Mastering Sentence Structure and Textual Cohesion
Sentence Structure and Syntax
Juxtaposition
Sentences or clauses placed side-by-side, separated by punctuation (e.g., comma, semicolon, colon), without explicit coordinating or subordinating conjunctions.
Coordinating Conjunctions
These link elements of equal grammatical rank.
- Copulative (Addition): and, nor, or that.
- Disjunctive (Choice): or, u.
- Adversative (Contrast): more, but, yet, however, nevertheless.
- Explanatory: that is, namely, i.e.
- Distributive: and … and, well … well, now … now.
Subordinating Clauses
These clauses depend on a main clause and function as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
Substantive Clauses (Noun Clauses)
- Introduced by: that, if, interrogative pronouns, and adverbs.
- Function: Can replace any noun.
- Role: Takes the function of the entire proposition (subject, object, complement).
Adjective Clauses (Relative Clauses)
- Introduced by: Relative pronouns and adverbs.
- Function: Acts as a modifier, linking information to a noun.
- Replacement: Can be replaced by which, who, that.
Adjectival Noun Clauses (Substantivized Adjectives)
- Nature: Functions as both a substantive (noun) and an adjective simultaneously.
- Function: Serves as the link and the core element of the phrase.
Adverbial Clauses
- Causal (Grounds): therefore, because, since.
- Consecutive (Result): so, so … that.
- Final (End/Purpose): so, so that, through them.
- Conditional: if.
- Concessive: although.
- Comparative: as … as, more … than, less … than.
Non-Personal Verb Forms (Verbals)
- Infinitive: Used in infinitive constructions.
- Participle: Used in participial constructions.
- Gerund: Used in present participle constructions.
Essential Text Properties
Appropriateness
Appropriateness is the property that determines how well a text adapts to all the circumstances surrounding the communicative act. Each communicative situation requires appropriate use of language, determined by several factors:
- The relationship between the participants (sender and receiver).
- The channel (oral or written) results in different language uses.
- The communicative intention: If the goal is to inform, the text should be objective; if the goal is to persuade, the text may be subjective and partial.
Coherence (Consistency)
Coherence is the property of the text indicating that the unit has meaning; that is, it discusses interrelated things and organizes information to achieve global significance.
Texts are inconsistent, contradictory, or illogical when they exhibit common issues such as:
- Lack of thematic unity.
- Contradiction with general knowledge of the world.
- Incorrect or illogical use of language.
Cohesion
Cohesion is the set of linguistic devices used in a text to secure the connection between its parts and give substance to the whole. These mechanisms allow the interpretation of a phrase or sentence in relation to other higher-forming units (paragraphs or text) and the extra-linguistic situation. Therefore, cohesion ensures the understanding and meaning of the text.
The linguistic means of cohesion are varied, including the repetition of words, grammatical reference (deixis, ellipsis), lexical-semantic relations (synonymy, hyperonymy, semantic fields), discourse markers, and punctuation. The most important mechanisms are:
Recurrence
Recurrence is the repetition of an element of the text. It is one of the fundamental mechanisms of textual cohesion and takes three main forms: the mere repetition of words, repetition of synonyms, and lexical repetition through designation.
Replacement
Replacement is based on substituting a unit of text (word, phrase, sentence) with a word of wide or general meaning (e.g., pronouns or pro-forms).
Ellipsis
Ellipsis consists of the omission or deletion of linguistic elements that can be deduced from the context.
Topicalization
In order to give emphasis to the expression, topicalization involves altering the order of constituents or repeating them.
Deixis
Deixis allows linking the text with the context or the extra-linguistic situation (e.g., using personal or spatial references).
Discourse Markers
These are words and expressions intended to join different parts of the text together into a cohesive set (e.g., furthermore, however, in conclusion).