What is Silepsis?

Silepsis is a figure of speech that is in the category of syntax figure (or construction). This is because it is closely related to the syntactic construction of sentences.

Silepsis is used by the agreement of the idea and not the term used in the sentence. Thus, it does not obey the rules of grammatical agreement, but through an ideological agreement.

In addition to silepsis, other syntax figures are: Ellipse, zeugma, hyperbatic, asyndeton, polysyndeton, anaphora, anacolutton and pleonasm.

Classification

Depending on the grammatical field in which it works, silepsis is classified into:

• Gender Silepsis: when there is disagreement between genders (female and male);
• Number Silepsis: when there is disagreement between the singular and the plural;
• Silepsis of person: when there is disagreement between the subject, which appears in the third person, and the verb, which appears in the first person plural.

Examples

To better understand, check out examples of silepsis below:

• Gender Silepsis: Old São Paulo grows every day.
• Number Silepsis: The people united and shouted very loudly in the streets.
• Silepsis of person: All researchers are looking forward to the congress.

In the first example, we notice the union of the male (São Paulo) and female (old woman) genders.

In the second example, the use of the singular and plural denotes the use of the silepsis of number: people (singular) and shouted (plural).

In the third example, the verb does not agree with the subject, but with the grammatical person: researchers (third person); we are (first person plural).

Exercises

Indicate which type of silepsis appears in the sentences below:

a) Brazilians, we are happy.
b) Rio de Janeiro is fun.
c) The audience arrived and started to party.
d) São Paulo is violent.
e) We all prefer the former mayor.

See Answer

a) person silepsis
b) gender silence
c) number silence
d) gender silence
e) person silepsis

Want to know more about the topic? Read the articles:

• Figures of Language
• Thought Figures
• Syntax figures
• Word Pictures
• Sound Figures