III. Other classifications of complex sentences in Modern English.

Complex sentences can also be classed according to the intensity of connection between the principal and the subordinate clauses. Within the cognitive approach this criterion of complex sentences classification is viewed as principle of conceptual integration of clauses (see, for example, J.R. Taylor’s classification of clauses in: Taylor J.R. Cognitive Grammar. 2002; Further Readings on English Syntax (this book, p. 57-60).

The classification of complex sentences based on the intensity of connection between clauses has been introduced by N.S. Pospelov, who divided all subordinate clauses and their connections into obligatory and optional, and on this account all complex sentences of minimal structure are classed into one-member complexes, appearing in obligatory subordinate connection and two-member complexes with an optional connection.

The obligatory connection is characteristic of subject, predicative and object clauses. It means that without the subordinate clause the principal clause can not exist as a complete syntactic unit, e.g.: The thing is that they don’t know the facts. – you can’t just say: “The thing is…”

The optional connection is typical of adverbial clauses and attributive clauses of descriptive type. These clauses can be easily deleted without affecting the principal clause as a self-dependent unit of information, e.g.: He chose a large room which overlooked the sea.

Extending this classification to all complex sentences, not only to those of minimal structure M.Y. Bloch introduced the notions of monolythic and segregative types of sentence structures. Monolythic constructions are built upon obligatory subordinative connections while segregative complexes are based upon optional subordinative connections. M.Y. Bloch discriminates 4 basic types of monolythic complexes according to the degree of syntactic obligation and its reasons complementary (for details see: Bloch M.Y. A Course in Theoretical English Grammar. - p. 330).

It should be also noted that complex sentences with two or more subordinate clauses can be of two types of subordination arrangement: parallel and consecutive. Parallel subordination is observed when subordinate clauses immediately refer to one and the same principal clause, e.g.: I knew that he would like the trip and that his wife would approve of the idea. – both the clauses refer to the principal clause.

Consecutive subordination presents a hierarchy of clausal levels. In this hierarchy one subordinate clause is subordinated to another, e.g.: I thought you knew how to react under the circumstances.

The syntactic arrangement classification of complex sentences is definitely useful. It gives the evaluation of the “depth” of subordination – one of the essential syntactic characteristics of the complex sentence.

Thus, the traditional (structural) linguistics suggests the interpretation of the complex sentence based on the analysis of its semantico-syntactic properties. The complex sentence is viewed as a subordinative arrangement of clauses, one being the principal and the rest subordinate. The existing classifications of complex sentences are built up around the semantic difference of clauses, the essence and intensity of the subordinate connection.