SEMI-COMPOUND SENTENCE
The semi-compound sentence is a semi-composite sentence built up on the principle
of [Link] structure of the semi-compound sentence is derivationally to be traced
back to minimum two base sentences having an identical element belonging to one or both
of their principal syntactic positions, i.e. either the subject, or the predicate, or both. By the
process of semi-compounding, the sentences overlap round the identical element sharing it
in coordinative fusion, which can be either syndetic or asyndetic.
1. The entrance door stood open, and also the door of the living- room. —≫ The entrance
door stood open.+ The door of the living-room stood also open.
2. The soldier was badly wounded. +The soldier stayed in the ranks. → The soldier was
badly wounded, but stayed in the ranks.
3. He tore the photograph in half. + He threw the photograph in the fire. → He tore the
photograph in half and threw it in the fire.
4. He waited for some moments longer and then walked down to the garden to where, on
the terrace, the jeep was parked.
5. She lived entirely apart from the contemporary literary world and probably was never in
the company of anyone more talented than herself.
6. To his relief, she was not giving off the shifting damp heat of her anger, but instead was
cool, decisive, material.
7. He leaped up in time to see the Colonel rushing out of the door . → He leaped up in time
and saw the Colonel rushing out of the door.
8. Walker woke in his bed at the bourbon house to hear a strange hum and buzz in the air .
→ Walker woke in his bed at the bourbon house and heard a strange hum and buzz in
the air.
9. He sat staring down the gardens, trying to remember whether this was the seventh or
eighth day since the attack had begun . → He was sitting and staring down the gardens,
and was trying to remember...
10. He closed the door behind him with a shaking hand, found the old car in its parking
place, drove along with the drifting lights.
11. They talked, laughed, were perfectly happy late into the night.
12. He would in truth give up the shop, follow her to Paris, follow her also to the chateau
in the country.
13. He never took the schoolbag again, had refused to touch it.
14. They can do it, have the will to do it, and are actually doing it.
15. I put an arm round her, tried to tease her into resting.
16. A harmless young man going nowhere in particular was knocked down and trodden on
and rose to fight back and was punched in the head by a policeman in mistake for
someone else and hit the policeman back and ended in trouble.
17. You saw the flash, then heard the crack, then saw the smoke ball distort and thin in
the wind.
18. After dinner we sat in the yard of the inn on hard chairs, or paced about the platform
or stumbled between the steel sleepers of the permanent way.
19. Ugly sat in the bow and barked arrogantly at passing boats, or stood rockily peering in
the river.
20. Hespun completely round, then fell forward on his knees, rose again and limped
slowly on.
21. She looked at him and saw again the devotion, the humility in his eyes. → She looked at
him and she saw again the devotion, the humility in his eyes.
22. She gave us her address and asked us to come and see her.
23. He took out his diary and began to write.
24. The man looked up and laughed.
SEMI-COMPLEX SENTENCE
The semi-complex sentence is a semi-composite sentence built up on the principle of
subordination. It is derived from minimum two base sentences, one matrix and one insert. In
the process of semi-complexing, the insert sentence is transformed into a partially
depredicated construction which is embedded in one of the syntactic positions of the matrix
sentence. In the resulting construction, the matrix sentence becomes its dominant part and
the insert sentence, its subordinate semiclause.
The semi-composite sentence displays an intermediary syntactic character between
the composite sentence and the simple sentence. Its immediate syntagmatic structure
("surface" structure) is analogous to that of an expanded simple sentence, since it possesses
only one completely expressed predicative unit. Its derivational structure ("deep" structure),
on the other hand, is analogous to that of a composite sentence, because it is derived from
two or more completely predicative units — its base sentences.
The semi-complex sentences fall into a number of subtypes: subject-sharing , object-
sharing. attributive complication, adverbial complication, and nominal-phrase complication.
Semi-complex sentences of subject-sharing are built up by means of the two base sentences
overlapping round the common subject.
E.g.:
The man stood. + The man was silent. → The man stood silent.
The moon rose. + The moon was red. → The moon rose red.
The moon rose red. → As the moon rose it was red.
She stood bending over the child's bed. → As she stood she was bending over the
child's bed.
Apart from the described types of subject-sharing sentences there is a variety of them
featuring the dominant verb in the passive. E.g.:
The idea has never been considered a wise one.
The company was ordered to halt.
Semi-complex sentences of object-sharing, as different from those of subject-sharing, are
built up of two base sentences overlapping round the word performing different functions in
them: in the matrix sentence it is the object, in the insert sentence it is the subject. The
complicator expansion of such sentences is commonly called the "complex object". E.g.:
1. We saw him.-\-He approached us. → We saw him approach us (approaching us).
2. They painted the fence.-\-The fence was (became) green. → They painted the fence
green.
3. *I made him.+He obeyed.~≫ I made him obey.
4. He felt the morning breeze gently touching his face. → He felt the morning breeze as it
was gently touching his lace.
5. I never heard the word pronounced like that. → I never heard the word as it was
pronounced like that.
6. I helped Jo find the photo. → I helped Jo so that he found the photo.
7. The cook beat the meat soft. —≫ The cook beat the meat so that it was (became) soft.
8. You will find many things strange here. → You will find that many things are strange
here.
9. I didn't mean my words to hurt you. → I didn't mean that my words should hurt you.
Semi-complex sentences of attributive complication are derived from two base sentences
having an identical element that occupies the position of the subject in the insert sentence
and any notional position in the matrix sentence. The insert sentence is usually an expanded
one. E.g.:
The waves sent out fine spray. + The waves rolled over the dam. → The waves rolling
over the dam sent out fine spray.
I came in late for the supper. + The supper was served in the dining-room. → I came in late
for the supper served in the dining-room.
This is a novel translated from the French. → This is a novel which has been translated from
the French,
We found dry ground at the base of a tree looking toward the sun. → We found dry ground
at the base of a tree that looked toward the sun.
You can never rely on the information received from that office. → You can never rely on
the information which is received from that office.
We admired the lilies white against the blue water. → We admired the lilies which were
white against the blue water.
There is a river flowing through the town. → There is a river which flows through the town.
This is John speaking. → This is John who is speaking.
Semi-complex sentences of adverbial complication are derived from two base sentences one
of which, the insert sentence, is predicatively reduced and embedded in an adverbial position
of the other one, the matrix sentence. E.g.:
The task was completed. + The task seemed a very easy one. → The task, when completed,
seemed a very easy one.
The windows were closed.-\-She did not hear the noise in the street. —≫ The windows
being
closed, she did not hear the noise in the street.
One day Kitty had an accident. + She was swinging in the garden. → One day Kitty had an
accident while swinging in the garden. (
He is very young.+ He is quite competent in this field. —≫ Though being very young, he is
quite competent in this field. → Though very young, he is quite competent in this field.
He was silent as if not having heard the call. → ...as if he had not heard the call.
Although kept out of the press, the event is widely known in the diplomatic circles. →
Although it is kept out of the press...
When in London, the tourists travelled in double-deckers. → When they were in London...
Working on the book, the writer travelled much about the country. → When working on
the book...
Dialling her number, she made a mistake. → While dialling her number...
Being tired, I could not accept the invitation. → As I was tired...
Everything being settled, Moyra felt relieved. → As everything was settled...
Two days having elapsed, the travellers set out on their way. —≫ When two days had
elapsed...
With all this work waiting for me, I can't afford to join their Sunday outing. → As all this
work is waiting for me... • "
The long luncheon over, the business friend would bow and go his way. → When the long
luncheon was over...
It being very hot, the children gladly ran down to the lake. → As it was very hot...
