THE COMPOUND SENTENCE

§ 1. A compoundsentence is a sentence which consists of two or more clauses coordinated with each other. A clauseis part of a sentence which has a subject and a predicate of its own.

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, how­
ever, nevertheless, yet, still, therefore, etc.).

The darkness was thinning, butthe street was still dimly light­ed. (Lindsay)

He knew there were excuses for his father, yethe felt sick at heart. (Cronin)

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

The rain fell softly, the house was quiet. (Col/ins)

The month was July, the morning fine, the glass-door stood ajar,

through it played a fresh breeze... (Ch. Bronte)

He uttered no other words of greeting; there was too strong a

rush of mutual consciousness. (Eliot)

§ 2. We can distinguish the following types of coordination:

1. Copulative coordination(соединительная связь), expressed by

the conjunctions and, nor, neither ... nor, not only ... but (also). With the help of these conjunctions the statement expressed in one clause is simply added to that expressed in another.

It was a nice little place andMr. and Mrs. Witla were rather

proud of it. (Dreiser)

Mr. Home did not lift his eyes from his breakfast-plate for about

two minutes, nordid he speak. (Ch. Bronte)

Not onlydid he speak more correctly, buthe spoke more easily,

and there were many new words in his vocabulary. (London)

2. Disjunctive coordination(разделительная связь) expressed
by the conjunctions or, else, or else, either... or, and the conjunc­
tive adverb otherwise. By these a choice is offered between the
statements expressed in two clauses.

He knew it to be nonsense orit would have frightened him. (Galsworthy)

Don't come near me with that look elseI'll knock you down.

(Eliot)

... don't fret, and don't expect too much of him, or elsehe will

feel you to be troublesome... (Ch. Bronte)

... eitherour union must be consecrated and sealed by marriage

or it cannot exist. (Ch. Bronte)

A painter has to be forbidding, Dad, otherwisepeople would

think he was cadging. (Calsworthy)

3. Adversative coordination(противительная связь) expressed by the conjunctions but, while,^г whereas and the conjunctive ad­verbs nevertheless, still, yet. These are conjunctions and adverbs connecting two clauses contrasting in meaning.

The room was dark, butthe street was lighter because of its

lamps. (Dickens)

He had a glass eye which remained stationary, whilethe other

eye looked at Reinhardt. (Heym)

The old school-room was now a sitting room... whereas one of

the old nurseries was now the modern school-room. (Trollope)

I was not unhappy, not much afraid, yetI wept. (Ch. Bronte)

4. Causative-consecutive coordination(причинно-следственная связь) expressed by the conjunctions for, so and the conjunctive! adverbs therefore, accordingly, consequently, hence.

For introduces coordinate clauses explaining the preceding state-j ment. Therefore, so, consequently, hence, accordingly introduce | coordinate clauses denoting cause, consequence and result.²

There was something amiss with Mr. Lightwood, forhe was|

strangely grave and looked ill. (Dickens)

After all, the two of them belonged to the same trade, sotalk|

was easy and happy between them. (Priestley)

Hers (Lillian's) was not a soul that ever loved passionately, hence|

she could not suffer passionately. (Dreiser)

Note. — There are cases when the conjunction for expresses relations ap­
proaching those of subordination, i. e. when it introduces a clause"
showing the reason of the action expressed in the preceding claase.
In these cases the conjunction for is very close in meaning to the
conjunction because. ,

She (Lillian) was not helpless, forshe had money of her own.,, (Dreiser)

¹ The conjunction while is not always coordinating. It may be a subordi-|
nating conjunction introducing adverbial clauses of time.

² Cause, consequence and result may also be expressed by subordinate clauses,!
introduced by subordinating conjunctions.

But even here for is not a subordinating conjunction, as the con­nection between the clause it introduces and the preceding clause is loose: a certain fact is stated and then, as it were on second thought, another statement with a causal meaning is added.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 1692