Types of Coordination in a Compound Sentence

Semantically, connections between coordinated clauses can be subdivided into two types: marked coordinative connection and unmarked coordinative connection.

A marked coordination is expressed by conjunctions and adverbial connectors that represent four basic types of relations:

1) Copulative (harmony or agreement);

2) Disjunctive (the choice or alternation);

3) Adversative (contrast, contradiction, or opposition);

4) Causative-consecutive (reason, consequence, or conclusion) [15].

Unmarked coordination is expressed syndetically by the pure conjunction and, or asyndetically, by the zero coordinator [15]. Relations rendered by unmarked connections are not specified in any way. However, equivalent substitution with marked connections could be done in most cases: The elevator was out of order and she took the stairs. => The elevator was out of order, so she took the stairs.

Let's have a closer look at the four logical types of coordination.

Copulative coordination implies that the information conveyed by coordinate clauses is in some way similar. The copulative connectors are: the conjunctions and, nor, neither... nor, not only... but (also), as well as, plus and the conjunctive adverbs then, moreover, besides, furthermore, likewise, too, even, indeed etc.Copulative connection may also be expressed asyndetically: You conduct your experiments, I do mine.

And is the conjunction most frequently used to realize copulative coordination. It may suggest mere addition. However, it can imply a number of more specific relations [3]:

a) chronological sequence: We heard a loud noise and a toy drone came into view.

b) cause and consequence: We were not persistent enough, and he became reluctant.

c) contrast: Cleverness is good, and patience is better.

d) condition: Give me one more chance, and I won't let you down.

e) comment or explanation: No viable explanation can be found – and that's really challenging.

If two negative clauses are linked with the help of and, we often find either at the end of the second clause: Sara didn't know the answer and Paul didn't either.

The conjunction nor joins two negative clauses: I didn't know his problem, nor did I care to help him.

The correlative pairs neither... nor, not only... but (also) express mere addition, sometimes with accentuation on the second clause: Not only did he lie to me, but he did so with the straight face!

The second clauses of compound sentences opening with neither, nor, and neither, and nor, and so always have inverted word order: I don't know you well and neither do I trust you.

The conjunctive adverb then joins clauses describing successive events: He was really chatty tonight, then he fell asleep.

Disjunctive coordination implies a choice betweentwo mutually exclusive alternatives: You can play D&D with us, or you can go to the girl's night. The disjunctive conjunctions are or, either... or, the conjunctive adverbs are else (or else), otherwise.

Disjunctive sentences can be used to give advice, a warning or an order. Such sentences consist of an imperative clause and a clause opening with or/otherwise and containing a verb in the future tense: Stop playing dumb, or I will tell your parents about it.

The correlative either emphasizes the exclusion of one of the alternatives: Either our calculations are faulty or the task itself contains some mistake.

The clause introduced by or may express a restatement or correction of what is said in the first clause: Penny will have a successful acting career, or at least she thinks so.

Coordinate clauses joined by disjunctive connectors may contain an implied condition, real or unreal: Hurry up, or we'll all be late!; Please, tell me the truth; otherwise I won't be able to help you.; Percy is busy at the Ministry, otherwise he would have come for Christmas.

Adversative coordination joins clauses containing opposition, contradiction or contrast. Adversative connectors are: the conjunctions and / but, while, whilst, whereas, the conjunctive adverbs however, yet, still, nevertheless, nonetheless and the conjunctive particle only. Adversative coordination may also be realized asyndetically: I had a lot of revelations about the future in my dreams – none of them came true.

The main adversative conjunction is but, which expresses adversative connection in a very general way. The clause introduced by but conveys some event that is opposite to what is expected from the contents of the first clause: The rise is going to be hard, but that isn't going to stop us.

The conjunctions while and whereas express contrastive relations: Some people might find it funny, while others would consider it downright offensive. I'm fond of New-age music, whereas my cousin Leo is more into classic rock.

Among coordinative connectives the particle only is frequently used to join clauses with adversative connection, mainly in colloquial English: Those shoes are amazing, only they come at a shockingly high price!

Causative-consecutive coordination joins clausesconnected in such a way that one of them contains a reason and the other – a consequence: She couldn't face her social anxiety issues any longer, so she started seeking professional help. The second clause may contain either the reason or the result of the event conveyed by the previous clause. It might be introduced by the coordinating conjunction for or semi-functional connectors of adverbial character nevertheless, besides, otherwise, therefore, moreover, consequently, however, yet, still, thus, accordingly, hence, then, so, so that. A causative clause may be also joined asyndetically: Mother-in-law was gone; he now spent more time with his wife.; She cannot understand our ways; she is all about her looks.

The conjunction for is intermediate between subordination and coordination [3]. It is most often treated as a coordinating conjunction, because its semantic application is to introduce clausescontaining an explanation or justification of the idea expressed by the previous clause: You must help the friend out, for that is your principle.

A for - clause differs from a subordinate clause of reason in that it never precedes the clause it is joined to. If a sentence begins with for, it means that the sentence is linked with the previous one: When I first saw him I was alarmed. For I never saw a man wearing his pajamas in public.

All causative-consecutive coordinators, with the exception of for, can be preceded by and: You can't boss me around like some 5-year-old, and besides, that was totally inappropriate!

Hence occurs in one-member as well as two-member clauses: The guy was born and raised in Texas, hence his strange taste in music.

If the coordinator is so or yet, it is usual to repeat the subject: I needed someone to cover for me so I tried to talk them into that.