coordinated sentences

Language

2022

We explain what coordinated sentences are, the characteristics of each type and examples. Also, subordinate clauses.

Coordinate sentences have more than one verb, although it can be elided.

What are coordinate sentences?

In grammar, coordinate sentences are a type of compound sentences, that is, of sentences with more than one verb or predicate, the result of the union of two or more simple sentences, and that are obtained, as its name indicates, through a process of grammatical coordination. The latter consists of the union of two simple sentences through the action of a grammatical link.

Coordinate sentences are usually two, and each have its own, identifiable meaning, and the same syntactic value as the other, that is, neither is more important than the other, nor does it depend on the other. This means that both could operate as prayers independent, but being subject to each other by a nexus, they acquire a joint meaning.

Furthermore, their joint meaning depends on the type of nexus used. Its nexus also allows to classify the different coordinated sentences that exist, as we will see later.

For example: “Pedro lifts weights Y María runs on the treadmill ”is a coordinated sentence composed by“ Pedro lifts weights ”and by“ María runs on the treadmill ”. Being united by the nexus “Y”, It is assumed that both things occur simultaneously, or in any case one very close to the other.

Types of coordinated sentences

As we said before, coordinated sentences are classified according to the nexus used and the type of relationship established between their clauses (or parts), as follows:

  • Copulative coordinates. Those that express the summation or incorporation of the meanings of both simple sentences, and use links such as Y, and, or neither. For example: “Miguel plays soccer Y to basketball "," Your mother does not wash neither iron".
  • Adverse coordinates. In them the opposition or confrontation of the meaning of simple sentences is expressed, using links such as but, more, even if, but nevertheless, etc. For example: “Miguel plays soccer, but not basketball "," Your mother washes, even if do not iron ”.
  • Disjunctive coordinates. Those that seek to give options to choose between the meaning of both simple sentences, using links such as or, or. For example: “Does Miguel play soccer? or basketball? "," Your mother or wash, or iron".
  • Distributive coordinates. Those that allow an action to be distributed among various actors or situations, using links such as now ... now, ok ... fine, be ... be, etc. For example: “Mauricio already plays with one thing, he already plays with another”, “as soon as he gets up he is sleepy again”.

Examples of coordinated sentences

Here are some examples of coordinated sentences:

  • We going in and you going out.
  • Ana paints flowers and then embroiders them on fabric.
  • We do not know whether to travel to Spain or stay at home.
  • Either you lend me your shoes, or I take them off by force.
  • Do you study or work?
  • We went to school, but classes were suspended.
  • They asked us for tomatoes, however we brought onions.
  • The police are taking each other away.
  • The rich did not protest, but the poor did.

Subordinate clauses

In subordinate clauses the meaning depends on the main clause.

Unlike coordinate sentences, in subordinate sentences a subordinate relationship is established: one acts as the main sentence and the other as secondary or subordinate, which requires the other to express or add its meanings to the totality of the expression.

Subordinates are generally introduced by pronouns or links, for example: “Today my cousin came, whose I spoke to you the day before yesterday ”. The sentence "who I told you about the day before yesterday" depends to make sense of the main sentence, "Today my cousin came", and therefore it is said that it is subordinate to it.

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