CHAPTER VII · Section 2

CHAPTER VII

COMBINATIONS OF CLAUSES

+504.+ The use of subordinate clauses as complements and modifiers, and as modifiers of complements and of modifiers, may produce sentences of great length and complicated structure.

Such sentences, if skilfully composed, are not hard to follow. Their analysis requires merely the intelligent application of a few simple principles, which have already been explained and illustrated.

+505.+ These principles may be summed up as follows:--

I. All clauses are either +independent+ or +subordinate+. A clause is subordinate if it is used as a part of speech (noun, adjective, or adverb); otherwise, it is independent (§ 46).

II. +Coördinate+ means “of the same rank” in the sentence (§ 46).

1. Two or more +independent clauses+ in the same sentence are manifestly coördinate.

_The fire blazed_ and _the wood crackled_. [Two declarative clauses.]

_What is your name_, and _where were you born_? [Interrogative clauses.]

_Sit down_ and _tell me your story_. [Imperative clauses.]

2. Two or more +subordinate clauses+ are coördinate _with each other_ when they are used together in the same construction,--as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs.

Such a group may be regarded as forming one +compound subordinate clause+.

The truth is, _that I have no money_ and _that my friends have forsaken me_. [Noun clauses.]

The Indians, _who were armed with long lances_, and _who showed great skill in using them_, made a furious attack on the cavalry. [Adjective clauses.]

_When he had spoken_, but _before a vote had been taken_, a strange tumult was heard in the outer room. [Adverbial clauses.]

In the first example, we have a +compound noun clause+; in the second, a +compound adjective clause+; in the third, a +compound adverbial clause+.

3. Coördinate clauses are either joined by coördinate conjunctions (_and_, _or_, _but_, etc.), or such conjunctions may be supplied without changing the sense (§ 362).

The good-natured old gentleman, _who was friendly to both parties_, [AND] _who did not lack courage_, AND _who hated a quarrel_, spoke his mind with complete frankness.