Pattern 4
A Series without a Conjunction (aka, asyndeton)
A, B, C
The United States has a government of the people, by the people, for the people.
Pattern 4A
A Series with a Variation (aka, polysyndeton)
A or B or C
Despite his handicaps, I have never seen Larry angry or cross or depressed.
Things to note:
This pattern creates a definite rhythm that the conjunction
usually interrupts. Making the items in the series parallel adds to the rhythm.
ü He has again been trapped, caught, humiliated.
ü Since unification in Berlin, walls have come down, barriers have been broken, bonds have been formed.
For a variation, use no commas but use a conjunction between the items:
ü He could see the castle swathed in gloom and fear and death.
ü I have never seen Larry angry or cross or depressed.
As you can tell parallelism is important in this pattern.
Each part of the series must be equal in length, part of speech, emphasis on
tone.
Although this pattern is technically not grammatically correct, you can use it
occasionally to add emphasis to a list you are highlighting in a sentence. It
brings special attention to this series and should be a centerpiece of a
paragraph, thesis, or essay. Each part of the series should receive equal
emphasis.
Develop a series for each of the following sentences:
When the game was canceled, the rowdy spectators at the ball game ________________
________________________________________________________.
(Provide a series of –ing words for the blanks:
The children gathered around their teacher ___________________________________,
_________________________________, _________________________________.
OVER à
(Begin this sentence with three –ed words)
________________________________________________________________________ the winner left the stadium feeling great.
(Now try it with three –en words)
________________________________________________________________________ the winner left the stadium feeling great.
Write one sentence using Pattern 4 A.