4.6 Subordination

In grammar, subordination is the process by which we join two clauses, so that one depends on the other. As a result, they are called main clause and subordinate clause. The use of subordinating conjunctions (when joining adverb clauses) and relative pronouns (in the case of adjective clauses), is an indicator of subordination.

I'm happy when i'm working.

[Main clause] subordinating conjunction [subordinate clause] 

We drink because it's what men do.
[Main clause] subordinating conjunction [subordinate clause]

We decided to keep business, but run it past Detroit, which means Bob gets involved.

[Main clause] cc [main clause] relative pronoun [subordinate clause]

And since this is it...

Please, feel free to leave comments and add corrections, thank you for stopping by.

Move forward.

Source:http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/coordterm07.htm

4.5 Coordination

Coordination in grammar is the process of joining two words, phrases, or clauses together by means of a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet,so). Coordination gives them the same emphasis or importance.

He spent 3 weeks alone in that cave and he hasn't clubbed another ape yet.

Are we winners or losers?

 Losers tonight, but winners in general. 

Source: http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/coordterm07.htm

4.4 Clauses

The basic unit of English grammar is the clause. A clause must have at least two parts, a noun phrase and a verb phrase (or subject and verb). Clauses can be either  independent or subordinate, and by joining them together we form sentences.

There are three clauses in this sentence:

[Margarine was invented for Napoleon II] + [because armies need to move] + [and it never spoiled] = compound complex sentence.

 There are many different types of clauses, let's take a look at the most important ones.

• Noun Clause: a noun clause is a clause that functions as a noun (subject, object, or complement). They are aso called nominal clauses. We use words like "that" or "who" to start noun clauses, that's why they're called that-clauses and wh-clauses. Nominal clauses are always dependent.

I don't need a book to tell me what little boys do = object

 I'm one of those people who talks back to the radio = complement

I know that you're frightened and there are many decisions i can't prepare you for = object

 
• Adverbial Clause: Adverbial clauses function as adverbs, but they modify the whole sentence instead of just the verb. Like adverbs, they indicate time, place, condition, contrast, concession, reason, purpose, or result. They begin with a subordinating conjunction, and they also contain both a subject and a predicate.
  
  
                           
  
  Time: Sometimes when people get what they want they realize how limited their goals were.
                                       
  
  Cause: Maybe i'm late because i was spending time with my family reading the bible.

Condition: If I stop drinking all at once, I'm afraid the cumulative hangover will kill me.

• Relative Clause: Relative clauses modify nouns or noun phrases. They begin with a relative pronoun (which, that, who, whom, whose), a relative adverb (where, when,why), or a zero relative (when the relative pronoun is omitted). A relative clause always comes after the noun or noun phrase.
  
  Relative clauses are divided into two categories: restrictive, which give specific information about the noun, and non-restrictive, which give additional but unnecessary information about the noun, and are marked by commas.

     

Restrictive + relative pronoun: You were crying in the break room, which i have specifically forbidden.

   

  

Zero Relative: It's just [that] my people are Nordic.

 

 Restrictive + relative adverb: This is where i grew up.

Restrictive + relative pronoun: I abuse the people whose help i need.

Source: http://grammar.about.com/od/rs/g/relativeclterm.htm

4.3 Compound-Complex Sentences

The compound-complex sentence contains two or more independent clauses, and one or more subordinate clauses. 

Main clause:I don't know what was more miraculous

Main clause: the technological achievement

Subordinating conjunction: that

Dependent clause: put our species in a new perspective

Coordinating conjunction: or

Main clause: the fact that all of us were doing the same thing at the same time.

Independent clause: I know people say life goes on

Dependent clause: and it does

Dependent clause: but no one tells you

Independent clause: that is not a good thing

Punctuation: When joining two independent clauses together, a comma (,) should be used before the coordinating conjunction.

I know people say life goes on, and it does...

*If anyone catches an error, please let me know.
source: http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/comcomplexterm.htm

4.2 Complex Sentences

A complex sentence has a main or independent clause and one or more dependent clauses joined together by the use of subordinating conjunctions. 

Dependent clauses are not complete sentences, so they need to be attached to an independent clause in order to form a complete sentence. 


               main clause + subordinating conjuntion of cause + dependent clause

I'm living like there's no tomorrow because there isn't one.

When a subordinating conjunction is placed at the beginning of a complete sentence, the sentence becomes a dependent clause, or fragment. This fragment does not make sense on its own so it needs an independent clause to form a complete sentence.

Subordinating conjunction of time + dependent clause + independent clause
When I think about forever, i get upset.

Subordinating conjunction of concession + dependent clause + independent clause
Even though success is a reality, its effects are temporary.

Independent clause + subordinating conjunction of time + dependent clause
You're never going to get that corner office until you start treating Don as an equal.

Source: http://grammar.about.com/od/rs/g/subordconj.htm

4.1 Compound Sentences

At the beginning of this blog we learned about the structure of sentences, how sentences are made up of clauses, and the way they can be classified, depending on the type of clauses they contain.

Now we'll take a more thorough look into the structure of compound sentences, which is one of the four basic sentence structures. 

Compound sentences are sentences made up of at least two independent clauses and can be formed by using a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor,but, or, yet, so) to join the main clauses.

Coordinating conjunctions are used when both clauses are equally important, or from the same grammatical category.

independent clause + coordinating conjunction + independent clause

I had a baby and I gave it away

She was drunk and she got other girls drunk.

                                         



           independent clause + coordinating conjunction + independent clause
                                    You go by many names but I know who you are

                                       

The city is flat and ugly and the air is brown but I love the vibrations.

They may also be joind by either using a using a semicolon (;) with or without a conjunctive adverb, or by using a colon (:), though this is less common.




Source: http://grammar.about.com/od/c/g/compoundsent.htm 

3.5 Verbals

Verbals are tricky not because they're difficult, but because they may be confused with verb phrases. The difference is that verbals are simply verb forms functioning as nouns, adjectives or adverbs, not as the verb of the sentence.

There are three different kinds of verbals: infinitives, gerunds (or -ing forms), and participles ( -ing and -en forms). 

Verbals are never inflicted for person or tense. Each of these verbals are part of a phrase, which includes modifiers, complements, and objects.


Infinitives: An infinitive consists of to + simple form of the verb + modifier(s). In the next sentence, likes is the main verb, the verbal to go is functioning as a noun.

Everybody likes to go to the movies when they're sad

Gerunds: verb + -ing + modifier(s). It functions as a noun and can be used as a subject, object, and object preposition. The following example is that of an object of the preposition.

Are there people that eat dinner and smile at each other instead of watching TV?

preposition + verb + -ing + modifier

Participles: Verbals that function as adjectives, and modify nouns and pronouns. 
They end in -ing or -en.

Verb + -ing + noun:                 This is a binding contract.

Source: http://grammar.about.com/od/basicsentencegrammar/a/verbalswhat.htm