The composite sentence

The composite sentence is a sentence consisting of two or more clauses. There are two types of composite sentences – composite compound and composite complex. Within a composite complex sentence clauses may be joined by means of subordination. Subordination is a way of linking grammatical elements that makes one of them (a subordinate clause) dependent upon the other (the main clause).

e.g.: What awakened him was an engine coughing.

Within a composite compound sentence clauses may be joined by means coordination. Coordination is a way of linking grammatical elements to make them equal in rank. Clauses joined by means of coordination are called coordinate clauses.

e.g.: The door of Henry’s lunch-room opened, and two men came in.

A composite compound sentence may contain coordinate clauses extended by subordinate clauses, and the resulting structure is a composite compound-complex sentence.

e.g.: Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans.

The compound sentence

A compound sentence consists of two or more clauses of equal rank which form one syntactical whole in meaning and intonation. Clauses that are parts of a compound sentence are called coordinate, as they are joined by coordination. If coordinate clauses are linked together with a connector they are joined syndetically.

e.g.: Life is a jest, and all things show it.

If coordinate clauses are linked together without any connector they are joined asyndetically.

e.g.: All happy families resemble one another; each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.

Types of Coordination

From the point of view of the relationship between coordinate clauses, we distinguish three kinds of coordinate connection: copulative, adversative and disjunctive.

• Copulative coordination implies that the information conveyed by coordinate clauses is in some way similar.

The copulative connectors are:

conjunctions: and, nor, neither... nor, not only... but (also), as well as

conjunctive adverbs: then, moreover, besides

e.g.: I didn’t recognize the girl, nor did I remember her name.

• Adversative coordination joins clauses containing opposition, contradiction or contrast.

Adversative connectors are:

conjunctions: but, while, whereas

conjunctive adverbs: however, yet, still, nevertheless

conjunctive particle only

e.g.: The story was amusing, but nobody laughed.

• Disjunctive coordination implies a choice between two mutually exclusive alternatives.

Disjunctive connectors are:

conjunctions are or, either... or

conjunctive adverbs are else (or else), otherwise.

e.g.: You can join us at the station, or we can wait for you at home.

The complex sentence

A composite complex sentence consists of one main clause and one or more subordinate clauses. The subordinate clauses are dependent on the main one. Clauses within a composite complex sentence are joined a) syndetically (be means of connectors):

e.g.: One of the differences between an optimist and a pessimist is that a pessimist is better informed.

b) asyndetically (without any connector):

e.g.: He said he would come.

Connectors are specialized formal devices which are used to introduce clauses.