Mastering Sentence Structure: A Comprehensive Overview

Sentence Formation and Structure

Combining Ideas

Sentences can be formed by combining two or more simple ideas. This can be achieved by inserting an idea, expressed as a sentence, into another sentence as a constituent.

Linking Words

Linking words connect different parts of a sentence. They are classified into two main categories:

• Coordinating Links: These links connect two or more syntactically equivalent and independent groups of words (e.g., and, or, but).
• Subordinating Links: These links introduce a word or group of words, making this segment a complement of another word or group of words. Subordinating links include prepositions, subordinating conjunctions (e.g., that, because, if), relative pronouns (e.g., what, who), and interrogative and exclamatory words (e.g., what, where, how).

Propositions

Propositions are segments of a compound sentence organized around a verb and possessing a sentence structure.

• Juxtaposed Propositions: Two propositions are juxtaposed when they are joined without a linking word.
• Coordinated Propositions: Two propositions are coordinated when they are joined by a conjunction (e.g., and, or, but) that functions as a coordinating link.
• Subordinate Clauses: A subordinate clause is syntactically dependent on another proposition, meaning it functions as an element within that proposition. Subordination is the dependency relationship of one linguistic unit on another.

Subordinating Links

• Prepositions: Prepositions are linking elements used to subordinate a phrase, usually nominal, or a sentence with the verb in the infinitive or headed by conjunctions.
• Subordinating Conjunctions: These links subordinate a verb in person to another form. The most common subordinating conjunction is "that." Sometimes, "that" combines with other words to form conjunctive phrases (e.g., so that, since).
• Relative Pronouns: Relative pronouns introduce a subordinate clause while playing a role within it (e.g., subject, direct object). Examples include what, which, who, whom, whose, how, where, and when. Relatives often refer to a word that appeared earlier in the sentence, called the antecedent.

Forms of Relative Pronouns

Common forms include who, what, which, whom, whose, how, how much, how many, how few, where, and when. Substantive subordinate clauses are generally introduced by completive conjunctions, either "that" itself or through an interrogative word (e.g., what, who, how, where, when). They are also classified among substantive propositions when they lack an antecedent. The verb of the substantive subordinate clause is often an infinitive.

Adjectival Subordinate Clauses

These clauses are usually introduced by a relative pronoun that has an explicit antecedent. This antecedent is the noun that the adjectival clause modifies.

Adverbial Subordinate Clauses

These clauses are introduced by a relative adverb without an antecedent or a conjunctive phrase.

Conditional Clauses

Conditional clauses are typically introduced by a conditional subordinating link (e.g., if, as if, unless, provided that). Conditional constructions with infinitives introduced by the preposition "by" also exist.

Concessive Clauses

Concessive clauses are introduced by the conjunction "if" or a concessive conjunctive phrase (e.g., although, though, even if).

Causal Clauses

Causal clauses are usually introduced by a causal subordinating link (e.g., because, since, as). Causal constructions with infinitives introduced by the preposition "by" also exist.

Final Clauses

Final propositions are often introduced by a final subordinating link (e.g., that, in order to, so that).

Comparative Clauses

Adverbial comparative propositions express the second term of a comparison initiated in the main clause. They are characterized by correlating elements (e.g., more than, rather than, as much as).

Consecutive Clauses

Adverbial consecutive sentences express a result that follows from the main clause. They can be:

• Non-intensive: These express the result of an action without intensity and are introduced by consecutive conjunctions or conjunctive phrases (e.g., then, with that, so).
• Intensive: These express the result of a quality, action, or circumstance preceded by an intensifier in the main clause. They are constructed by correlating the intensifier (e.g., such, so, both) and the conjunction.