The Compound Sentence

A compound sentence is a composite sentence consisting of clauses connected by coordination, i.e. by sentence sequence. Coordination comprises the following types of connection:

1. Copulative connection, implying addition, harmony, agreement (and, nor, neither…nor, both…and)

2. Disjunctive connection, implying choice, alternative (or, else, otherwise)

3. Adversative connection expressing contrast, opposition (but, yet, while, however, still)

4. Causal and consecutive implying reason and conclusion (for, so, hence, thus, so that, then, accordingly, therefore)

The semantic relations between the coordinated clauses depend partly on the lexical meaning of the conjunctions and partly on the meanings of the words making up the clauses themselves. There has been some discussion about the degree of independence of the clauses making up a compound sentence. The opinion has been expressed that the independence of the clauses is not complete, and the structure of the second and following clauses is to same extent predetermined by the first.

Compound sentences

Coordination can be expressed either syndeticaliy or asyndetically.

Main semantic relations between clauses:

- copulative

- adversative

- disjunctive

- causal

- consequential

- resultative

The same relations can be found between sentences in a text => some grammarians think that compound sentences don't exist (it is "a sequence semantically related independent sentences not separated by full stops in writing"). Their arguments:

1). the possibility of a falling, finalizing tone between the coordinated predicative units

2). The existence in written speech of independently presented sentences introduced by the same conjunctions as the "coordinate clauses"

3) the "coordinate clauses" can be separated by a full stop while the semantic relations between them will be preserved

There is a semantico-syntactic difference between the compound sentence and the corresponding textual sequence of independent sentences: -By means of different distributions of predicative units, different distributions of expressed ideas are achieved (Блох считает, что это "coordinative syntactic function in action")

- by means of combining or non-combining predicative units into a coordinative sentence we show the closeness or looseness of connections between the reflected events

Eg: N adored that actor. M could not stand the sight of him. Each was convinced of the infallibility of one's artistic judgment That aroused prolonged arguments.

We can arrange it a bit different:

N adored that actor, but M could not stand the sight of him. Each was convinced ofthe infallibility of one's artistic judgment, and that aroused prolonged arguments.

If the "negative" theory of the compound sentence is correct, any coordinative rearrangements of the sentence must be indifferent to the sense of the sentence.

N adored that actor. But M could not stand the sight of him, each was convinced of the infallibility of one's artistic judgment, and that aroused prolonged arguments.

(PS к тому же some subordinate clauses of a complex sentence can also be separated in the text, thus becoming independent sentences => but no one denies the existence of complex sentence)

38. the Complex sent is a polypredicative constr-ion built up on the principle of subordination. It is derived from 2 or more base sent-s. When joined into one complex sent one sent becomes the principle clause & the insert sent-s its subbord cl.

The subbord cl is joined to the princ cl either by a subordinating connector (syndetically), or assyndet-ly. These connectors are: that, after, though, because, unless... The princ cl dominates positionally but it doesn't mean that it expresses the central inform part of the com-ion.

The Semi-complex sent is a semi-composite sent built on the principle of subordination.

They are div-ed on the basis of the char-re of predicative fusion: this may be effected either by the prosess of position-sharing (word-sharing), or by the proc of direct linear expansion. The pos-sharing faal into Subj- & Obj-sharing. Dir lin exp-ion fall into Attributive-, Adverbial- & Nominal-phrase Complication. Each subtype is related to a definite complex sent.