Understanding Sentence Structure: Coordinated and Subordinate Clauses

Understanding Coordinated Clauses

Coordinated clauses are independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction. They express ideas of equal grammatical rank. Here are the main types:

Copulative Coordinated Clauses

These clauses add or accumulate meanings. The most common conjunctions are:

• And (e): Used when the propositions are affirmative.
• Or: Used when the propositions are negative.

Adversative Coordinated Clauses

These clauses express opposition or contrast between the ideas. Common conjunctions include: but, yet, nevertheless, however, though, but (that).

Disjunctive Coordinated Clauses

These clauses present alternatives or choices. The primary conjunction is o (or u), although sometimes the combination can express equivalence or acquire the meaning of and.

Example: Either do the food or organize the closets.

Distributive Coordinated Clauses

These clauses indicate distribution or alternation of actions. Conjunctions often appear in pairs, such as: (now...now), (well...well), (on the one hand...on the other hand).

Explanatory Coordinated Clauses

These clauses clarify or explain the meaning of the preceding clause. Common explanatory conjunctions are: that is, in other words, namely.

Understanding Subordinate Clauses

A subordinate clause (also known as a dependent clause) cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. It functions within a complex sentence, typically as a subject, object, or modifier. They can appear in various forms:

Subordinate Clauses with Non-Finite Verbs

These clauses use verbs in their infinitive, gerund, or participle forms.

Subordinate Clauses Introduced by Conjunctions

Many subordinate clauses are introduced by specific subordinating conjunctions.

Subordinate Substantive Clauses

These clauses function like a noun within the main sentence. They can act as the subject, direct object, indirect object, or complement.

Substantive Direct Object Clauses

These clauses function as the direct object of the predicate in the main clause. The main clause verb must be transitive. They are recognized when the direct object becomes the subject in the passive voice. They can also be replaced by pronouns like lo, la, los, las (it/them).

Substantive Indirect Object Clauses

These clauses function as the indirect object of the verb. They can be replaced by pronouns like le or les (him/them). They often function as an adjectival noun and do not change in the passive voice.

Subordinate Adjective or Relative Clauses

These clauses function like an adjective, modifying a noun or pronoun in the main clause. They are often introduced by relative pronouns (e.g., who, which, that) or relative adverbs (e.g., where, when, why). Sometimes, the antecedent adjective is omitted.

Subordinate Adverbial Clauses

These clauses function like an adverb, modifying the verb, an adjective, or another adverb in the main clause. They express various relationships such as time, manner, quantity, cause, condition, or concession.

Temporal Adverbial Clauses

These clauses indicate the time when the action expressed by the main verb occurs. The conjunctions are temporal adverbs or conjunctive phrases. Sometimes, correlative conjunctions are used. The action of the subordinate clause can relate to the main clause as:

• Anteriority: before, when, as soon as, just as, no sooner...than.
• Posteriority: after, when, before.
• Simultaneity: when, while, as.

They can be formed with non-finite verb forms (infinitive, gerund, participle).

Modal Adverbial Clauses

These clauses express how the action of the main verb occurs. Conjunctions include: as, like, as if, as though.

They can be formed with finite or non-finite verb forms (infinitive, gerund, participle).

Adverbial Clauses of Quantity

These clauses are equivalent to an adverb of quantity, modifying the main verb's action.

Concessive Adverbial Clauses

These clauses express a concession or an obstacle that does not prevent the main action. Example: whatever you do.

Conditional Adverbial Clauses

These clauses express a condition that must be met for the main action to occur.

Comparative Adverbial Clauses

These clauses establish a comparison with the main clause.

• Equal: both...and, as...as, so...as, just as...so, etc.
• Superiority: more...than, better...than, worse...than.
• Inferiority: less...than, fewer...than.