Using defining clauses

8.132 Defining non-finite clauses explain which person or thing you are talking about. They are always placed after the noun in a noun group.

The old lady driving the horse was all in black.

The bus carrying the freedom riders arrived just before noon.

8.133 Defining clauses can be used after indefinite pronouns such as 'anyone'.

Anyone following this advice could find himself in trouble.

Ask anybody nearing the age of retirement what they think.

Other structures used like non-finite clauses

8.134 Phrases which do not contain a verb are sometimes used in writing in a similar way to non-finite clauses.

8.135 In writing, you can add a phrase containing one or more adjectives to a sentence. This is another way of making two statements in one sentence.

For example, instead of writing 'We were tired and hungry. We reached the farm', you could write 'Tired and hungry, we reached the farm'.

Surprised at my reaction, she tried to console me.

Much discouraged, I moved on to Philadelphia.

The boy nodded, pale and scared.

He knocked at the door, sick with fear and embarrassment.

'Of course,' said Ash, astonished.

8.136 In a similar way, you can use a phrase to describe something which is connected with the subject of a sentence. The phrase consists of a noun group, followed by an adjective, an adjust, or another noun group.

For example, instead of writing 'He came into the room. His hat was in his hand', you could write 'He came into the room, his hat in his hand'.

'What do you mean by that?' said Hugh, his face pale.

She stood very erect, her body absolutely stiff with fury.

He was waiting, drumming with his fingers, his eyes on his napkin.

'With' is sometimes added at the beginning of a phrase.

She walked on, with her eyes straight ahead.

It was a hot, calm day, with every object at the sea's surface visible for miles.

Coordination

8.137 When you say or write something, you often want to put together two or more clauses of equal importance. You do this by using a coordinating conjunction.

Anna had to go into town and she wanted to go to Bride Street.

I asked if I could borrow her bicycle but she refused.

He had been only a baby then, yet he had not been afraid.

Here is a list of the most common coordinating conjunctions:

and but

nor or

then yet

Coordinating conjunctions are also used to link words and word groups.

The boys shouted and rushed forward.

...domestic animals such as dogs and cats.

Her manner was hurried yet painstakingly courteous.

He toppled slowly but inexorably off the fence.

Sometimes coordinating conjunctions can be used together.

It is a simple game and yet interesting enough to be played with skill.

Eric moaned something and then lay still.

The linking of clauses, words, or word groups using coordinating conjunctions is called coordination. Coordinating conjunctions are sometimes called coordinators.

8.138 The different uses of coordinating conjunctions are explained in the following paragraphs:

clauses	paragraphs 8.139 to 8.151
verbs	paragraphs 8.152 to 8.158
noun groups	paragraphs 8.159 to 8.167
adjectives and adverbs	paragraphs 8.168 to 8.177
other word groups	paragraphs 8.178 to 8.181

Ways of emphasizing coordinating conjunctions are described in paragraphs 8.182 to 8.187.

The linking of more than two clauses, words, or word groups is explained in paragraphs 8.188 to 8.189.