3. Role of object and attribute

Practice # 9

COMPLEX SENTENCE AS A SEMANTIC AND SYNTACTIC INTEGRATED UNIT. CONSITUENTS OF THE COMPLEX SENTENCE

Issues to discuss

5. Definition of the complex sentence;

6. Classification of the complex sentences;

7. Relationship between sentences of various types;

Terminology:

Compound sentence, complex sentence, compound-complex sentences, principal/ matrix clause,

Coordinating and subordinate conjunctions

1. Like the simple and compound sentence, the complex sentence presents a universal unit in the syntactic systems of all 5,651 languages of the world. Consequently, this type of complex sentence has some isomorphic features of its own. They are in the contrasted languages as follows:

• The complex sentence has a polypredicative nature;

• It is characterized by the subordinate way of joining the clauses to the principal / matrix clause;

• It may consist of homogenous clauses or of consecutively dependent clauses joined to the matrix clause or to each other;

• The arsenal of means of connection includes conjunctions, connective pronouns, connective adverbs and subordinating connective words;

• The connectors join clauses and express some logic and grammatical relations formed within the complex sentence. These include predicative, objective, attributive and various adverbial relations expressed by corresponding clauses which may occupy either the preceding or the succeeding position/ place in regard to the matrix clause.

2. Classifying Sentences by structure

Simple sentence is an independent clause that contains at least one subject and one predicate. Simple sentence may have compound subjects (однорідні підмити), compound predicates, and compound complements, however, as well as multiple modifiers and phrases.

Farmers worked hard. Governor O’Brian attended. (Simple subject, simple predicate).

Farmers and ranchers worked hard (simple sentence with compound subject).

Farmers worked hard and lived well. Governor O’Brian attended the meeting and made the opening speech (simple sentence with compound predicate, each part having its own direct object).

Farmers in the San Joaquin Valley have prospered in recent years (simple sentence expanded).

A sentence that contains two or more main clauses is known as a compound sentence (складносурядний – сложносочиненное предложение). Compound sentences contain at least two independent clauses, each with its own subject and predicate. The clauses are usually joined by a comma and a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or), but they can be joined by semicolon, with no coordinating conjunction (єднальний сполучник – сочинительный союз).

Farmers worked hard, but the winter was severe.

Bluebirds are getting scarcer, but the ornithologists do not know why.

Farmers worked hard, the winter was mild, and the food prices dropped.

The drought struck; crops were destroyed.

Dickens assailed the workhouses in Oliver Twist; in Black House he took on the Courts.

Be aware that a sentence with two or more verbs but only one subject is not a compound sentence. Such a sentence has a compound predicate, but is still a simple sentence because it has only one main clause. The following examples illustrate the difference between a simple sentence and a compound sentence:

The farmers toiled and increased their crops. (simple sentence)

The farmers toiled, and their crops doubled. (compound sentence)

Complex sentences contain one independent clause and one or more subordinate clauses. The clauses are joined by either subordinate conjunctions or relative pronouns.

Subordinate clause may be positioned at the beginning, middle, or end of the sentence. Each position conveys a different emphasis. Note the placement of commas in the examples.

Because shortages existed in government-run shops (subordinate clause), Soviet citizens often purchased goods through the black market.

Soviet citizens often purchased goods though the black market (independent clause) because shortages existed in government-run shops.

Soviet citizens, because of shortages existed in government-run shops, often purchased goods through the black market.

When he stopped, no one said anything. If you want, I’ll teach you. They were going by car because it was more comfortable. I told him that nothing was going to happen to me. The car that I drove was a Ford. The man who came into the room was small.

Compound-complex sentences contain at least two independent clauses and one subordinate clause. So, a simple sentence with one or two subordinate clauses added becomes a complex sentence.

A compound sentence with one or more subordinate clauses added becomes compound-complex sentence. Film changed when sound arrived. (complex sentence). Films thrived when sound arrived, but they declined after television appeared. (compound-complex sentence). Because the zoo was closed on Monday, we visited the United Nations instead, and we visited the zoo on Tuesday.