Lecture 8 Compound Sentence: Structure and Arrangement of Clauses

The compound sentence is a composite sentence built on the principle of coordination. Coordination, the same as subordination, can be expressed either syndetically (by means of coordinative connectors) or asyndetically.

The main semantic relations between the clauses connected coordinatively are copulative, adversative, disjunctive, causal, consequential, resultative. Similar semantic types of relations are to be found between independent, separate sentences forming a continual text. This fact has given cause to deny the existence of the compound sentence as a special regular form of the composite sentence. Within the framework of the cited thesis the compound sentence is treated as a sequence of semantically related independent sentences not separated by full stops in writing on the following grounds: 1. the possibility of a full stop-separation; 2. preservation of the same semantic relations.

As a matter of fact, there is a substantial semantico-syntactic difference between the compound sentence and the corresponding textual sequence of independent sentences, which is explicitly exposed in the contexts of continual speech. By means of combining or non-combining predicative units into a coordinative polypredicative sequence different semantic ideas may be expressed. For example, let's take a textual sequence of independent monopredicative units: Jane adored that actor. Hockins could not stand the sight of him. Each was convinced of one's own artistic judgment.

If we stick to the point of view that semantically there's no difference between the compound sentence and the corresponding simple sentences, any coordinative linear re-arrangements of the cited sentences must be indifferent as regards the sense rendered by the text. In practice, though, it is not so. In particular, the following arrangement of the predicative units into two successive compound sentences is quite justified from the semantico-syntactic point of view: Jane adored that actor but Hockins could not stand the sight of him. Each was convinced of one's own artistic judgement.

As different from this, the version of arranging the same material given below cannot be justified in any syntactic or semantic sense:

*Jane adored that actor. Hockins could not stand the sight of him, but each was convinced of one's own artistic judgement.

Thus, the idea of the non-existence of the compound sentence in English should be rejected since this type of syntactic constructions possesses its own structural and semantic characteristics.

The compound sentence is derived from two or more base sentences which are connected on the principle of coordination either syndetically or asyndetically. The base sentences joined into one compound sentence lose their independent status and become coordinate clauses - parts of a composite unity. The first clause is called "leading", the successive clauses are called "sequential". The coordinating connectors are divided into conjunctions proper and semi-functional clausal connectors of adverbial character.

The main coordinating conjunctions, both simple and discontinuous, are: and, but, ornor, neither, for, either...or, neither...nor, etc. The main adverbial coordinators are: then, yet, so, thus, consequently, nevertheless, however, etc. The adverbial coordinators, unlike pure conjunctions, as a rule can shift their position in the sentence:

Mrs. Dyre stepped into the room, however the host took no notice of it. —* Mrs. Dyre stepped into the room, the host, however, took no notice of it.

The connection between coordinate clauses may be very loose, and in this case the construction is changed into a cumulative one marking the intermediary status of the construction between a composite sentence and a sequence of independent sentences: Nobody ever disturbed him while he was at work; it was one of the unwritten laws.

When approached from the semantico-syntactic point of view, the connection between the clauses in a compound sentence should be analyzed into two basic types: first, the unmarked coordinative connection effected by the conjunction and and asyndetically. This type of connection is not specified in any way: the syndetic and -constructions can express only simple copulative relations; the asyndetic constructions can express only enumerative relations.

The marked coordinative connection is effected by pure and adverbial coordinators, which express different meanings. In particular, the connectors but, yet, however, etc. express adversative relations of clauses; the discontinuous connectors both...and, neither...nor express positive or negative copulative relations of events; the connectors so, therefore, consequently express various subtypes of clausal consequence, etc.

The length of the compound sentence in terms of the number of it clausal parts is in principle unlimited, but the most common type of the compound sentence is a two-clause construction.

Sentences consisting of more than two clauses are divided into "open" and "closed". Copulative and enumerative types of connection, if they are similar in the final sequential clause, form open coordinators. These are used as descriptive and narrative means in a literary text:

They visited house after house. Sometimes they were too large and sometimes they were too small; sometimes they were too far from the center and sometimes they were too close; sometimes they were too expensive and sometimes they wanted too many repaires; sometimes they were too stuffy and sometimes they were too airy...

In the multi-clause compound sentence of a closed type the final part is joined on an unequal basis with the previous ones, whereby a finalization of the expressed chain of ideas is expressed. The most typical closures in such compound sentences are those effected by the conjunction and (for an asyndetic preceding construction) and but (both for asyndetic and copulative syndetic preceding construction). The structure of the closed coordinative construction is most convenient for the formation of expressive climax.

Lecture 9 Semi-composite Sentence: Syntagmatic and Paradigmatic Composition

The semi-composite sentence is to be defined as a sentence with more than one predicative line which are expressed in fusion. This type of the predicative construction displays an intermediary syntactic character between the composite sentence and the simple sentence. Its immediate syntagmatic structure is analogical to that of an expanded simple sentence, since it possesses only one completely expressed predicative unit. Its derivational structure (deep structure) is analogical to that of a composite sentence, because it is derived from two or more predicative units - its base sentences.

There are two different causes of the existence of the semi-composite sentences in language: the first cause is the tendency of speech to be economical. As a result of this tendency, reductional processes are developed which bring about semi-blending of sentences. The second cause is purely semantic: this type of constructions is used to show that events described in the corresponding sentence parts are more closely connected than the events described in the parts of the composite sentence of complete composition.

According to the structure the semi-composite sentences should be divided into semi-complex and semi-compound ones.

The semi-complex sentence is a semi-composite sentence built up on the principle of subordination. It is derived from minimum two base sentences, one matrix and one insert. In the process of semi-complexing, the insert sentence is transformed into a partially depredicated construction which is embedded in one of the syntactic positions of the matrix sentence. In the resulting construction, the matrix sentence becomes its dominant part and the insert sentence its subordinate semi-clause.

The semi-complex sentences fall into a number of subtypes. Their basic division is dependent on the character of predicative fusion, which may be of 2 types: position-sharing and linear expansion.

The sentences based on position-sharing fall into the following kinds:

1. Semi-complex sentences of subject-sharing. For example:
The moon rose red. <— The moon rose. The moon was red

The man stood silent. «— The man stood. The man was silent In the position of the predicative of the construction different categorial classes of words are used: nouns, adjectives, participles: Sam returned from the polar expedition a grown-up man. They waited breathless. She stood bendins over the child's bed. We stared at the picture bewildered.

2. Semi-complex sentences of object sharing. For example:
We saw him approach. <— We saw him. He approached us.

They painted the fence green. <— They painted the fence. The fence became green.

This type of semi-complex sentences expresses three basic types of relations: relations of simultaneity in the same place: He felt the morning breeze gently touching his face;

relations of cause and result: / helped Joe find the photo. The cook beat the meat soft;

relations of mental attitude towards the event: You'll find many things strange here. I didn't mean my words to hurt you.

The semi-complex sentences based on the linear expansion fall into the following kinds:

1. Semi-complex sentences of attributive complication are derived from two
base sentences having an identical element that occupies the position of the subject in
the insert sentence and any notional position in the matrix sentences. For example:
The waves sent out fine spray. + The waves rolled over the dam. — The waves rolling
over the dam sent out fine spray.

I came in late for the supper. + The supper was served in the dining-room. —* I came in late for the supper served in the dining-room.

2. Semi-complex sentences of adverbial complication are derived from two
base sentences one of which, the insert sentence, is predicatively reduced and
embedded in an adverbial position of the other one, the matrix sentence. For example:
The task was completed + The task seemed a very easy one. —* The task, when
completed, seemed a very easy one.

The windows were closed. + She didn't hear the noise. —* The windows being closed she didn 't hear the noise.

3. Semi-complex sentences of nominal phrase complication are derived
from two base sentences one of which, the insert sentence, is partially nominalized
and embedded in one of the nominal and prepositional adverbial positions of the other
sentence serving as the matrix. For example:

The fact that Tom came late annoyed his mother. —* Tom's coming late annoyed his

mother.

It was unusual that he came so late. —* For him to come so late was unusual.

While he was writing the letter he dated it wrong. —* In writing the letter he dated it

wrong.

The semi-compound sentence is a semi-composite sentence built up on the principle of coordination. By the process of semi-compounding the sentences overlap round the identical element (the subject or the predicate) in coordinative fusion, which can be either syndetic or asyndetic. For example:

The soldier was badly wounded. + The soldier stayed in the ranks. —» The soldier was badly wounded, but stayed in the ranks.

His manners were matter-of-fact. + His manners were casual. —* His manners were matter-of-fact, casual.

The syndetic formation of the semi-compound sentence expresses, first, copulative connection of events; then contrast, either comparative or adversative; furthermore, alternation, consequence, limitation. The conjunctive elements effecting this syndetic semi-compounding of sentences are both pure conjunctions and also words of adverbial nature. The pure conjunction and expresses the unmarked semantic type of semi-compounding; the rest of the connectors render various marked types of it.

With semi-compound sentences conjunctions may be combined with particle­like elements of modal-adverbial description, which specify the meaning of the conjunction. Here belong such combinations as and then, and perhaps, and probably, and consequently, but only, but instead, but nevertheless, or else, or even, or rather, etc.

Thus, alongside with the composite sentences of complete composition there exists another type of syntactic constructions, namely, the semi-composite sentence, which occupies the intermediary position between the composite sentence and the simple sentence.