Compound Structures

1. Compound Structures Ed McCorduck English 402--Grammar SUNY Cortland http://mccorduck.cortland.edu

2. slide 2: compound structures, coordination and coordinators Compound structures are created through coordination. coordination - the joining of elements capable of filling the same slot in a sentence accomplished through the use of coordinating conjunctions (a.k.a. coordinators) which are a structure class (see the “Descriptive Grammar of English” lecture) The coordinating conjunctions are and, but, or and nor (the last of which is quite formal in register). English 402: Grammar

3. slide 3: examples of sentences with compound structures exx A stampandan envelope are all I need. subjsubj They drewandquartered the miserable traitor. V V Fatboy demanded the last piece of cakeora slice of the pie. dir obj dir obj English 402: Grammar

4. slide 4: more examples of sentences with compound structures He’s a weeniebuta good friend. NP NP subj comp subj comp He’s a weeniebutcool. NP ADJ subj comp subj comp The grammar lecture left me bewilderedandconfounded. obj comp obj comp Gilligan built Mary AnnandGinger a new hut. indirobjindirobj Her sage advice went in one earandout the other. PP PP ADV ADV English 402: Grammar

5. slide 5: correlative conjunctions coordination is also accomplished through the use of correlative conjunctions The correlative conjunctions are both . . . and either . . . or not only . . . but (also) neither . . . nor English 402: Grammar

6. slide 6: examples of sentenceswith correlative conjunctions exx Either GrouchoorHarpo will emcee our event. subjsubj Constance speaks neitherRussiannor Polish. dir obj dir obj They work both efficientlyandcheaply. ADV ADV You’re not only a moronbut alsoan asswipe. subj comp subj comp English 402: Grammar

7. slide 7: Reed-Kellogg diagrams of sentences with compound structures In Reed-Kellogg diagrams, compound structures are indicated through parallel lines that split off the main line and/or through dashed lines to the right of or on top of which are written the coordinating and correlative conjunctions that join the elements of the compound structure. For example, following is the diagram of the sentence Rosencrantz and Guildenstern pigged out in which the subjects Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are joined by the coordinating conjunction and (i.e., the sentence has a compound subject): English 402: Grammar

8. slide 8: example of a Reed-Kellogg diagram with a compound subject (Note: In our Understanding English Grammar textbook, conjunctions are written from bottom to top, i.e., but because the SenDraw program we are using draws vertical text from top to bottom, this is the format I will use in these lectures. In addition, for better symmetry with the dashed lines I will give vertical text to the right of the lines, whereas the book puts them on the left.) English 402: Grammar

9. slide 9: example of a Reed-Kellogg diagram with a compound subject complement If the compound structure functions as a subject complement, it is also written with a “fork” coming out of the main line, but because of its function in the sentence it must also preceded by the slanted line that always separates complements from preceding elements. For example, here is the diagram of the sentence David Copperfield is a book and a movie: English 402: Grammar

10. slide 10: example of a Reed-Kellogg diagram with a compound direct object Similarly, if the compound structure functions as a direct object it is also written with a “fork” coming out of the main line, but because of its function in the sentence it must also preceded by the perpendicular that always separates direct objects from preceding elements. For example, here is the diagram of the sentence David Copperfield wrote a book and a movie: English 402: Grammar