Complex Sent. As a syntactic unity

It is based on subordination of Clauses. Complex Sent can express numerous semantic relations between Cl, each of which represents its own event or situation and thus Complex Sent states the relations between 2 events: causative, resultative, temporal or conditional.

Cl can be connected syndetically/asyndetically. Syndetic connection is performed with the help of conjunctions which serve as mere link Ws or connectors.

The 2^nd means – connectives which are represented by relative PrNs & Adv (who, what, where, when, how, how, why). Connectives have 2 functions in subordinate Cl: 1) Link Vs; 2) have their own syntactic function in a subordinate Cl (e.g.: I don`t know who will be my traveling companion).

The syntactic relations in case of subordination of Cl are different from those in case of coordination. Coordinated Cl are of the same rank while in complex Sent 1 of them is lower in its syntactic rank. The Cl here are subdivided into main & subordinate. In the principle Cl there is a w the syntactic valency of which is not realized within the main Cl itself. This word is called the centre of subordination. (e.g.: She told me – an object is missing. She was asked to go – should be continued by modifier).

On the other hand, in the subordinate Cl there is a formal signal showing that it cannot be used as an independent sentence even if it has all the necessary parts of the sentence. Most usually the formal signal is expressed by a conj/connective (e.g.: As Mary told me). Sometimes the formal signal is indicated by an unusual gr form – e.g. in the form of the Subjunctive (e.g.: He go there. She were here (only in the obl Cl)). Sometimes inversion is used as a signal of a subordinate Cl (e.g.: Hardly had she said those words).

These formal signals show the independent character of the subordinate Cl and in order to participate in the process of communication it should be attached to the principle Cl. In the principle Cl there is a word which needs subordinated Cl to realize its valency & get semantic completeness. Thus the principle Cl presupposes the appearance of the subordinate Cl. In the subordinate Cl there are signals of its dependent character & it means that a subordinate Cl should be connected the principle one because taken alone it cannot be a unit of communication. For this reason we may conclude that there are 2-way syntactic relations b/w the Princ & Subord Cl.

The English term Cl which is used to indicate structural part of a complex sentence has in Russian the term «предикативная единица».

In some cases if the centre of subordination in a PrCl is expressed by a N or a PrN formally the PrCl may look complete (e.g.: There is not a person in our group).

To make a sentence uncontradictory the N ‘person’ should be specified, its meaning should be described with the help of the following attributive Cl (e.g.: There is not a person in our group whom she would like). Some Ns or PrNs of an abstract character need the following subordinated Cl to give the PrCl semantic completeness (e.g.: I`ll tell u smth).

Even if the PrCl is complete structurally it is necessary to give sense to it. Cl in a complex Sent combine in different ways & can produce different patterns if there > than 2 Cl in a complex Sent

e.g.: He told me a (1) story (2) which I didn`t believe (3) because it was too fantastic – successive subordination

e.g.: He (1) lived (2) where he wanted & (3) how he wanted – coordinated subordination

e.g.: She gave a (1) present (2) which embarrassed me because it was (3) tasteless & because it looked a (4) second-hand thing. 2-way syntactic relations.

If a complex sentence has 4 or > Cl the 1^st 2 essential patterns may combine in it. Depending on the morphological nature of the centre of subordination the PrCl may be followed by Object or Adv Cl if the centre of subordination is expressed by a V and by Attributive Cl if the centre of subordination is expressed by a N or PrN.

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