Compound sentences

1. Compound sentences consist of two or more clauses of equal rank which form one syntactical unit in meaning and intonation.

2. Clauses that are parts of compound sentences are called coordinates as they are joined by coordination.

3. Coordinate clauses may be joined:

1. syndetically, that is by means of conjunctions (e.g. and, but, or, nor, for, etc.) or conjunctive adverbs (e.g. so, yet, still, otherwise, therefore, etc.)

2. asyndetically, that is without connectors.

4. Coordinate clauses may be punctuated by commas, semicolons, colons and very seldom, dashes.

5. The main characteristic feature of compound sentences are:

1. in compound sentences the opening clause plays the leading role and each successive clause is joined to the previous one either syndetically or asyndetically, e.g.

   • Old Raffles may or may not have been an exceptional criminal (opening = leading clause), but as a cricketer, I dare swear, he was unique (successive clause). – syndetical connection

   • For Gregory to study maths was a treat; to study English grammar was a thrill. – asyndetical connection

2. in compound sentences the clauses are usually sequentially fixed, that is the previous coordinate clause cannot change place with the following one without changing the meaning of the whole sentence, e.g.

• Mother looked at us significantly, so we changed the topic at once. # We changed the topic at once, so Mother looked at us significantly.

3. though sometimes coordinate clauses can change places without changing the meaning of the whole sentence, e.g.

• I like to read; my wife likes to talk. = My wife likes to talk; I like to read.

Coordinate Connection

Relationship between coordinate clauses may be of 4 types:

1. Copulative connection is used when two ideas expressed in coordinate clauses are joined in time and place. The statement expressed in one clause is simply added to the one expressed in another clause. Copulative connection can be either syndetical or asyndetical.

1. Copulative syndetical connection is employs the following connectors:

   conjunctions	and; neither; neither… nor, but also; not only …but also
   conjunctive adverbs	(and) then; moreover (formal)

I didn’t want to go into the details of the matter, and they didn’t want me to do it either.

I didn’t want to go into the details of the matter; neither did they want me to. (can be replaced by the conjunction ‘and’)

I didn’t want to go into the details of the matter; moreover, they didn’t want me to do it either.

We have to invite your parents and my parents, and then there's your brother.

She could neither read, nor could she write properly.

Shakespeare was not only a writer but he also acted in some of his own plays.