types of compound and complex sentences are:
When an unattended thought is good enough, it can become a complex sentence. For example, if you were thinking about the weather, your thoughts could become: hot, hot, warm, cold, rainy, and snow.
If you were thinking about your dream and how important it was for you to reach your goal before anything else, your thoughts would be about: how stressed I am out about this goal, how impossible it is to reach at this point in time, and how important this thought is for you now.
Feasible-impossible transitional words can help break up the difference between a simple and a compound one. For example, when thinking of the weather with the following transitional words: hot & warm|warm & hot|cold & rainy|rainy & snow|snow>, the complexity of the sentence can be seen: warm |warm |warm |cold |cold |rainy |rainy |snow|snow.
How can you tell the difference between a complex and compound-complex sentence?
A compound-complex sentence is when the main word is followed by one or more additional words. For example, the additional words may be preface, middle, and conclusion.
When there are multiple elements in a sentence, such as in an image or phrase, there is more room for creativity to expand. Because of this, essay writers more often use a compound-complex sentence than a complex and vice versa.
The difference between the two can be found in how many parts are contained in each type of sentence. A complicated sentence may contain four or more parts, while a complex does so only one part.
