The structure of this lecture
1.1.-1.3. Coordination vs. subordination
2.1.-2.6. Major types of coordination
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1. Coordination vs. subordination
3
1.1. Coordination vs. subordination
[clause vs. sentence]
sentence
main clause
main clause
S
V
O
I
admire
her
but
S
V
O
I
hate
her cat.
S
V
O
I
hate
her cat.
sentence
main clause
A
subordinate clause
Although
S
V
O
I
admire
her
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1.2. Coordination vs. subordination
Sm
Sa
NP
Conj
VP
NP
V
I
Sb
NP
admire
her
but
I
VP
V
NP
hate
her cat.
[ Sm [Sa] Conj [Sb] ] vs. [Sm [Sb] Conj [Sa] ]
Sa
Sb
Comp
Although
NP
NP
I
VP
V
NP
admire
her
I
[ Sa [Sb Comp ...] NP VP ] vs. [ Sa NP VP [Sb Comp ...] ]
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VP
V
NP
hate
her cat.
1.3. Coordination vs. subordination
subordinator
subordinating conjunctions: that, whether, if
(=complementizer)
subordination
syntactic and semantic hierarchization: the subordinate
clause (in addition to realizing a constituent of the matrix
clause) often expresses background information, cf.
• He tried hard, but he failed.
• Although he tried hard, he failed. - He failed,
although…
+ He tried hard, (and) yet he failed. (conjunct)
coordinator
(conjunction)
coordinating conjunctions: and, or, but
syndetic
coordination is overtly marked
Slowly and stealthily, he
walked in.
asyndetic
coordination is not overtly
marked (stylistically marked:
dramatic intensification or
open-ended list) 6
Slowly, stealthily, he
walked in.
Fred sold coffee, tea,
juice - anything you
needed.
2. Major types of coordination
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2.1. Major types of coordination
the semantics of and coordination
[logic: the statement is true if both/all the conjoins are true]
1) the second clause is chronologically sequent to the first:
• I washed the dishes and (then) I dried them.
2) the second clause is a consequence/result of the first:
• He heard an explosion and he (therefore) phoned the police.
3) the first clause is a condition of the second:
• Give me some money and (then) I’ll help you escape.
4) the second clause introduces a contrast:
• Robert was guilty and (in contrast) David was innocent.
5) the second clause is felt to be surprising, and the first has a
concessive force:
• She tried hard and (yet) she failed.
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2.2. Major types of coordination
the semantics of or coordination
1) it introduces an alternative [logic: the statement is true if one
of the individual conjoins is true]
2) typically, or is exclusive (excludes the possibility that both
conjoins are true), strengthened by else, alternatively
• You can sleep on the couch in the lounge or you can go to a
hotel.
• You can boil yourself an egg or (else) you can make some
sandwiches.
3) corrective use:
• They are enjoying themselves, or (at least/rather) they
appear to be enjoying themselves.
4) or may imply negative condition:
• Give me some money or (else) I’ll shoot.
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2.3. Major types of coordination
the semantics of but coordination
•
it expresses a contrast which could usually be alternatively
expressed by and followed by yet – the contrast may be in the
unexpectedness of the second conjoin with respect to the first,
based on presuppositions or our experience of the world
a) John is poor, but he is happy. [… and yet he is happy]
b) John is rich, but he is happy.
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2.4. Major types of coordination
correlatives
1) to reinforce or clarify the conjoining function of and, often
both is placed in front of the first conjoin (but not with full
clause coordination)
a) He has met (both) her mother and her father. (constituent
coordination: NPs)
b) David both loves Joan and wants to marry her. (constituent
coordination: predicates)
c) *Both Mary washed the dishes and Peter dried them.
(clause coordination)
2) also: either … or & neither … nor
d) He has met (either)/neither her mother or/nor her father.
(constituent coordination)
e) Either/*Neither the room is too small or/*nor the piano is
too large. (clause coordination)
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2.5. Major types of coordination
coordination of clauses
FINITE
adverbial If Joe washes the car and (if) Mary cleans her room, I’ll take
them to the cinema.
that
The minister believes that the economy is improving, and (that)
unemployment will soon decrease.
wh-
I didn’t know who she was, or what she wanted.
relative
Someone who knows the area, but whose home is outside it, is more
likely to be a successful representative.
NON-FINITE
to-infinitive
I’ve asked him to come this evening, or (to) phone us
tomorrow.
-ing
Mary likes working at night and getting up late in the
morning.
-ed
They rebuilt the houses damaged by the storm or washed
away by the floods. 12
2.6. Major types of coordination
coordination of clause elements
predicate
a) Peter ate the fruit and will drink some water.
 (and Peter/he…)
b) Two young men ate the fruit and will drink some water.
 (and ≠two young men  they… or the same t. y. m.)
c) Margaret is ill, but will soon recover.
predication
d) Most people will read the book or see the film.
e) They were married in 1960, but divorced in 1970.
f) Are you working or on holiday?
sentence
subject
predicate
Aux (OP)
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predication