Coordination Subordination Sections 16 and 17 Coordination Basically

Coordination & Subordination Sections 16 and 17

Coordination • Basically, it is stringing independent clauses together • This is important to do when creating compound sentences • However, don’t overdo it • Excessive coordination results from using too many compound sentences • This causes confusion because the exact relationship between ideas is unclear • Example: • She is going on a trip soon, so there is no reason to stock up on groceries, but she still needs a few items, for the trip is not scheduled until June third and her aunt won't be in town before then, or else she would go earlier.

Coordination • Avoid excessive coordination by using: • Subordination • Makes an independent clause into a dependent clause • Division • Splits the independent clauses in a compound sentence into two separate sentences • Avoid false coordination • Don’t use a coordinating conjunction to join an adjective clause to an independent clause

Subordination • It helps avoid excess coordination by making compound sentences into complex sentences • What should be subordinated? • I’m so happy you asked! 1. 2. 3. Ideas expressing time, place, manner, cause, purpose, result, condition, concession, or degree Details stating size, color, cost, etc. Predications containing pronouns and the verb “be” • How else can you use subordination? • I’m glad to see you’re taking such interest in the topic • Use subordination to combine related ideas • These ideas can be from two (or more) simple sentences • Or, two or more independent clauses

Subordination • So…how does you actually combine ideas? • One way is to form a complex sentence that contains an adjective clause • Like this: • Kyle was elected class president. He is friendly to everyone, • How would you combine these two simple sentences into a single complex sentence? • Kyle, who is friendly to everyone, was elected class president. • Another way is to form a complex sentence that contains an adverb clause • Like so: • Aaron was late, and he received a demerit. • How would you combine these two independent clauses into a single complex sentence? • Because Aaron was late, he received a demerit.

Subordination • Avoid upside-down subordination • Which, as the name implies, means that your main idea and subordinating idea are in the wrong places • i. e. your main idea in the dependent clause and your subordinate idea in your independent clause • For example: • When everyone panicked, the earthquake struck. • This exhibits upside-down subordination • How do you fix it? • When the earthquake struck, everyone panicked. • This is correct…no illogical causation

Subordination • Avoid illogical subordination • To make sure you avoid this: • Do not use an adverb clause in the place of a noun clause • For example: • Because he was best qualified was the reason he got the job. • What’s wrong with this? • That he was best qualified was the reason her got the job. • Good, now you have your noun clause as the subject • Likewise, do not use an independent clause in the place of a noun clause • For example: • He wanted to improve himself was the reason he returned to school. • I’m not even going to ask if that sounds wrong • That he wanted to improve himself was the reason he returned to school. • Now the noun clause is the subject and makes the sentence work

Subordination • And, lastly (thank God!) • Avoid excessive subordination • Can you believe after all that you still have to show a modicum of common sense and know when to stop yourself from stringing a bunch of dependent clauses together? • Don’t worry, most of the time I don’t know when to stop either. • Here’s an example for you: • Don’t do this: (because it sounds terrible) • Someone checked out the book that Isaac needs for the report which, unfortunately, he is scheduled to give in history class which meets first hour tomorrow. • Do this: (because it sounds a million times better) • Someone checked out the book that Isaac needs for his report. Unfortunately, he is scheduled to give the report in history class first hour tomorrow.