Sentences with homogeneous parts

1. There are sentences which contain several homogeneous (однородные) parts: two or more subjects to one common predi­cate, two or more predicates to one common subject, two or more objects of a similar kind to one verb or adjective, etc.

2. The homogeneous parts of a sentence are connected by co-or- dinative conjunctions, or asyndetically (without any conjunction). The copulative conjunction and may always be inserted between the homogeneous parts of a sentence connected asyndetically:

The sky was sombre, velvety, and swarming with stars. (Conrad.) Fields, trees, hedges streamed by. (Mansfield.)

3. The following co-ordinative conjunctions and adverbs connect the homogeneous parts of a sentence:

1. Copulative: and, not only... but also, neither ... nor, as

well as:

...and little curly-headed Eppie, the weaver’s child, became an object of interest at several outlying homesteads, as well as in the village. (Eliot.) Mr. Murdstone and I were soon off. (Dickens.) Neither she nor Waldo had anything to say to each other during the whole twenty minutes... (Caldwell.)

2. Disjunctive: or, either... or:

I had no difficulty in recognizing either Minnie or Minnie’s children. (Dickens.) This might have lasted half a minute or a minute... (Dickens.) It was not a bright or splendid sum­mer evening... (Bronte.)

3. Adversative: but, yet, still:

The day was foggy yet warm. He was not reading now, but walking up and down despairingly. (Dickens.)

If a sentence comprises more than two homogeneous elements, they may be linked by the conjunction and; but usually the con­junction is inserted only between the two last members, the other members being connected asyndetically:

We all set off, the doctor, and the child’s father, and our friend, and myself. (Stevenson.) Mr. Pickwick paused, con­sidered, pulled off his gloves and put them in his hat. (Dickens.)

The homogeneous parts of the sentence may be:

1. Co-ordinated subjects:

Hedges, fields, and trees, hill and moorland, presented to the eye their ever-varying shades of deep rich green... (Dick­ens.) To hear the wind getting up at sea, to know that the fog was creeping over the desolate flat outside, and to look at the fire, and think that there was no house near but this one, and this one a boat, was like enchantment. (Dickens.)

2. Co-ordinated predicatives:

It was growing dark and foggy... (Dickens.) The houses of grey stone are old and beautiful... (Gissing.) “Jane, you look blooming, and smiling, and pretty...” (Вгоп1ё.)

3. Co-ordinated predicates:

In his own small room Martin lived, slept, studied, wrote and kept house. (London.) She took the vase of roses, and left the room. (Galsworthy.) She got up, plucked a piece of honeysuckle, and went in. (Galsworthy.)

Note.—A sentence which comprises two or more subjects to one predi­cate or two or more predicates to one subject is called a contracted sen­tence (слитное предложение).

My face, neck and hands, from unaccustomed exposure to the air and sun, were burnt to a berry-brown. (D icken s.) At the edge of the wood the bluebells had flowed over into the field and stood there like flood- water. (Lawrence.)

4. Co-ordinated objects:

She brought a can of cold tea and a whole loaf of bread. (O’Flaherty.) ...the earth smelled of sap and wild grasses. (Galsworthy.) ...a cupboard with glass doors contained some books and an ancient set of china. (Bront§.)

5. Co-ordinated attributes:

He was a careless, impetuous, good-natured, generous fellow! (Cronin.) ...their heavy but picturesque boats glided slowly down the stream. (Dickens.)

In many cases two attributes expressed by adjectives are not really co-ordinated and cannot be considered as homogeneous parts of the sentence. This is the case when one of the adjectives (which is then placed last) belongs closely to the noun and forms one composite idea with it. It often takes place with such adjectives as old, young, little. No comma is inserted between such ad­jectives:

...we soon came to a very neat little cottage with cheerful bow-windows. (Dickens.) (it is impossible to say: a very neat and little cottage...) At the man’s heels trotted a dog, a big native husky... (London.) In the summer these little flowery patches... were a flicker of butterfly wings... (Aldington.) Such a blithe, thriving, steady little Dot! (Dickens.)

6. Co-ordinated adverbial modifiers:

He worked quickly and well. (Lawrence.) In every square and park and patch of green the air simmered with life and with the music of birds swaying on little boughs. (Galswor­thy.) He moved out into the sunshine and up the road. (Galsworthy.)

Sometimes a sentence contains identical homogeneous parts (repe t i t i о n-gr о u p s) linked by the conjunction and, or asyndetically. This construction is chiefly used to intensify the idea:

These were the old, old friends and neighbours. (Mazo d e la Roche.) When the day broke it blew harder and harder. As we struggled on, nearer and nearer to the sea, from which this mighty wind was blowing dead on shore, its force became more and more terrific. (Dickens.)