loose sentence

American  

noun

1. a sentence that does not end with the completion of its main clause, but continues with one or more subordinate clauses or other modifiers.

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Etymology

Origin of loose sentence

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

loose sentence

With their loose sentence structure and the melodic give and take allowing a team approach to conversation I knew they were Guyanese.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline

A loose sentence formed with but can always be converted into a periodic sentence formed with although, as illustrated under Rule 4.

From A Foreword to the Panama-Pacific International Exposition by James, Juliet Helena Lumbard

On account of its name many are liable to think the loose sentence an undesirable form in good composition, but this should not be taken for granted.

From How to Speak and Write Correctly by Devlin, Joseph

A loose sentence may be broken at some point before the end, and up to that point be grammatically a complete sentence.

From English: Composition and Literature by Webster, W. F. (William Franklin)

Tis love indeed to thee, but to my heart Every loose sentence is a killing dart.

From A Collection of Old English Plays, Volume 4 by Bullen, A. H. (Arthur Henry)