50 Examples of Periphrasis

Periphrasis

The periphrasis is an expression that is made up of at least two words, but can generally be written in a single word. For instance: give a hug it is a periphrase because it is made up of three words and because it can be written in one: hug.

What rhetorical or literary figure, the periphrasis is used to express an idea, name, action or object with a phrase instead of using a word. As with all rhetorical figures, with periphrasis we seek that something is perceived in a different way than it is done with everyday language. For instance: The one with the light feet. [To refer to Achilles].

In contrast, in grammar, periphrasis refers to verbal or verb phrases. These are composed of a Auxiliar verb, which is generally conjugated in accordance with the subject, and a verb (a verb in the infinitive, participle or gerund). In some cases there may be a nexus between the auxiliary verb and the verb. For instance: I have to go out.

However, not all expressions formed by an auxiliary and a verb are verbal periphrasis. In order for them to be, the verb must not be substituted for another grammatical structure. For instance:

I'm going out on the street. It is verbal periphrasis because you cannot replace “going out”: * I am going to that. He thought about buying a new computer. It is not verbal periphrasis because "buy" can be replaced by another structure: He thought about that.

Types of literary periphrasis

1. Pronomination. When a phrase replaces a noun, because its qualities are named. For instance: Yellow, bright and hot. [To refer to the sun].
2. Replacement of a verb by the phenomena that this usually produces. For instance: Entering little by little into another world, sometimes chaotic and sometimes orderly, but never logical.[To refer to sleeping or dreaming].
3. By description. An object, characteristic, or action is described without naming it. For instance: Empathic with everyone, she always shares, even what she doesn't have. [To refer to solidarity].

Types of verbal periphrasis

Depending on the shape they can be:

1. Compound times. They are formed with the verb to have conjugated + invariable participle. For instance: Enzo had left when I arrived.
2. Passive verb phrase. It is formed with the verb to be conjugated and the participle that agrees in gender and number with the subject. For instance: The law It was passed by senators.
3. Verbal phrase of infinitive or gerund. It is made up of a conjugated verb + (preposition / que) infinitive or gerund. For instance: Heaven is it's cloudy.

According to the meaning they can be:

1. Temporary. There is only one that is the future verb phrase. For instance: I will travel to Brazil in September.
2. Aspects. They show the status of an action or process.

• Inchoative. They mark the beginning of an action. For instance: I know laughed.
• Terminatives. They mark the end of an action. For instance: Finished cleaning and went to the movies.
• Recent ending. They show that an action has just finished. For instance: Just arrived from the center.
• Egressives. They show that an action was interrupted. For instance: Stop singing, when she heard the doorbell.
• Culmination. They highlight the result of an action. For instance: Ended up falling asleep on the train, because he was very tired.
• Durative. They show the development of an action. For instance: The cat is playing with a ball.
• Habitual. They highlight the frequency of action. For instance: I usually have breakfast coffee with toast.
• Progressive. They show that the action is in progress. For instance: Wedding comes coming out well.
• Iterative. They show that the action is repeated. For instance: I read again the book.
• Of purpose. They show that the action is going to take place in a short time. I'm about to drink the bus.
• Income. They show that an action is about to begin. For instance: In a while we will go to eat.
• Resumption. They show that an action that was interrupted is resumed. For instance: After turning off the alarm clock, kept sleeping.

1. Manners. They show the attitude of the speaker, that is, the perception regarding the action designated by the verb.

• Of necessity and obligation. They show that the speaker considers that something has to be done yes or yes. For instance: You have to go to fetch a package from the post office.
• Of possibility or permission. They show that the speaker believes that something is possible or that he can do something. For instance: Can tutear me, if you wish.
• Hypothetical. They show that the speaker believes that something might happen, but that he is not certain that it will actually happen. For instance: Maria is not at home, there must be gone to work.
• Approximate. They show that the speaker is unsure of the information. For instance: At the moment, I think the movie comes to be the most viewed this year.

Examples of periphrasis

Sentences with periphrasis as a rhetorical figure

1. He is the man who commands, who directs and who knows the most. [To refer to boss].
2. The one that appears at night, but sometimes during the day, sometimes it is growing and sometimes it is complete. [To refer to the moon].
3. With its seven colors, after the rain. [To refer to the rainbow].
4. I love the records of the king of rock and roll. [To refer to Elvis Presley].
5. It plows through the water, moves with the wind and each one plays the part of it. [To refer to browse].
6. Anxiety, tranquility, looking everywhere. [To refer to wait].
7. Will come in Little time, Will not take long much more. [To refer to soon].
8. With green leaves in spring, with yellow leaves in autumn and without leaves in winter. [To refer to tree].
9. With background music, on the track everyone makes movements, some in pairs and others alone. [To refer to dancing].
10. Special, unique, surprising. [To refer to original].
11. The king of all gods. [To refer to Zeus].
12. Rich aroma, beautiful color, but if you grab it it can cause pain. [To refer to a rose].
13. He illuminates, illuminates, clarifies and guides. [To refer to the light].
14. The Roman poet laureate. [To refer to Virgilio].
15. Nothing in its place, everything anywhere, noise and confusion. [To refer to chaos].

Sentences with verbal periphrasis

1. The film was is going to release next week.
2. Contract It was signed for everyone present.
3. Was this the first time you went to Paris or already had been before?
4. Julia started to work at the office in March.
5. Finished preparing dinner just before the first guest arrived.
6. Tea just called July.
7. I stop going to the gym and started training in the park.
8. The band kept playing the songs that the fans asked for.
9. Enzo usually go to visit her grandmother every Sunday.
10. I was about to get to cook, but the power went out.
11. You have to finish homework.
12. In this institute, you can take classes of any language.
13. You have to change the name of the lawyer, because it is misspelled in the document.
14. She speaks very good Chinese, there must be studied this language for many years.
15. I'm sure everything is going to come out well.

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