And what is the difference between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions? Is one kind of sentence (compound or complex) characterized by either a coordinating or subordinating conjunction, while the other kind is characterized by the other?
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This might be a good place to ask, but I'm having trouble understanding what you are asking. Do you think you can make your question clearer?– Kit Z. Fox ♦Commented Apr 12, 2013 at 14:37
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@KitFox: Are coordinating/subordinating conjunctions used in compound/complex sentences or clauses? Do I have my terms "backward?" Examples? Sorry for the "matrix" format of this question but I think in those terms.– Tom AuCommented Apr 12, 2013 at 14:40
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2 Answers
Yes, this is a good place. It's simple, really.
There are two ways to combine clauses. One of them is simply stacking together sentences, like
- He went to the store and he bought some bread and he drove home but he left it in the car.
This is a compound sentence (not "compound clause", by the way); it contains only clauses that are linked together by the coordinating conjunctions and, or, and but. Compound sentences can be reduced by Conjunction Reduction, producing, for instance
- He went to the store and bought some bread and drove home but left it in the car.
Compound sentences are easy; all the sentences are on the same level as main clauses, and none of them modify another clause.
Complex sentences — the other way to combine clauses — are not easy. A complex sentence has at least one subordinate clause, and there are a lot of different kinds of subordinate clause, each with their own set of rules and their own set of idioms and connotations.
answered Apr 12, 2013 at 14:48
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1OK, it seems like my basic idea was right. "Coordinate" =compound, "subordinate = complex, and those are the ways you make sentences out of clauses. The examples were helpful. +1 possibly an acceptance, but I like to wait a day or two for the latter.– Tom AuCommented Apr 12, 2013 at 14:51
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Yeah, pretty much. But the names are irrelevant, really. Most sentences are complex sentences, and that's what syntax is mostly about. Commented Apr 12, 2013 at 15:29
COMPOUND SENTENCES:- Having one or more main clauses.
SIMPLE SENTENCES:- Having a main clause.
COMPLEX SENTENCES:- Having one main and two or three subordinate clauses.
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1use citations in answers please. for example: Search Results Dictionary com·pound sen·tence noun plural noun: compound sentences a sentence with more than one subject or predicate. You will need to learn to format and cite you answers. Tutorials are on this forum.– lbfCommented Mar 7, 2018 at 20:14