ENGL 672

April 9, 2012

Coordination and complex sentences

OUTLINE

From April 2: English imperatives, exclamatives, exercise 6. Coordination, subordination, and other terms (subordinate, superordinate, main, matrix) Coordination coordination (syndetic/asyndetic, order of conjoins, central coordinators) meanings and uses of coordinators (lightly) combinatory and segragatory coordination of NPs (lightly) Subordination review: finite/nonfinite VP or clause, clause elements markers of subordination (subordinators, Wh-elements, relative pronoun that, subjectoperator inversion, nonfiniteness) direct and indirect speech (learn independently) =============================================================
1. Coordination, subordination, and other terms (review and GQ 14.1)

a. b.

In simple sentences, there is one main clause (see GQ Ch. 10), e.g. You can borrow my car There are two major types of multiple sentences: compound sentence which consists of two or more COORDINATE clauses. Both are main clauses. Main clauses are generally also independent clauses because they are not subordinate to another clause.1 (i)
SENTENCE:

I admire her reasoning, but I reject her conclusions. I admire her reasoning I reject her conclusions

MAIN CLAUSE: MAIN CLAUSE:

complex sentence is like a simple sentence in that it consists of only one MAIN clause, but unlike a simple sentence it has one or more SUBORDINATE (also called DEPENDENT or EMBEDDED) clauses which function as elements of the sentence (e.g. S, O, A), e.g. You can borrow my car if you need it. (ii)
MAIN CLAUSE (and SENTENCE):

Although I admire her reasoning, I reject

her conclusions. The subordinate clause, Although I admire her reasoning, functions as an adverbial in the main clause. A SUBORDINATE CLAUSE, then, is a constituent of the MAIN clause in a complex sentence, e.g. object, subject, adverbial. c. Coordination involves equal status. Subordination involves inequality (relationship between dependent and independent elements).

However, if you have a compound sentence such as The plot was exciting and the characterization plausible, the second clause in the sentence is not independent according to Quirk et al. because it is not acceptable as a simple sentence on its own.

d.

Superordinate and subordinate clauses (GQ 283-284) In (ii) above, the SUBORDINATE CLAUSE is Although I admire her reasoning, and the SUPERORDINATE clause (of which the subordinate clause is a constituent, an adverbial) is also the MAIN clause: Although I admire her reasoning, I reject her conclusions. In more complex cases, however, a clause may have more than one relationship, e.g. it may be subordinate to one clause and superordinate to another. See Fig 14.1 (GQ: 284): He predicted that he would discover the tiny particle when he conducted his next experiment (which is the MAIN CLAUSE and SENTENCE) Gloss of Figure 14.1 (if you need it): He predicted that he would discover the tiny particle when he conducted his next experiment is SUPERORDINATE to that he would discover the tiny particle when he conducted his next experiment (thus that he would discover the tiny particle when he conducted his next experiment is SUBORDINATE to [functions as an object in] He predicted that he would discover the tiny particle when he conducted his next experiment). that he would discover the tiny particle when he conducted his next experiment is SUPERORDINATE to when he conducted his next experiment (thus when he conducted his next experiment is SUBORDINATE to [functions as an adverbial in] that he would discover the tiny particle when he conducted his next experiment).

e.

MATRIX CLAUSE:

GQ suggest that sometimes it can be handy to distinguish between a subordinate clause and the rest of the superordinate clause that it is a part of. They call this a MATRIX clause. (They point out that some grammarians use the term MAIN CLAUSE for what theyre calling the MATRIX CLAUSE.) (iii) In She telephoned while you were out:
SENTENCE/MAIN CLAUSE/SUPERORDINATE: SUBORDINATE CLAUSE: while you were out MATRIX CLAUSE: She telephoned

She telephoned while you were out

2. a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h.

Simple Coordination: What constituents are conjoined in the following? The fiber optics and mechanicals are foreign bodies. Pat had offered me a podium, but I felt more comfortable at the table. Little Bo Peep has lost or misplaced her sheep. The glass looked dark and opaque on the outside. Should we walk around or through that puddle? Sid was very angry and very loud. The boy might have read but could not have written the note The cats were snarling and spitting at the raccoon. __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________

3. a. b. c. d. 4. 5. a. b. c. 6. a. b. c. d. e. 7.

In what order do the following conjoins appear when they are coordinated? Why? (e.g. semantic or cultural dominance/salience, phonological, length, frequency, etc.) eggs, ham fingers, toes husband, wife pepper, salt ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________ e. f. g. h. bacon, eggs easy, free I, you feet, hands ____________ ____________ ____________ ____________

Syntactic features of coordinators (GQ 13.4-13.9): Lightly independently Meanings and uses of coordinators: and, or, but (GQ 13.10-13.13) and: sequence, consequence, contrast, concessive, condition, similarity, addition or: typically exclusive, inclusive, negative condition but: contrast Determine the meaning expressed by the coordinators in each sentence. She is studying law, and her brother is a beach bum. Do you want sugar in your coffee, or do you want cream? She didnt buy vegetables in the market, but grew them herself. Pat is taking Latin, and she is studying Tagalog. Dont make a move, or Ill shoot! More on simple coordination: GQ 13.17-13.26: Go through examples; good practice in identifying constituents (i.e. what units are being coordinated). We wont cover complex coordination and the rest of GQ Ch. 13). In the most probable interpretation of each sentence, is the coordination SEGREGATORY (S) or COMBINATORY (C)? a. b. c. d. e. f. g. They went to Paris by ship and by train. Pat and Sid played bridge with Robin and Chris. Kim and Tracy ate a watermelon each. Morgan and Angel were both winners. The striped ties were red and black. Law and order is a primary concern of the new administration. Terry and Frankie are colleagues. __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________

8.

9. Review: Is each italicized clause finite (F) or nonfinite (N)? a. b. c. d. e. f. 10. 11. 12. 13. Because Pat is working, shes not here. Having seen the pictures, he left the gallery. She wanted to design a new sort of skyscraper. We heard Sammy sing at the talent show. Its necessary for everyone to sit in a circle. The kids should wear seatbelts while theyre riding. Finite and nonfinite subordinate clauses: GQ: 14.3-14.5 Functions of subordinate clauses: clausal subjects, clausal objects (also called complement clauses in some treatments), relative clauses, adverbial clauses. Markers of subordination: GQ 14.7-14.10 Direct and indirect speech: GQ 14.17-14.19 a. REPORTING CLAUSE (contains QUOTATIVE): Pat said, she said, he goes. b. backshift in indirect speech: GQ 14.18 c. other changes in indirect speech, e.g. references to persons, time 14. Rewrite each sentence as indirect speech. a. She decided, I am going to be in a parade. _____________________________________ b. The interviewer asked me, Why do you want to work for our company. __________________ c. Are you comfortable? the flight attendant inquires. ___________________________________ d. Sid told Kim, I hear you are moving now. ___________________________________________ e. He told us, Bring blue books for the exam. ___________________________________________ f. And she goes, Do you want to dance? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________ g. He was like, Who cares? ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______