Understanding Simple, Compound, and Complex Sentences
Simple and Compound Sentences
A sentence, from a syntactic viewpoint, is a verbal phrase. A complete sentence possesses these characteristics:
- Syntactically, it is a mandatory verbal syntagma containing a verb, often in a personal form.
- It typically includes a subject noun phrase, whose core agrees with the verb in number and person.
- It conveys the speaker’s purpose or attitude, indicated by intonation, adverbs, or verb form.
- It is an independent unit, phonetically separated by pauses and having a distinct intonation.
Examples:
It was snowing. (Simple sentence)
Yesterday I went out with John, but today I will leave alone. (Compound sentence)
Sentence Composition Procedures
Grammar provides several procedures for forming compound sentences, characterized by the repetition of some of its constituents within a larger sentence structure. These procedures include:
- Relating two or more complete sentences to form a single, higher-level sentence.
- Operating on a sentence syntagma as a constituent of another sentence composition.
These two procedures can be combined within a single compound sentence.
Sentence Groups: Coordination
A compound sentence, such as I had no luck with the questions, but I passed, consists of two sentences that are independent of each other. The assembly of two or more independent sentences is called a sentence group, and the syntactic relation between them is termed coordination. Each sentence within the group is independent.
- From a communication perspective, each sentence serves a purpose and can stand alone as a message.
- Syntactically, coordinated sentences are independent, not functioning as constituents of each other.
When analyzing sentence groups, note that the coordinate conjunction is not part of either sentence. Changing the order of components in the group leaves the conjunction in the middle, unlike subordinating conjunctions, which form a unit with the subordinate clause. The different relationships between coordinated sentences allow us to distinguish several classes: copulative, disjunctive, adversative, and consecutive.
Complex Sentences
Sentences that function as phrases within another sentence are called complex sentences. These constituent sentences are known as subordinate clauses. Subordinate clauses can be grouped into different classes:
- Substantive: Function as noun phrases.
- Adjective: Act as adjective phrases.
- Adverbial: Function as adverbial phrases or prepositional phrases, serving as circumstantial complements.
Semantic Change
Just as the form of words changes over time, so do their meanings. Semantic change causes words to expand their meaning by adding new senses or reducing some of their existing meanings. The procedures for creating new meanings include metaphor, metonymy, and ellipsis.
Metaphor and Metonymy
Metaphor: This involves calling something by another name because of perceived similarities. For example, neck adopts the meaning of the top and narrower part of a vessel due to its similarity to the body part. Metaphors can serve various purposes, such as positive (e.g., to be a Hercules) or negative (e.g., to be a snake) connotations.
Metonymy: This occurs when we call something by another name because they are associated, not because they resemble each other. Metonymy can take several forms, such as using the part for the whole or vice versa, or referring to an institution.
Ellipsis
Ellipsis: This is less productive than metaphor and metonymy but also creates new meanings. This happens when a word takes on the meaning of another word that usually accompanies it and is omitted. For example, in coffee, the word coffee is omitted and implied.