Analysis of Compound Sentences

ANALYSIS OF COMPOUND SENTENCES (Clause Analysis)

A compound sentence is made up of two or more principal or main clauses joined together by a Co-ordinating conjunction and sometimes includes one or more subordinate clauses.

The horse reared and the rider was thrown. [2 main clauses]

They were fond of music, played on various kinds of instrument, and indulged in much singing.

[3 main clauses]

They asked him how he received the wound, but he refused to answer. [2 main clauses + 1 subordinate clause]

He says what he means, and he means what he says. [2 main clauses +2 subordinate clauses]

It has been already pointed out that the term Double is now used for a sentence which is made up of two main clauses, and the term Multiple for a sentence of more than two main clauses,

In accordance with this new terminology, 1, 3, and 4 are Double sentences, and 2 is a Multiple sentence.

The connection between two main clauses of a Compound sentence may be one of the following four kinds:-

(1) Copulative; as

God made the country and man made the town.

Babar was not only a great soldier, he was also a wise ruler.

He cannot speak, nor can he write.

He plays the piano, he sings also.

The innocents were punished as well as the guilty.

Here in each sentence the main clauses are simply coupled together.

(2) Adversative; as,

He is slow, but he is sure.

I did my best, nevertheless I failed.

He is rich, yet he is not happy.

He is vain, still his friends adore him.

Here in each sentence the two main clauses are opposed in meaning to each other.

Alternative or Disjunctive; as, She must weep, or she will die.

Either he is mad, or he feigns madness. Neither a borrower, nor a lender be.

Walk quickly, else you will not overtake him.

Here in each sentence the two main clauses are disjoined in meaning, and a choice between them is offered for acceptance.

Illative; as,

He is diligent, therefore he will succeed.

He is unwell, so he cannot attend office.

The angles are equal, consequently the sides are equal

Here in each sentence the second clause draws an inference from the first.

Sometimes no connecting word is used to join two main clauses; as, Temperance promotes health, intemperance destroys it.

Her court was pure; her life serene.

Sometimes a Subordinate Conjunction is used to join the clauses of a Compound sentence; as,

I shall see you to-morrow, when (= and then) we can finish the business. I walked with him to the station, where (= and there) we parted.

Compared sentences are often contracted. For example, when the main clauses have:-

(1) A common Subject; as,

He chid their wanderings, but relieved their pain.

= He chid their wanderings, but he relieved their pain.

(2) A common Verb; as,

Some praise the work, and some the architect.

= Some praise the work, and some praise the architect.

   Study carefully the clause analysis of the following:-

One day Bassanio came to Antonio, and told him that he wised to repair his fortune by a wealthy marriage with a

lady whom he dearly loved, whose father had left her sole heiress to a large estate. Analysis:-

This is a Compound or Double sentence, consisting of:-

A. One day Bassanio came to Antonio. (Principal clause).

B. Bassanio told him...(Principal clause co-ordinate with A.)

B1. That he wished to repair his fortune by a wealthy marriage with a lady. (Noun clause, object of told in B.)

b2. Whom he dearly loved. (Adjective clause, subordinate to b1, qualifying lady.)

b3. Whose father had left her sole heiress to a large estate., (Adjective clause, subordinate to b1, qualifying lady, and co-ordinate with b2.)

Before he died, the good Earl of Kent, who had still attended his old master's steps from the first of his daughters' ill-usage to this sad period of his decay, tried to make him understand that it was he who had followed him under the name of Caius; but Lear's care-crazed brain at that time could not comprehend how that could be, or how Kent and Caius could be the same person.

Analysis:- This is a Compound or Double sentence, consisting of:-

A. The good Earl of Kent tried to make him understand...(Principal clause).

a1. Before he died. (Adverb clause, modifying tried in A).

a2. Who had still-attended his old master's steps from the first of his daughters' ill-usage to this sad period of his decay. (Adjective clause, qualifying Earl of Kent in A.)

a3. That it was he. (Noun clause, object of understand in A.)

a4. Who had followed him under the name of Caius. (Adjective clause, subordinate to a3, qualifying he.)

B. But Lears's care-crazed brain at that time could not comprehend (Principal clause, coordinate with A.)

b1. How that could be. (Noun clause, object of comprehend in B.)

b2. Or how Kent and Caius could be the same person. (Noun clause, object of comprehend in B; co-ordinate with b1.)

Exercise

Analyse the following:-

I am satisfied with things as they are; and it will be my pride and pleasure to hand down this country to my children as I received it from those who preceded me.

Some politicians of our time lay it down as a self-evident proposition that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom.

He [a gentleman] never speaks of himself except when compelled, never defends himself by a mere retort; he has no ears for slander or gossip, is scrupulous in imputing motives to those who interfere-with him, and interprets everything for the best,

Subhash Chandra Bose died before his aim was achieved, and yet he will always be remembered as a great hero, who fought and sacrificed his life for the freedom of the country.

The notice which you have been pleased to take of my labours, had it been early, had been kind; but it has been delayed till I am indifferent, and cannot enjoy it.

I hope it is no very cynical asperity not to confess obligations where no benefit has been received, or to be unwilling that the public should consider me as owing that to a patron, which Providence has enabled me to do for myself.

While I was doing this, I found the tide began to flow, though very calm, and I had the mortification to see my coat, shirt, and waistcoat, which I had left on shore upon the sand, swim away.

With reluctance he accepted the invitations of his kindly and faithful Persian friend, who scolded him for refusing meat; but he replied that too much eating led man to commit many sins.

Macaulay had wealth and fame, rank and power, and yet he tells us in his biography that he owed the happiest hours of his life to books.

A literary education is simply one of many different kinds of education and it is not wise that more than a small percentage of the people of any country should have an exclusively literary education.

The way into my parlour is up a winding stair, And I've many curious things to show when you are there.

They love to see the flaming forge,

And hear the bellows soar,

And catch the burning sparks that fly.

Like chaff from a threshing floor.

The friends who had left came back every one, And darkest advisers looked bright as the sun.

She lived unknown and few could know, When Lucy ceased to be.

Three wives sat up in the lighthouse tower, And they trimmed the lamps as the sun went down.

His hair was yellow as hay.

But threads of a silvery grey

Gleamed in his tawny beard.

Exercise

(Miscellaneous) Analyse the following:-

When Abraham sat at his tent door, according to his custom, waiting to entertain strangers, he espied an old man, stooping and leaning on his staff, weary with age and travel, coming towards him. who was a hundred years of age.

When the old man was gone, God called to Abraham and asked him where the stranger was.

He replied, I thrust him away because he did not worship Thee.

While you are upon Earth enjoy the good things that are here (to that end were they given) and be not melancholy, and wish yourself in heaven.

There is no saying shocks me so much as that which I hear very often that a man does not know how lo pass his time.

You must observe, my friend, that it is the custom of this country, when a lady or gentleman happens to sing, for the company to sit as mute and as motionless as statues.

Mr. Burchell had scarce taken leave, and Sophia consented to dance with the chaplain, when my little ones came running out to tell us that the Squire was come with a crowd of company.

I hope it will give comfort to great numbers who are passing through the world in obscurity, when I inform them how easily distinction may be obtained.

All who have meant good work with their whole hearts, have done good work, although they may die before they have the time to sign it.

We are told that, while still a mere child, he stole away from his playfellows to a vault in St. James's Fields, for the purpose of investigating the cause of a singular echo which he had observed there.

The slave who was at his work not far from the place where this astonishing piece of cruelty was committed, hearing the shrieks of the dying person ran to see what was the occasion of them.

Every insignificant author fancies it of importance to the world to know that he wrote his book in the country, that he did it to pass away some of his idle hours, that it was published at the importunity of friends, or that his natural temper, studies, or conversation directed him to the choice of his subject.

I consider a human soul without education like marble in the quarry, which shows none of its inherent beauties, until the skill of the polisher fetches out the colours, makes the surface shine, discovers every ornamental cloud, spot, and view that run through the body of it.

When the Athenians in the war with the Lacedaemonians received many defeats both by sea and land, they sent a message to the oracle of Jupiter Ammon, to ask the reason why they who erected so many temples to the gods, and adorned them with such costly offerings, should be less successful than the Lacedaemonians, who fell so short of them in all these particulars.

He that holds fast the golden mean,

And lives contentedly between

The little and the great,

Feels not the wants that pinch the poor,

Nor plagues that haunt the rich man's door,

Embittering all his state.