The composite sentence

The Composite sentence is a sentence consisting of two or more clauses. A clause is a part of a sentence, which has a subject and a predicate of its own. In its structure a clause is similar to a simple sentence, but unlike a simple sentence if forms a part of a bigger syntactic/al unit. Within a composite sentence clauses may be joined by means of coordination or subordination, thus forming a compound and a complex sentence respectively.

Coordination is a way of linking grammatical elements to make them equal in rank.

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

Subordination is a way of linking grammatical elements that makes one of them dependent upon the other.

I have come to you, because I know from reading your accounts that you are Mr. Sherlock Holmes’s most intimate acquaintance.

These sentences may be graphically presented in the following way:

1.

The door … opened

–– and ––

two men came in.

2.	I have come to you
	Because I know
	That you are …

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.

In a compound sentence the clauses may be connected:

a) syndetically, i.e. by means of coordinating conjunctions (and, or, else, but etc) or conjunctive adverbs (otherwise, however, nevertheless, yet, still, therefore etc)

Yesterday I bought a penny fiddle

And put it to my chin to play,

But I found its strings painted,

So I threw my fiddle away.

b) asyndetically, i.e. without a conjunction or a conjunctive adverb.

Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall,

Humpty Dumpty had a great fall;

All the king’s horses, and all the king’s men.

Cannot put Humpty Dumpty together again.

We can distinguish the following types of coordination: copulative, disjunctive, adversative and causative-consecutive.

1. Copulative coordination (соединительная связь) implies that two events or ideas conveyed by coordinate clauses are merely joined in time and place. The copulative connectors are: the conjunctions and, nor, neither … nor, not only … but, as well as, and the conjunctive adverbs then, moreover.

She was familiar with the petty social problems, and they bored her.

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

I not only remembered the girl’s name, but I knew everything about her family.

We went along the street, then we turned to the left.

2. Disjunctive coordination (разделительная связь) denotes choice usually between two mutually exclusive alternatives. The disjunctive conjunctions are: or, either … or, the conjunctive adverbs else (or else), otherwise.

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

Either listen to me, or I shall stop reading to you.

Don’t be late, otherwise you may not be let in.

3. Adversative coordination (противительная связь) joins clauses containing opposition, contradiction or contrast. Adversative connectors are: the conjunctions but, while, whereas, the conjunctive adverbs yet, still, nevertheless, only.

The story was amusing, but nobody laughed.

Peter is an engineer, while his brother is a musician.

There was an electric light, only Arthur had not switched it on.

4. Causative-consecutive coordination (причинно-следственная связь) joins clauses connected in such a way that one of them contains a reason and the other –– a consequence. The only causative coordinating conjunction is for.

The days became longer, for it was now springtime.

The conjunction for is intermediate between subordination and coordination. It is most often treated as a coordinating conjunction because the connection between the clause it introduces and the preceding clause is loose: a certain fact is stated and then another statement with a causal meaning is added.

The land seemed almost as dark as the water, for there was no moon.

Consecutive conjunctions are so, so that, therefore, hence, then.

The weather was fine, so there were many people on the beach.

So that is intermediate between subordination and coordination. When used after a comma in writing or a pause in speaking its connection with the previous clause is looser and it performs the function of a coordinating conjunction.

John is unlikely to come soon, so that we’d better go home.