Sentence Structure and Types of Clauses
Compound Sentence
A compound sentence is a statement made up of two or more related sentences. These sentences are joined by coordinating conjunctions.
Coordinated Sentences
Coordinated sentences are related through a coordinating conjunction. They have the following characteristics:
- Autonomy: Each sentence has the capacity to appear isolated (e.g., “He went to the park. He ate lunch.”)
- Hierarchy: Like any hierarchical level, they depend on another element and are subordinate to it.
Types of Coordinated Sentences:
- Copulative Coordinated: These sentences indicate a sum of meanings. They are frequently used and are represented by the conjunctions and and or.
- Disjunctive Coordinated: These sentences present options where only one can occur. The conjunctions used are or and either…or.
- Adversative Coordinated: The second sentence corrects or opposes the first. Conjunctions used include but, however, and nevertheless.
- Distributional Coordinated: These sentences indicate alternating actions. Conjunctions used include now…now, either…or, and sometimes…sometimes.
- Explanatory Coordinated: The second sentence clarifies or explains the first. Conjunctions used include that is, namely, and i.e. They are always between pauses.
Juxtaposed Sentences
Juxtaposed sentences belong to the same statement but are joined without a conjunction. They are autonomous and are at the same hierarchical level.
Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses are dependent clauses that function within another sentence. They are attached to the main clause by a subordinating conjunction (e.g., what, where, if).
Types of Subordinate Clauses:
- Substantive Clauses: These clauses perform the functions of noun phrases and can be replaced by pronouns.
- Adjectival Clauses: These clauses perform the functions of adjectives and can be replaced by adjective phrases.
- Adverbial Clauses: These clauses perform the functions of adverbial phrases and can be replaced by adverbs.
Substantive Clauses
Substantive clauses are introduced by a subordinating conjunction and can perform any function of a noun phrase (subject, direct object, indirect object, etc.).
- Introduced by “that”: These clauses can perform various functions, including subject, direct object, and complement.
- Introduced by “if/whether”: These clauses express uncertainty and normally function as direct objects, but can have other functions as well.
- Interrogative and Exclamatory Clauses: These clauses always have a tilde (e.g., what, who, how, where).
- Infinitive Constructions: These are subordinate clauses that behave like noun phrases and perform their functions.
Adjectival Clauses
Adjectival clauses are introduced by a relative pronoun that has a syntactic function. The relative pronoun can be replaced by which, who, or that. They refer to an antecedent in the main clause.
- Specified and Explanatory Adjective Clauses: Specified clauses delimit the meaning of the antecedent, while explanatory clauses explain some aspect of the antecedent.
Adverbial Clauses
Adverbial clauses play the roles of adverbial phrases in the main clause. There are two types: proper and improper.
Proper Adverbial Clauses
- Adverbial Clauses of Place: Indicate where the action of the main verb is performed. They function as adverbs of place and can be replaced by adverbs like there or here. They are introduced by the adverb where.
- Adverbial Clauses of Time: Indicate the time when the action of the main verb is performed. They function as adverbs of time and can be replaced by adverbs like then. They are generally introduced by the adverb while.
- Simultaneity: while, as, as soon as
- Before: before, as soon as, once
- After: after, as soon as
- Adverbial Clauses of Manner: Indicate how the action of the main verb is performed. They function as adverbs of manner and can be replaced by thus or so. They are introduced by conjunctions like as, as if, and just as.
Improper Adverbial Clauses
- Adverbial Clauses of Reason: Express the cause, justification, or explanation of the main clause.
- Adverbial Clauses of Purpose: Express the purpose of the action in the main clause. They are introduced by conjunctions like in order to and so that.
- Adverbial Clauses of Condition: Express a condition that normally affects the action in the main clause. They express a hypothetical cause and are introduced by conjunctions like if, unless, and provided that.
- Adverbial Clauses of Consequence: Indicate the result of the action expressed in the main clause. There are two types: intensive and inferential.
- Intensive: The main clause triggers an intensified result expressed in the subordinate clause. They are introduced by conjunctions like so…that and such…that.
- Inferential: The main clause does not contain an intensifier. They are introduced by therefore and so.
- Adverbial Clauses of Concession: Express an impediment to the fulfillment of the main clause, but the action still occurs. They are introduced by conjunctions like although, even though, and despite.
- Comparative Clauses: These are structures composed of two sentences that establish a comparison. The second term of the comparison often has elements deleted that are present in the first. They are classified by the type of comparison:
- Inferiority: Uses the quantifier less.
- Equality: Uses conjunctions like as well as, as much as, and the same as.
- Superiority: Uses the quantifier more.