The Compound Sentence

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 484.

THE COMPOSITE SENTENCE

A composite sentence contains two or more predicative centers. The number of predicative centers determines the number of clauses in a composite sentence. Depending on the type of syntactic relation between their structural elements (clauses), composite sentences are classified into compound and complex ones. A compound sentence is based on coordination. Syntactically, clauses in a compound sentence are relatively independent, i.e. neither of the clauses is syntactically dependent on the other.

A compound sentence is formed by the coordination of two or more smaller sentences, or clauses. Coordination is a relation between two or more separate and syntactically equivalent parts of a sentence. The syntactic connection between the clauses in a compound sentence is either

syndetic, i.e. involving coordinating conjunctions (coordinators):

Harry managed not to shout out, but it was a close thing. (J. K. Rowling)

He thought of Jan again and his pulse quickened. (D. Cusack)

or asyndetic, i.e. involving no formal coordinators:

Jan gave up the pretence of packing, Doreen went on pinning up her hair. (D. Cusack)

The night was cloudy; there was no moon. (W. Collins)

I glanced at the livery – it was sir Edward's! (W. Collins)

There are four semantic types of coordination to be distinguished: copulative, disjunctive, adversative, and causative-consecutive.

Clauses standing in a relation of copulative coordination express ideas which are juxtaposed, or put together: I woke up and it was the afternoon. (I. Murdoch). Copulative coordination is indicated by the following conjunctions (coordinators): and, nor, neither … nor, not only … but (also).

Disjunction is a type of coordination that distinguishes alternatives. Disjunctive coordination suggests a choice of ideas expressed by the clauses: All of us have to be prevaricators, hypocrites and liars every day of our lives; otherwise the social structure would fall into pieces the first day. (O'Henry). Disjunctive coordinators are: or, or else, else, either … or, otherwise.

Adversative coordination marks an antithesis, i.e. contrasts ideas expressed by the clauses: I waited for him to unleash the topic of the day, but he didn't seem to want to get going. (P. Wodehouse). Adversative coordinators are: but, while, whereas, nevertheless, still, and yet.

Clauses which express ideas standing in a cause-and-effect relation represent the so called causative-consecutive coordination: The preparations for departure were hurried, for the party set out some days earlier than was intended. (W. Collins) The causative-consecutive form of connection is realized by the following coordinators: consequently, hence, so, therefore, thus, for.