The general characteristics of the complex sentence

The Complex sentence as one of the main types of the composite sentences.

The complex sentence is a polypredicative construction built up on the principle of subordination. As a rule it includes two clauses — a principal one and a subordinate one. Although the principal clause positionally dominates the subordinate clause, the two form a semantico-syntactic unity within the framework of which they are in fact interconnected, so that the very existence of either of them is supported by the existence of the other. The subordinate clause is joined to the principal clause either by a subordinating connector (subordinator), or, with some types of clauses, asyndetically. As a matter of fact, from the point of view of their general nominative features all the subordinate clauses can be divided into three categorial-semantic groups.. Clauses in a complex sentence may be connected with one another more closely and less closely, similar to the parts of a simple sentence. The intensity of connection between the clauses directly reflects the degree of their proposemic self-dependence and is therefore an essential characteristic of the complex sentence as a whole. For instance, a predicative clause or a direct object clause are connected with the principal clause so closely that the latter cannot exist without them as a complete syntactic unit. As different from this, an ordinary adverbial clause is connected with the principal clause on a looser basis, it can be deleted without destroying the principal clause as an autonomous unit of information. The division of subordinative clausal connections into obligatory and optional was employed by the Russian linguist N. S. Pospelov (1950) for the introduction of a new classification of complex sentences.

Criteria	Description	Examples
Invariant-sentence	1) 2 or more predicative lines, 2) the main and subordinate clauses, transformational index (Т conj.), 3) the lexical markers in the main clause defining the type of the subordinate; 4) sequence of tenses subordinate connection between elements is realized: · syndetically (coordinative conjunctions, connectives, conjunctive adverbs); · asyndetically;
The main models	1) Subject clauses perform the function of subject to the predicate of the principal clause. Attention should be paid to the peculiar structure of the principal clause, which in this case has no subject, the subordinate clause serving as such.   If a subject clause follows the principal clause the so-called introductory /'/ is used in the principal clause.	What I want to do is to save us both. (Dreiser)) It was always possible that they might encounter some one. (Dreiser)
2) Predicative clauses perform the function of a predicative, peculiarity of complex sentences with a predicative clause is th< the principal clause we find only part of the predicate, i. e. a link \ which together with the predicative clause forms a compound nom predicate.	1) Our attitude simply is that facts are facts. (Leacock) 2) The thing to be settle on now is whether anything can be done to save him. ( Dreiser) 3) It was as if these men and women had matured. (Heym) It seems as if all these years I've been living under false fences. (Cronin) 4) But this time, just about sunset, was always what I loved t (Eliot) 5) Another thing... was they had nurse Andrews staying on with them that week. (Mansfield)
3) Object clauses perform the function of an object to the predicate-verb of the principal clause. An object clause may also refer to a non-finite form of the verb, to an adjective, or to a word belonging to the part of speech expressing state.	1) I don't know what you are talking about. (Gowand D'Ussean) 2) I formed the habit of calling in on him in the evening to discuss what I had heard. (Leacock) 3) I ventured on asking why he was in such a hurry to get back to town. (Collins) 4) Mr. Bruff folded up the will, and then looked my way apparently wondering whether I did or did not mean to leave him alone with my aunt. (Collins) 5) Soames averted his eyes and became conscious that Winifred and he were alone. (Galsworthy) 6) They were not sure what the morrow would bring forth. (Dreiser) The poor girl is anxious that you should be at her weddingL (Trollope) 7) She was aware that someone else was there. (Eliot)
4) Attributive clauses serve as an attribute to a noun (pronoun) in the principal clause. This noun or pronoun is called the antecedent of the clause. According to their meaning and the way they are connected with the principal clause attributive clauses are divided into relative and appositive ones.   Attributive relative clauses qualify the antecedent, whereas attributive appositive clauses disclose its meaning. Attributive relative clauses are joined to the principal clause syn-detically — by means of connectives, and asyndetically; attributive appositive clauses only syndetically — by means of conjunctions. Attributive appositive clauses disclose the meaning of the antece­dent, which is expressed by an abstract noun. An attributive appositive clause is not separated from the principal clause by a comma. Appositive clauses are chiefly introduced by the conjunction that, occasionally by the conjunction whether or by the adverbs how and why. They are not joined to the principal clause asyndetically.     5) Adverbial clauses performs the function of an adverbial modifier. It can modify a verb, an adjective or an adverb in the principal clause.	1) The facts those men were so eager to know had been visible, tangible, open to the senses. (Conrad) (ATTRIBUTIVE RELATIVE CLAUSE)   1)The fortunate fact that the rector's letter did not require an im­mediate answer would give him time to consider. (Hardy) 2) He stopped in the hope that she would speak. (Dickens) 3)And then she had a nightmare conviction that she'd lost her sense of direction and was going the wrong way. ( Lindsay) (ATTRIBUTIVE APPOSITIVE CLAUSE)   1) He stopped as Kravat came rushing out. (Heym) 2) He was getting on better than he'd expected. (Lindsay) 3) Frank... returned to the auction room as fast as his legs would carry him. (Dreiser)
expressed semantico –syntactic relations	corresponding the model of the complex sentence; the type of connection doesn’t influence either on the expressed relations or presented model.
types of complex sentences	Of close structure	They waited a long time but he never came
Of open structure	The train drew up, the porters rushed on to the platform, the passengers came out the carriages, friends exchanged greetings…
Types of construction	hypotaxis (subordination)
Types of clause connection Transformation potential	1) syndentically (by means of conjunctions that, if, whether) 2) by means of the connectives who, which, what (conjunctive pronouns), where, when, how, why (conjunctive adverbs). 3) asyndentically (in this case the subordinate clauses are not separated from the principal by a comma; typical to the predicative clauses coordinated with each other. 1) the positional exchange between the main and the subordinate clause(functional variants) The adverbial clauses of concession, result, manner and comparison don’t have the functional variants. 2)The lexical markers in the main clause requiring the usuage of the separate mood in the subordinate.     3)Syntactic compression	1) We discussed the play while we rode home. 2) While we rode home we discussed the play.   He insisted the we should start the rest next day. When (after) he arrived he gave us a ring 2) On arrival he gave us a ring

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