Microsoft Word Theoretical Course of English Grammar

Nino Kirvalidze
75
Types of connection of clauses in a composite sentence 
Clauses in a composite sentence may be linked in the following ways: 
a)
syndetically, i.e. by means of coordinating and subordinating conjunctions 
and connective words such as adverbs and pronouns (“It was very cold, and 
the children stayed at home.” “I know where he lives.” “I know what he 
said.”).
When more than two clauses are linked by ‘and’ or ‘or’, it is usual to 
insert the coordinator only once – between the last two units (“The wind 
roared, the lightning flashed, and the clouds raced across the sky.”). In po-
lysyndetic coordination, however, the coordinator is repeated between 
each clause (“The wind roared, and the lightning flashed, and the clouds 
raced across the sky.”).
The conjunctions 
and, or 
and 
that
are not members of the sentences. 
The connective 
words where, when, which
are parts of the subordinate 
clauses: 
where
is an adverbial modifier of place, 
when
is an adverbial mod-
ifier of time, 
what 
is an object, etc.
“I know where he lives.” “I know when he will arrive.”
“I know what he said.”
b)
asyndetically, i.e. without a conjunction or a connective word. In writing, 
asyndetical coordination is always marked by a comma, a semicolon, or a 
colon, while asyndetical subordination is not marked. When speaking, 
clauses are joined within the sentence by means of intonation.
c)
with some clauses the inverted word order serves as a means of subordina-
tion and is equivalent to a conjunction. For instance, “Had she been near 
him, she would have told him everything.” – is a complex sentence in 
which an adverbial clause of condition is marked by inversion (“Had she 
been near him… = “If she had been near him…”). Or another sentence: “I 
wonder who he is.” – in which an object subordinate clause - “who he is”, 
is marked by inversion.

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Theoretical Course of English Grammar 
Script by prof.